* The lover is constantly in pain. Courtly love is often characterized by the lover's suffering. He is tormented by his unrequited love and can find no peace or happiness.
* The lover is ennobled by his love. Despite the pain he suffers, the lover is ennobled by his love. He becomes a better person because of it and learns to appreciate the finer things in life.
* The lover eventually achieves his goal. In some courtly love stories, the lover eventually achieves his goal of winning the love of his beloved. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, the lover dies before he can achieve his goal, or he is forced to give up his love for the sake of others.