Troilus and Criseyde contains surprisingly little description (only two percent of the total number of lines); nevertheless, descriptions generate numerous dramatic parallels and thematic implications. For the most part, description concentrates on cosmography and characters. Chaucer omits detailed descriptions of interior settings - they are either ignored or impressionistically suggested by mention of single items - but, rather, he dwells on generalized impressions of seasons; detailed accounts of sunrises, sunsets, and astronomical conditions; and methodically controlled pictures of the major characters. To observe the overall effect and use Chaucer makes descriptive passages - to see authorial implication in passages of description - it would be best to analyze cosmographic descriptions in the order in which they occur, separate from descriptions of characters and objects associated with them.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:pacific.edu/oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-3898 |
Date | 01 January 1966 |
Creators | Soules, Eugene Henri |
Publisher | Scholarly Commons |
Source Sets | University of the Pacific |
Detected Language | English |
Type | text |
Format | application/pdf |
Source | University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations |
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