skip to main | skip to sidebar
Chaucerian literature is essentially humanitic . It is certainly different  from and superior to its preceding literature in its interest in humanity -in human character and conduct . Chaucer's  sketches are great character studies as also the portraits of the basic aspects of human nature .

Chaucer's  literary  achievement are unique , not merely in bulk but also in creativity and originally .. His literary world is not antique , but modern . This is a steady step towardsthe great age of the Renaissance . His genius is found to put fresh and formative spirits into old things and to turn gross into gold .

Chaucer's contemporaries and successors are definitely not comparable with him . But they are more or less his followers and imitators . Naturally , they are found to have shared in the contribution to the enlargement of English literature and the preparation for the Renaissance .

It is , therefore , remarkable to take notes if different literary men and works in the world of Chaucer , which are not Chaucerian in origin , but bear in greater or lesser degrees , his majestic influence and found to bear out amply a translation in literature from medievalism to modernism .

But what is more about Chaucer is his application of the common dialect of London and its neighbourhood as his poetic diction . This is known as the King's English which became , owing largely to his own work , the sole literary  language throughout England . 

Transition from medieval to modern literature in the Chaucerian literary age

Green Land | October 28, 2016 | 0 comments
Chaucerian literature is essentially humanitic . It is certainly different  from and superior to its preceding literature in its interest in humanity -in human character and conduct . Chaucer's  sketches are great character studies as also the portraits of the basic aspects of human nature .

Chaucer's  literary  achievement are unique , not merely in bulk but also in creativity and originally .. His literary world is not antique , but modern . This is a steady step towardsthe great age of the Renaissance . His genius is found to put fresh and formative spirits into old things and to turn gross into gold .

Chaucer's contemporaries and successors are definitely not comparable with him . But they are more or less his followers and imitators . Naturally , they are found to have shared in the contribution to the enlargement of English literature and the preparation for the Renaissance .

It is , therefore , remarkable to take notes if different literary men and works in the world of Chaucer , which are not Chaucerian in origin , but bear in greater or lesser degrees , his majestic influence and found to bear out amply a translation in literature from medievalism to modernism .

But what is more about Chaucer is his application of the common dialect of London and its neighbourhood as his poetic diction . This is known as the King's English which became , owing largely to his own work , the sole literary  language throughout England . 
readmore

Chaucer belonged to the medieval age - a dark age - an age dominated by the kingly authority, the Catholic Church, and they are ignored and trampled down by the feudal structure of the then society. Literature, as the mirror of that feudal society, was centered around homiletic songs, and knightly romances. Man, rather the average individual man  had no place in that literature of feudal dominance 

Chaucer came at such an age. His varied experiences of strain and stress and suffering made him wiser about his and society. Moreover, his personal involvement in servitude, captivity, and feudal atrocities as also his intimate acquaintance with foreign literary masters added to his knowledge and experience. All those factors formed his literary magnitude as well as magnificence 

And Chaucer brought a new leaf to the old and worn-out feudal literature. He introduced a new spirit into the literature of his age through his rare creative excellence. That led the way to the flowering of the Renaissance in English literature a century after. Chaucer appeared to have acted here as the very harbinger of the great modern 

Chaucer's age was of medieval authoritarianism  Royal absolutism, Catholic rigors, and baronial arrogance, an already asserted, marked age. Yet  England was then in a transitional phase  The dark age of medievalism was in its last phase. So long downdowntroddenses began to rise and protest against the tales of injustice and wrong. The Peasants revolution brought that glaringly to the surface  The triple authority of the crown, the Catholic Church, and its peers were in utter discord. The overbearing attitude of the church and the peerage was curbed by the king out of this individual personality and capabilities. Corruption in the high officers of the church and covetous license among the mighty lords was exposed and defied and even thrashed by the king for his own interest.  There were new trends to oppose and criticized beliefs, notions, and views  It was a changing phase in England 

Chaucer emerged in the tt phase of transition. He played a major part in paving the road to that transition from medievalism to modernism through the wonder of his creative literature  Herein lies the essence of a master  who  thought of the old world  remains with the great modern 

Indeed  English literature was awakened in the second half of the fourteenth century from the stagnation of stereotyped medieval literature  That was made possible due to the genius of a great literary master Geoffrey Chaucer. English literature, in the course of its advancement from the old English period to Middle English, reached the height of excellence in Chaucer's hand, it is many literary works of a lasting fe.

