Medieval poetry is a vast and varied literary tradition stretching from the early Middle Ages to the end of the XIV th century. This tradition is characterised by a great diversity of styles, genres, themes, and content.

In the Early Middle Ages, poetry was mainly composed in Latin and had a religious character. This tradition is mainly represented by liturgical poetry and religious songs, written by monks and clerics.

With the advent of the Novel and epic poetry, a strong trend towards the narration of adventure and chivalric stories developed in medieval literature. The most representative genre of this tendency is the Chanson de geste, an epic poem in the vernacular language recounting the exploits of great heroes and warriors.

Medieval lyric poetry, on the other hand, focuses on the representation of personal feelings and emotions. This tradition is mainly represented by courtly poetry, a genre that flourished in Europe from the XII th century onwards and was characterised by its elegance, refinement, and formal complexity.

We can say that medieval poetry is often linked to folk traditions and music. Many poems were in fact composed to be sung and accompanied by musical instruments, such as the lyre, lute, and flute. This tradition is mainly represented by troubadour poetry and the poetry of the troubadours, which flourished in France and other parts of Europe between the XII th and XIII th centuries.