Medieval Literature: Troubadours, Courtly Love, and Chivalric Romance

Originally, literature was always in verse, as this facilitated singing and recitation, which were essential to spread works orally among an illiterate public. Verse, therefore, dominated the Middle Ages, encompassing both lyric and narrative poetry, although the latter would soon make use of prose.

Lyric Poetry in the Middle Ages

For most of the medieval period, written culture was cultivated by the clergy, and only in Latin. The common people, however, sang songs of celebration, love, or work in the new European vernacular languages. Most of this traditional, anonymous poetry has been lost, although some remains have survived, mainly in the Iberian Peninsula ( see t3 ).

Provençal Troubadour Poetry

In the early twelfth century, the first school of cultured lyric poetry appeared in the south of France, written in a vernacular language: Provençal. Its huge influence led to imitation in other European languages, especially French, Catalan, Galician-Portuguese (the cantigas), and German (the Minnesang).

These new compositions introduced several important developments. They were not anonymous, but the work of famous authors called troubadours. These works were composed and disseminated accompanied by music. Troubadours were a type of minstrel, but educated (though not clergy) and more respected. Their ranks included individuals ranging from nobles to commoners.

Troubadour Subgenres

Depending on the subject, the following subgenres were distinguished:

• Tired: Love poetry of refined literary expression.
• Sirventes: Satirical poem of personal attack or moral criticism.
• Pastorela: Describes the meeting of a gentleman with a beautiful shepherdess.
• Planh: A keen or lament.
• Tenson: A debate between two poets.

Courtly Love (Fin'amor)

The audience of the troubadours was essentially a warrior aristocracy, which was becoming increasingly refined. This audience embraced a new concept of love developed by the troubadours and summarized in the treatise On Love by Andreas Capellanus (12th century), known as Courtly Love.

This concept is an adaptation of feudalism applied to the relationship. The Lady is the Lord, noble and often married. The poet is the obedient vassal, entirely at her service, who passionately loves her in secret. This love is impossible; to love is painful, yet it is considered perfect.

Medieval Narrative Literature

Chivalric Romance and Adventure Novel

In the late Middle Ages, as the epic genre grew longer, the form of the chivalric novel (or romance) survived and flourished. Unlike epic poems, this new genre was intended for reading, featured a more complex narrative, and usually had a well-known, cultured author.

Feudal warriors and armies are replaced by solitary knights, always in search of extraordinary adventures in defense of the weak and struggling against giants and monsters, set in a marvelous geography. In addition, love is high, under every circumstance.