Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
The medieval works of Geoffrey Chaucer and the contemporary works of Sarah J. Maas employ three of the same themes: forbidden love, insta-love, and love triangles. These themes are based in the medieval literary tradition of courtly love as first written by Andreas Cappellanus in the twelfth century. Sarah J. Maas is a contemporary author of the young adult fantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses that follows a young girl who by magical circumstances becomes romantically involved with two male faeries. This modern series portrays the same themes that Chaucer’s works of Troilus and Criseyde and The Canterbury Tales display, which makes these antiquated ideas of love relevant. In fact, the medieval depiction of women provides a certain agency that the modern teen fiction novel does not. Critics think such themes in young adult fiction do not portray a healthy and realistic view of romance for young women to strive for. While these themes are not modern romantic notions, they do remain entertaining in fiction, despite their critics.
Recommended Citation
Cuadrado, Dana, "Medieval Literature and Young Adult Fiction: A Comparison of Chaucer and Sarah J. Maas" (2017). Honors College Theses. 158.
https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/honorscollege_theses/158
Comments
Original document was submitted as an honors thesis requirement. Copyright is held by the author.