Medieval English literature, before Chaucer, mainly consisted of Christian homilies, sermons, lives, Romans, and allegorical poems, in addition to religious and ethical prose writings. These are all more or less stereotyped literary accounts of some saints nuns, chivalrous knights,d lovely ladies. Individual traits in men are all missing in them  Characters are only known as princes, knights,  lovely ladies, priests, innkeepers, shoemakers, different guildsmen, and so on. But Chaucer brought liveliness lively to preceding barren medieval literature. 

New spirit introduced by chaucer /chaucer as the harbinger of a new literary age

Green Land | October 26, 2016 | 0 comments

Chaucer belonged to the medieval age - a dark age - an age dominated by the kingly authority, the Catholic Church, and they are ignored and trampled down by the feudal structure of the then society. Literature, as the mirror of that feudal society, was centered around homiletic songs, and knightly romances. Man, rather the average individual man  had no place in that literature of feudal dominance 

Chaucer came at such an age. His varied experiences of strain and stress and suffering made him wiser about his and society. Moreover, his personal involvement in servitude, captivity, and feudal atrocities as also his intimate acquaintance with foreign literary masters added to his knowledge and experience. All those factors formed his literary magnitude as well as magnificence 

And Chaucer brought a new leaf to the old and worn-out feudal literature. He introduced a new spirit into the literature of his age through his rare creative excellence. That led the way to the flowering of the Renaissance in English literature a century after. Chaucer appeared to have acted here as the very harbinger of the great modern 

Chaucer's age was of medieval authoritarianism  Royal absolutism, Catholic rigors, and baronial arrogance, an already asserted, marked age. Yet  England was then in a transitional phase  The dark age of medievalism was in its last phase. So long downdowntroddenses began to rise and protest against the tales of injustice and wrong. The Peasants revolution brought that glaringly to the surface  The triple authority of the crown, the Catholic Church, and its peers were in utter discord. The overbearing attitude of the church and the peerage was curbed by the king out of this individual personality and capabilities. Corruption in the high officers of the church and covetous license among the mighty lords was exposed and defied and even thrashed by the king for his own interest.  There were new trends to oppose and criticized beliefs, notions, and views  It was a changing phase in England 

Chaucer emerged in the tt phase of transition. He played a major part in paving the road to that transition from medievalism to modernism through the wonder of his creative literature  Herein lies the essence of a master  who  thought of the old world  remains with the great modern 

Indeed  English literature was awakened in the second half of the fourteenth century from the stagnation of stereotyped medieval literature  That was made possible due to the genius of a great literary master Geoffrey Chaucer. English literature, in the course of its advancement from the old English period to Middle English, reached the height of excellence in Chaucer's hand, it is many literary works of a lasting fe.

Medieval English literature, before Chaucer, mainly consisted of Christian homilies, sermons, lives, Romans, and allegorical poems, in addition to religious and ethical prose writings. These are all more or less stereotyped literary accounts of some saints nuns, chivalrous knights,d lovely ladies. Individual traits in men are all missing in them  Characters are only known as princes, knights,  lovely ladies, priests, innkeepers, shoemakers, different guildsmen, and so on. But Chaucer brought liveliness lively to preceding barren medieval literature. 
readmore
Chaucer belonged to the Medieval age . It was a dark age , haunted with Catholic austerity and feudal atrocity and feudal atrocity . Spontaneity in life was all kept suppressed and silenced by the rigours of the authority . Naturally , in such a state , the genial zest for life was found to be missing in the literary pursuits of the time . Yet , Chaucer breathed in plenty spirit and liveliness , so much needed in lasting creative literary works . In fact , he had in plenty what most of his fellow poets lacked unfortunately , the sense of the comic , rare for his age .

