The Art Of Courtly Love And The Dream Of Chivalry

Finding sources for this research paper was not the easiest thing I’ve accomplished by any means. However, after finding them this task became much simpler. The sources I have chosen to use in relation to this paper are as follows: The Concept of Knighthood in the Middle Ages, The Art of Courtly Love, and The Dream of Chivalry. These titles are written by Joachim Bumke, Andreas Capellanus, and Ojars Kratins, respectively. Each of these works focus on some aspect of Arthurian Romance, but each one differs greatly in content.

The Concept of Knighthood in the Middle Ages is precisely as its name implies; it focuses on the concepts of knighthood. The beginning of the book explains the etymology and usage behind the word “ritter” which means, a knight. The next chapters focus on the knight as soldier, as retainer, noble knights, and the knightly class. These chapters are followed up by a section regarding the state of research into knighthood. The book follows the growth of the word knight, and the development of its meaning and use over time. While this book describes many traits of the knight in detail, the author seems to advocate for the concept of love which is inherently loyal by nature and “regarded as the highest social value (161).”

Capellanus also advocates for true love in The Art of Courtly Love, but rejects the idea of love for other reason, saying that a man loses all usefulness. This entire work focuses on courtly love, and all of the rules and expectations that accompany the idea. The work is divided into three books. The first book defines love and provides an explanation for the origin of the word. The book continues to explain which people are fit for love, and which people may be in love with one an...

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...tesy, and unwavering loyalty to those for whom he has an obligation. For the sake of meeting length requirements, I obviously cannot outline each example, but I feel that the example provided should be enough for the average reader to begin to interpret these traits into other events that take place in the story, and will hopefully come to view Yvain as the ideal knight like myself and Kratins.

Works Cited

Bumke, Joachim. The Concept of Knighthood in the Middle Ages. New York: AMS, 1982. Print.

Capellanus, Andreas. The Art of Courtly Love. New York: F. Ungar Pub., 1941. Print.

De Troyes, Chrétien, and Kibler, William W. Arthurian Romances: The Knight With the Lion (Yvain). London: Penguin, 2005. Print

Kratins, Ojars. The Dream of Chivalry: A Study of Chrétien De Troyes's Yvain and Hartmann Von Aue's Iwein. Washington, D.C.: University of America, 1982. Print.