Assignment on "Courtly Love"

With the new cultural and affective world that we first encounter in Marie de France's "Lanval" it becomes necessary for us to study some medieval literary conventions.

One of them is "courtly love." We will cosnider others very soon.

Please read John Benton, "Clio and Venus: An Historical View of Medieval Love" (1968)

We also need to begin to consider the allegorical conventions of high Medieval literature. Please download, print out, and study these pages.

Please read the selections from Augustine, On Christian Doctrine, especially carefully. They deal with the vexed question of "Love."

Writing Assignment: Please write 350 words on the question of irony as discussed by Benton, and the passages from Augustine.

Apply them as best you can to interpreting "Lanval."

Email to me and to your group.