Troilus and Cressida Study Guide: Course Hero Study Guide

Troilus and Cressida is a play by William Shakespeare, first published in 1609. It is set during the Trojan War, and tells the story of the love affair between the Trojan prince Troilus and the Greek princess Cressida. The play is a complex and challenging work, but it is also one of Shakespeare's most rewarding. This study guide will help you to understand the play's plot, characters, themes, and language.

Study Guide for William Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida (Course Hero Study Guides)

by Course Hero

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	964 KB
Lending	:	Enabled
Print length	:	33 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Plot

The play is set in the tenth year of the Trojan War. The Trojans have been besieging the Greek city of Troy for ten years, but they have not been able to break through the city's walls. The Greeks are equally determined to defend their city, and the war has reached a stalemate.

In the midst of this conflict, Troilus and Cressida fall in love. Troilus is a brave and noble warrior, while Cressida is a beautiful and intelligent woman. Their love is passionate and intense, but it is also doomed from the start.

The play follows the lovers as they try to navigate the challenges of love and war. They must deal with the suspicions of their families and friends, the dangers of the battlefield, and the ever-present threat of death. In the end, their love is destroyed by the forces of war.

Characters

Troilus and Cressida is a play with a large cast of characters. The main characters are:

• Troilus: A Trojan prince and the son of King Priam. He is a brave and noble warrior, but he is also naive and inexperienced in love.
• Cressida: A Greek princess and the daughter of Calchas. She is a beautiful and intelligent woman, but she is also fickle and manipulative.
• Pandarus: Cressida's uncle. He is a lecherous and opportunistic man who helps Troilus and Cressida to get together.
• Hector: Troilus's older brother. He is a wise and experienced warrior, but he is also weary of war.
• Achilles: A Greek warrior and the greatest warrior in the world. He is arrogant and proud, but he is also a skilled fighter.
• Agamemnon: The commander of the Greek army. He is a ruthless and ambitious man who is determined to win the Trojan War.

Themes

Troilus and Cressida is a play that explores a number of complex themes, including:

• Love and war: The play explores the relationship between love and war. Love is a powerful force that can make people do amazing things, but it can also be destructive. War is a brutal and bloody affair that can destroy everything in its path.
• Loyalty and betrayal: The play also explores the themes of loyalty and betrayal. Many of the characters in the play are forced to choose between their loyalty to their country and their loyalty to their friends and family. Some characters betray their loved ones for personal gain, while others remain loyal even in the face of danger.
• Fate and free will: The play also raises questions about fate and free will. Are our lives predetermined, or do we have the power to make our own choices? The play suggests that both fate and free will play a role in our lives.

Language

Troilus and Cressida is written in Shakespeare's characteristically complex and poetic language. The play is full of beautiful imagery and metaphors, and the characters speak in a highly stylized and eloquent manner. However, the play also contains a great deal of bawdy humor and sexual innuendo. This can make the play difficult to understand at times, but it also adds to the play's richness and complexity.

Troilus and Cressida is a complex and challenging play, but it is also one of Shakespeare's most rewarding. The play explores a number of important themes, and it is full of beautiful language and memorable characters. If you are looking for a play that will challenge you and make you think, then Troilus and Cressida is definitely worth reading.

Study Guide for William Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida (Course Hero Study Guides)

by Course Hero

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	964 KB
Lending	:	Enabled
Print length	:	33 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE