Romance (love)

Romance or romantic love is a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love. In relationships, it involves a strong emotional attraction towards the other person. A romantic relationship focuses on feelings, rather than sex. Romantic love is different from platonic love.

Romance is often strongest at the beginning of relationships. It comes with uncertainty and anxiety^[1] that the love may not be returned.

The modern concept of romantic love comes from the medieval ideals of chivalry, as set out in its chivalric romance literature, andwas made popular in Western culture by the concept of courtly love. Knights were often said to have had intimate relationships with the noble ladies they served. Those relationships were usually not physical.^[2] Since marriage was commonly just a formal arrangement without love, courtly love allowed women to be emotionally intimate with a man.^[3]

Romance is a major theme found in art, particularly literature and fiction. It is often found in fairy tales, women's fiction and the writings of people like William Shakespeare.

1. ↑ Serena Gordon of HealthDay (March 25, 2009). "Romantic Love: Study disputes notion that passion can't be part of long-term relationships". US News. Retrieved January 14, 2013. ...In the early stages of a relationship, everything's uncertain, and there's a lot of anxiety...
2. ↑ A History of Women: Silences of the Middle Ages
3. ↑ Courtly Love and the origins of romance