Geoffrey Chaucer, Anelida and Arcite

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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 can further be divided into the Proem (ll. 211-19), Strophe (ll. 220-80), Antistrophe (ll. 281-341), and

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Citation: Menmuir, Rebecca. "Anelida and Arcite". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 03 June 2021 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6663, accessed 29 March 2024.]

6663 Anelida and Arcite 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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