Three Ovidian Women in Chaucer's 'Troilus': Medea, Helen, Oenone

Author / Editor
Arn, Mary-Jo.

Title
Three Ovidian Women in Chaucer's 'Troilus': Medea, Helen, Oenone

Published
Chaucer Review 15 (1980): 1-10.

Description
Similarities to Ovid's young Medea give Criseyde's character innocence; to Helen, guile, and reluctance to decide; while references to Oenone prefigure treachery in the connection to Paris' betrayal and the war. Ovidian references undercut the action, creating irony and richer narrative.

Chaucer Subjects
Troilus and Criseyde.