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Dominican University of California

Mirror Imagery in Chaucer's Trolius and Criseide

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseide, written almost 600 years ago, continues to delight those who read it and continues to invite new avenues of interpretation.</p> <p>Among the aspects of the poem which have been carefully studied are the enigma of the heroine's personality and the reasons for her betrayal of Troilus. Critics differ markedly in their opinions on these matters.</p> <p>My thesis suggests that Chaucer's use of the traditional medieval mirror image helps to clarify Criseide's character and her function within the poem. Criseide reflects a glimpse of an absolute ideal for Troilus; the image is transitory and illusive because it is secular. She also mirrors the ambiguous qualities of human light and darkness.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Arts
Level thesis:degree_level
Master's Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Humanities
Year
1970

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Epstein, Helga

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholar.dominican.edu:humanities-print-theses-1183

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Dominican University of California
Base URL
scholar.dominican.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Epstein, Helga. Mirror Imagery in Chaucer's Trolius and Criseide. Master's Thesis thesis, 1970. https://scholar.dominican.edu/humanities-print-theses/184