ABSTRACT
In this paper, I intend to discuss some images of women in medieval literature that are generally considered to be more or less extremes. Medieval misogyny is thought to offer a very negative image of women, while the other extreme, the courtly image of women, is regarded as being positive. The question as to whether these judgements are justified will be central in this paper. I shall concentrate on courtly love, and use the stories of Narcissus and Pygmalion as illustrations.
