Geoffrey Chaucer, Anelida and Arcite

Rebecca Menmuir (Queen Mary, University of London)

Ed. by Natalie Hanna, University of Liverpool
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.02: English Writing and Culture: High and Late Medieval, 1066-1485.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Rory Critten (Université de Lausanne), David Fuller (University of Durham), Natalie Hanna (University of Liverpool), Hugh Magennis (Queen's University Belfast), Jamie McKinstry (University of Durham), Sarah Peverley (University of Liverpool), Sebastian Sobecki (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. 1370

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Poetry (any)

Resources

Introduction

Anelida and Arcite (hereafter Anelida), if it is considered at all by Chaucer scholars, is often considered to be one of his most problematic and unusual works: structurally and formally incoherent, critically neglected or criticised, and ultimately left unfinished by its author. Anelida purports to tell an epic, male narrative, invoking the gods and the Muses of epic poetry, but the majority of this short poem is in fact devoted to the complaint of Anelida upon her woeful treatment by the false Arcite. The poem follows the structure of an Invocation (ll. 1-21), Story (ll. 22-210), Complaint (ll. 211-350), and a return to the Story (ll. 351-57). Anelida’s complaint …

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2701 words

Citation: Menmuir, Rebecca. "Anelida and Arcite". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 June 2021 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6663, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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