The
thesis this work sets to prove is: "Literature that addresses
courtly love evolved from the concept that man has a dual
identity of conflicting impulses towards carnal and transcendent love." This essay explores the origination of
courtly love and follows it throughout medieval times. It explains "the code of manners", the morality and immorality, behavior of characters and sexual implications. Examples to explain the
thesis statement are extracted from "Morte d'Arthur" by Sir Thomas Malory, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight'" (author unknown) and "The Fairie Queene" by Edmund Spenser.