logo

54 pages 1 hour read

Troilus and Criseyde

Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Adult | Published in 1385

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book 4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Book 4, Lines 1-28 Summary

The beginning of this book laments that it will now tell of how Troilus lost Fortune’s favor. Personifying Fortune as a feminine goddess, Chaucer writes of how Fortune always tricks those who she seems to be favoring the most, turning their happiness into betrayal. He relates that Troilus will lose Criseyde, while Diomede will be elevated on Fortune’s Wheel to a higher state. Chaucer invokes the Erinyes, also known as the furies, Greek goddesses of revenge. He also asks for help from Mars, the god of war, to help him write this book and relate these events.

Book 4, Lines 29-658 Summary

During the war with the Greeks, several Trojan warriors are captured. Both sides decide to arrange a prisoner exchange, but there are more Trojan prisoners than there are Greeks. Calkas goes to the Greek leaders and begs them to ask for his daughter, Criseyde, since he was unable to take her with him when he fled the city. He reminds them of how he has helped their cause with his predictions and left behind all his property to join them. The Greeks agree and request that Criseyde be traded in exchange for the Trojan Antenor.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 54 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools