Understanding Genre and Medieval Romance

Description: Defines medieval romance as a narrative (usually poetic) that follows a hero's encounters with "love, ladies, and adventures, culminating in a happy ending." Whetter explores these features in Middle English romances, particularly Malory's "Morte Darthur," which combines features of romance and tragedy. Chaucer's Th parodies these features (except the happy ending, since Th is incomplete). KnT combines the features with philosophy; TC, with tragedy.

Chaucer Subjects: Tale of Sir Thopas; Knight and His Tale; Troilus and Criseyde