Le Lai de Lanval

A central theme of Le Lai de Lanval is courtly love. In Marie de France’s poem, courtly has two meanings. It is a synonym for well-mannered and, as such, is used to describe several characters. For instance, King Arthur and the maidens who serve Lanval’s beloved are referred to as “courtly” (Lines 6 and 533) or behaving in a “courtly fashion” (Line 490). When Arthur’s knights speak with Guinevere’s friends in the garden, they are referred to as “not uncourtly” (Line 252). Lanval is also described as “courtly” by Gawain (Line 231), and his damsel requires he behave in a “courtly” manner (Line 113). In these instances, courtly means refined.

The second meaning of courtly is to be chivalric. When applied to romantic relationships—and other interactions between men and women—courtly means adhering to a specific code of conduct. One medieval text that describes the code of chivalry is The Art of Courtly Love by Andreas Capellanus. In Marie de France’s poem, elements of courtly love are seen in the relationship between Lanval and his unnamed damsel (or fairy mistress). Fire metaphors are often used in descriptions of courtly love. When the damsel confesses her love for Lanval, “[l]ove’s spark pricked him so that his heart was set alight” (Lines 117-19).