Troilus And Criseyde: A Study In Chaucer\u27S Narrative Technique

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