Proseminar: Geoffrey Chaucer′s

Troilus and Criseyde

WS2008/2009

Westfälische ­ Wilhelms ­ Universität Münster

Englisches Seminar

Criseyde ­ a Romance

Heroine?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 3

2. Criseyde ­ A Romance Heroine? 3

2.1 Characteristics in General 3

2.2 Analysis of Criseyde 4

3. Conclusion 9

4. Bibliography 11

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1. Introduction

Dealing with female characters created by Geoffrey Chaucer one will certainly come

across Criseyde, his heroine in

Troilus and Criseyde

. She was a much

misunderstood heroine in the Middle Ages, her name a byword for female treachery

and falseness. Criseyde, being in the unfavourable position as a wealthy woman,

abandoned by her treacherous father, still has a rather `assured manner′ at the

temple when Troilus first sees her. This Trojan heroine is definitely a character who

can be interpreted in many different ways and it also carries a complex body of

criticism. This work is not going to concentrate on Criseyde′s character in detail but

on her role as a romance heroine. Thus, in this seminar paper, I want to consider

whether Criseyde fulfils the typical criteria of a romance heroine or not.

To be able to discuss this issue, I am firstly going to provide a short definition

of the attributes usually associated with a romance heroine. Secondly, I am going to

analyze the presentation of Criseyde in

Troilus and Criseyde

, both in the physical and

the psychological way. The main focus will be on her beauty and her virtue, with an

intention to examine to what extent she acts according to the heroine′s rules.

2. Criseyde ­ A Romance Heroine?

2.1 Characteristics in General

Every English romance has the same basic features typical for it, so to say, such as

the criteria that setting, characters and adventures are drawn from the knightly class

(Finlayson). But one other criterion that must not be missing is the presence of either

a hero or a heroine or both. As a matter of course the hero is characterized by his

courage, openness to adventure and challenge, and by the love for his lady, whereas

as we shift to the female part, it is of much interest how the heroine appears and

behaves like. Let us therefore take a closer look at what the

Oxford English

Dictionary

tells us about the original meanings of being a heroine:

A female hero:

1.

In ancient mythology, a female intermediate between a woman and a goddess; a

Demi-goddess.

2.

A woman distinguished by exalted courage, fortitude, or noble achievements.

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