Troilus and Cressida

Troilus and Cressida has been categorized as one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays” (See: Background). Analyze the play through this classification: Which elements of the play speak to its “problematic” nature as a play? In what ways does it complicate the conventional elements of both tragedy and comedic love stories?

Unlike in the Iliad, the Greek heroes are often presented as corrupt and unheroic figures in Shakespeare’s play. Closely analyze Achilles, Ulysses, and/or Diomedes. How are they characterized? How do they behave in ways that challenge the traditional heroic ethos?

Research the plot of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s tragic romance, and compare and contrast it with Troilus and Cressida. How do the plays mirror one another in terms of themes, characterization, and/or literary devices? In what respects do the two plays differ?