Troilus and Criseyde

Troilus and Criseyde is an epic poem by Geoffrey Chaucer written between 1382 and 1386 in Middle English. The poem is divided into five books and features Chaucer’s innovation, the Rhyme royal stanza form, which is a seven-line stanza in iambic pentameter with an ABABBCC rhyme scheme. The poem is set during the Trojan War and tells the tragic story of Troilus, a prince of Troy who falls in love with a young woman named Criseyde. While the lovers are initially happy together, Criseyde is forced to leave Troy when her father, who has defected to the Greek side, asks that she be returned to him in a prisoner exchange. While in the Greek camp, she betrays Troilus by taking a new lover named Diomede. This same story would later be adapted by William Shakespeare in his play Troilus and Cressida (1602).

This guide refers to the version published in The Riverside Chaucer, third edition, edited by Larry D. Benson.

Content Warning: This guide mentions rape and discusses suicidal ideation and death.

Plot Summary

During the siege of Troy, a Trojan astrologer and prophet named Calkas discovers that Troy is doomed to lose the war. He flees from the city and joins the Greek army, leaving behind his daughter, Criseyde. Criseyde goes to a temple called the Palladion for a festival, where she is seen by Troilus, a prince of Troy. Troilus has previously scorned and mocked love, considering it worthless, and in revenge, Cupid, the god of love, strikes Troilus with an arrow through his eye when he looks at Criseyde. Troilus returns home, hoping to hide his love from everyone, but he begins to waste away, refusing to eat or sleep.

Troilus’ friend Pandarus seeks to discover what is wrong and questions Troilus. While Troilus is initially reluctant, he eventually reveals that he has fallen in love with Criseyde, Pandarus’ niece. Pandarus schemes to unite the pair, going to visit Criseyde and persuading her to take pity on Troilus and agree to speak with him. Criseyde is reluctant, fearing that a romantic relationship would rob her of her independence. However, she sees Troilus riding back from battle and finds him attractive. The pair exchange letters, but Criseyde makes it clear that her feelings toward him are only friendship.

Pandarus arranges a meeting between the two at the home of Troilus’ brother Deiphebus. Troilus pretends to be ill so that Criseyde will show him some pity. After this, the lovers begin to meet discreetly. Pandarus helps speed up their courtship by inviting Criseyde to dinner at his house and then sneaking Troilus into her rooms. Troilus and Criseyde finally become lovers and spend the night together joyfully.

However, the poem turns to tragedy in Books 4 and 5. Criseyde’s father, Calkas, having abandoned Troy for Greece, requests that the Greeks ask for her during a prisoner transfer between the two armies. Troilus is heartbroken that he will be separated from Criseyde and encourages her to run away with him. However, Criseyde refuses, claiming that she can use her wit to persuade her father to allow her to return after 10 days. She goes to the Greek camp and meets a man named Diomede, who also falls in love with her. While she is genuinely devastated by her separation from Troilus, Diomede slowly persuades her that he is also a worthy suitor and that returning to Troy would doom her to death. Realizing that her father will not let her go and that sneaking back to the city would be dangerous, Criseyde relents and takes Diomede as her new lover.

When Criseyde fails to return after 10 days, Troilus falls into a deep despair. While Pandarus tries to cheer him up and distract him with entertainment and other women, Troilus remains wholly devoted to Criseyde. He has a dream of her embracing a boar and learns from the seer Cassandra that the boar might represent Diomede, who is descended from the famous boar hunter Meleager. While he initially refuses to believe it, Troilus is forced to accept that Criseyde has betrayed him when he finds her brooch inside of Diomede’s coat on the battlefield. Furious, Troilus tries to find Diomede in combat to kill him, but he is defeated and slain by Achilles. After his death, he ascends into the heavens and realizes the insignificance of his earthly life. The poem concludes with a statement by the author in praise of the heavenly love of Christ over mortal attachments.