Ten Characteristics of a Medieval Romance:
- Characters are knights, queens, kings, or heroes.
- The plot involves the adventures of knights or heroes and the institution of chivalry.
- Set in castles, gardens, forests, or other natural areas.
- Includes mysterious, magical, supernatural events.
- The hero is braver, nobler, and more honorable than the ordinary human - often having the use of magic or other powers.
- The hero/heroine may have a disguise to conceal his/her real identity.
- The hero/heroine is often motivated by romantic love.
- The forces of good often oppose the forces of evil.
- A dragon, fiend, or monster may symbolize this evil.
- The story leaves the reader with a feeling of optimism about the future.