Troilus and Criseyde MCQs & Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 26, 2025

Summary:

Troilus and Criseyde is a medieval romance poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century. The poem is set during the Trojan War and tells the tragic love story of Troilus, a Trojan prince, and Criseyde, the daughter of a Trojan priest who defects to the Greeks.

Troilus, a mighty warrior and son of King Priam, falls deeply in love with the beautiful Criseyde. With the help of Pandarus, Criseyde’s uncle, the two lovers come together in a secret relationship. However, their love is doomed when Criseyde is exchanged for a Trojan prisoner and sent to the Greek camp.

Although Criseyde promises to return, she soon falls in love with Diomede, a Greek warrior. Troilus, heartbroken, loses faith in love and destiny. In the final part of the poem, he dies in battle and his soul ascends to the heavens, showing Chaucer’s philosophical view on fate and love.

The poem explores themes of love, fate, betrayal, and the instability of human happiness. It is considered one of Chaucer’s greatest works, influencing later literary works, including Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida.

MCQs

1. Who wrote Troilus and Criseyde?
   A) William Shakespeare
   B) Geoffrey Chaucer
   C) John Milton
   D) Thomas Malory
   Answer: B) Geoffrey Chaucer
2. During which war is Troilus and Criseyde set?
   A) The Hundred Years’ War
   B) The Trojan War
   C) The War of the Roses
   D) The Norman Conquest
   Answer: B) The Trojan War
3. Who is the main male protagonist of the poem?
   A) Hector
   B) Paris
   C) Troilus
   D) Diomede
   Answer: C) Troilus

   

4. What role does Pandarus play in the story?
   A) He is a Trojan warrior
   B) He is Criseyde’s father
   C) He acts as a matchmaker between Troilus and Criseyde
   D) He betrays Troilus
   Answer: C) He acts as a matchmaker between Troilus and Criseyde
5. Why is Criseyde sent to the Greek camp?
   A) She is captured in battle
   B) She betrays Troy and joins the Greeks
   C) She is exchanged for a Trojan prisoner
   D) She follows her father
   Answer: C) She is exchanged for a Trojan prisoner
6. Who does Criseyde fall in love with after going to the Greek camp?
   A) Achilles
   B) Agamemnon
   C) Diomede
   D) Odysseus
   Answer: C) Diomede
7. What happens to Troilus at the end of the poem?
   A) He marries another woman
   B) He leaves Troy and becomes a Greek warrior
   C) He is killed in battle and his soul ascends to heaven
   D) He forgives Criseyde and lives happily
   Answer: C) He is killed in battle and his soul ascends to heaven
8. What is a major theme of Troilus and Criseyde?
   A) The power of magic
   B) The corruption of rulers
   C) The unpredictability of love and fate
   D) The victory of love over all obstacles
   Answer: C) The unpredictability of love and fate
9. Which famous playwright later adapted this story into a play?
   A) Christopher Marlowe
   B) William Shakespeare
   C) Ben Jonson
   D) John Dryden
   Answer: B) William Shakespeare
10. What literary form is Troilus and Criseyde written in?
    A) Prose
    B) Blank verse
    C) Rhyme royal
    D) Heroic couplets
    Answer: C) Rhyme royal