Introduction Today we are going to talk about the ‘father of Modern English literature, Geoffrey Chaucer. Geoffrey Chaucer was a major late medieval writer. Chaucer lived at the time when lots of change and transmission were happening in Europe and England. There is 100 years war with France. And this war was between France and England. This was the time of Black Death. The bubonic Plague ravaged the entire Europe and came to England in 1348.It brought lots of social and economical problem for the people. Thousands of people died and peasant’s revolt broke out. The peasants want to better life and better living condition but king
Richard 2nd crushed the peasant’s revolt. All these things happened during the time of Chaucer. On those days Chaucer concerned about his language. French and Latin were the important language English was not the main language. French was the language of aristocracy and the Latin was the language of clergymen. He brought a change on those days to write in English language. Some of his contemporary also wrote in English language like – Langland wrote ‘the vision of piers Plowman’, Gower wrote ‘Confessio Amantis , and John Wycliffe translated the Bible in English.
Birth/ Death
The Father of English Poetry Geoffrey Chaucer was born in circa
in 1340, most likely at his parents’
house of Thames Street in London,
England. Chaucer was the English poet and author. Widely considered the
greatest English poet of the middle age, he is best known for the “Canterbury
Tale”. His father’s name was John Chaucer and his mother was Agnes Copton. He died 25, October, 1400, in
Spouse and Children
Chaucer was one of the most learned man of his time. Chaucer had a high –born, Philippa, whom probably married as early as 1366. Chaucer may also have had a daughter, Elizabeth, and two son, “little Lewis” (for whom he composed the Astrolabe, a prose work on the use of that instrument of an astronomer) and Thomas.
Alma mater and education and career
Geoffrey Chaucer is believed to have attended the
By 1368, King Edward III had made Chaucer one of his
esquires. From1370 to 1373, he went abroad again and fulfilled diplomatic
mission in
From 1389 to 1391, after Richard II had as ascended to the throne, works. When, Chaucer had stopped receiving his pension. Chaucer eventually resigned the position for a lower but less stressful appointment as a sub-forester, or gardener, at the King’s park in Somersetshire. When Richard II was deposed in1399, his cousin and successor, Henry IV, took pity on Chaucer and reinstated Chaucer’s former pension.
Chaucer’s major work.
For our convenience the life of Chaucer is divided into three periods. The first, of Thirty Years, includes his youth and early manhood. The second, of fifteen years, covers Chaucer’s active life as diplomat and man of affairs. The third, of fifteen years, generally known as the English Period, is the time of Chaucer’s richest development.
The Canterbury
“
The Troilus and Criseyde:
This is an epic poem by Chaucer which tells the tragic story of the lovers Troilus and Criseyde set against a backdrop of war during the siege of troy. It was written in Rhyme Royal. The plot of this poem is Boccaccio’s “Filostrato.
The parlement of Foules:
This is a poem by Chaucer that has 699 lines. This poem is a dream vision in Rhyme Royal stanza for St. Valentine’s Day. It is also known as “Assemble of Foules” OR “Parlement of birds”.
The Book of Duchess:
The Book of Duchess also known as “The death of Blounche” The theme of this poem is the brevity of love, the obtuseness of the dreamer, and springtime.
The legend of good Women:
It is the collection of 19 story but only 8 are completed. It presents a “prologue”. .In the prologue the god of love is angry at Chaucer for writing about so many women who betray men. As penance, Chaucer is instructed to write about good women It is a form of allegory.
Scientific work
The Equatorie of the Planet’s
A Treatise on the Astrolabe (1391)
Translated work
Translation of Rome de la Rose, possibly extant as The Romunt of the Rose
Translation of Boethius consolation of Philosophy as Boece.
Chaucer’s realism:-
At the outset it must be made clear that Chaucer at heart was a realist, and he revealed the truth about the life as he saw it. Before him, the writer was lost in the world of dream and allegories. In his French period, Chaucer too was an allegorist, but in English period he shook off the shackles of the dreamy allegory and came out within the healthy observation about the life that he found unfolding before his eyes. He had the innate instinct to catch within his purview the soul of his generation in all its fullness and its depth. He had the seeing eyes, excellent memory, the judgement to select, and the capacity to expound. Thus his observation about his time is true and realistic; and set forth with the vision of dreamy allegorist.
Conclusion
Geoffrey Chaucer is considered one of the first great
English poet He occupies a unique position in English Literature. He was born a
commoner, but through his wisdom, he moved freely in royal family. At the end
we can say that, he is a genial observer of mankind, a good storyteller, as
well as a satirist and a reformer. He introduced rhyme Royal, a rhyming pattern
to English poetry. He lived under the
reign of 3 kings: Edward III, Richard II
and Henry IV. .He has a versatile personality.
Some important Question
- Who is the father of English Poetry?
Answer - Geoffrey Chaucer is the Father of English poetry.
- What is the master piece of Chaucer?
Answer -
- What are 3 famous work of Chaucer?
Answer - He composed dream vision such as the book of duchess, the legend of good women, and the parlement of fowls.
- In which century Chaucer was born?
Answer - Chaucer was born in 14th century
- In the
Canterbury
Answer - In Tabard inn.
- Which is the first story of the
Canterbury
Answer - The knight’s tale is the first
- “Here is god’s plenty” who said this about Chaucer’s work?
Answer - John Dryden
- Who said,” With him is born our real poetry” about Chaucer?
Answer Mathew Arnold.
- How many tales will each pilgrim tell on the way?
Answer- 4 (four)
- What was the name of host who organized the pilgrimage?
Answer – Harry bailey.
- Which character was a nun in the ‘
Canterbury
Answer – The Prioress.
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