The comic spirit is particularly resonant  in two elements-wit and humour . In fact , the fun of life and literature is closely associated with the flash of wit and the depth of humour . Wit is an intellectual flash rather a sort of intellectual exercise and it gives diversion and delight . Humour , too , is an intellectual gift , a sensitive expression . It causes laughter just as wit does . But the play of wit is spectacular , somewhat superficial , but in humour , laughter is deep and dignified . Both these elements of wit and humours are necessary constitution in the respresent of any sense of the comic . This is so with Chaucers literary talent . His creative genius bears out , in a plentiful measure , his wonderful  sense of humoum with which the rare flash of wit is found well mingled .

The Canterbury  Tales , Chaucer's  last and best work , is imbued with his most delighted  sense of the comic . The work is , no doubt , great as a wonderful  document of the English social life of the fourteenth century . But it is also a delightful comedy of human life , a grand social comedy , through it is no drama technically .

Chaucer's comic art is vividly revealed in The Canterbury  Tales . In his conceptiin and execution of the entire work , a truly comic spirit is intensely felt . The idea of bringing so many pilgrims together is certainly  quite humorous . But more humorous and witty is his description of different pilgrims , with the wonderful fidelity to reality  and a profound sense of humorous . Chaucer makes his pilgrims  quite engaging . Chaucerian humour is certainly the chief draw here .

As a comic artist , Chaucer goes deep to what is incongruous in human life and behaviour . He does not fail to make fun with the pilgrims  drawn  by him in the prologue . All his portraits sharply indicate a sense of joy that the true comedy possesses . Thus , although the Knight is not drawn  for the purpose of fun , the poet makes diverting reflections on his horse and its nature . His horse was good , but he was not gay . More enjoyable , however , seems Chaucer's  description  of the Cook . He mentioned  the Cook's skill in different ways , and in doing so , he also makes fun of his nature .

Indeed , The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales is sufficiently illustrative of Chaucer's sense of wit and humour in which subtle irony does not remain unmixed . His portrait of the Monk may be mentioned in this connection . The Monk's love for eating is wittily caricatured in a single sharp line-

A fat swam loved he best of any roost
Of course,  Chaucer's humour appears a bit crude and heavy in the portraits of the Wife of Bath and the Miller . He makes a sarcastic comment on the kerchief that the former wears on her head on a Sunday.  The Miller's bulky and robust body is also funnily represented. Chaucer's humour, however,  is not absolutely simple innocent.  Along with the play of wit , there is a touch of irony , as already noted,  in Chaucerian humour.  Of course,  his irony has little of pungency and more of entertainment . He makes fun and provokes laughter. but does not lash savagely.  His irony is, perhaps,  vividly marked in his description of the nature of the Prioress.  He makes a good deal of exaggeration about her,  with an ironical hit on her pretentious and demonstrative nature.

What is, however,  striking in Chaucer's irony is the natural , effortless revelation of the corruption in the high offices of the Catholic Church . This he does by means of his representation of the clerical order of his time. The effect achieved is almost Aristophanic,  in which the comic spirit is best manifested .

Chaucer's gifts of humour and wit and the flash of his diverting irony have breathed into his poetry an atmosphere of loveliness geniality and comical gaiety.  He is truly the first great English humorist and original harbinger of the comic spirit in English literature.

Chaucer's comic spirit is also marked in his other literary works ,including Parlement of Foules and The Hous of Fame . His allegories are enlivened with diverting balance between wit, humour and irony. They well reveal him as a comedian in high verses .

Write an illustrative note on Chaucer's wit and humour

Green Land | October 25, 2016 | 0 comments
Chaucer belonged to the Medieval age . It was a dark age , haunted with Catholic austerity and feudal atrocity and feudal atrocity . Spontaneity in life was all kept suppressed and silenced by the rigours of the authority . Naturally , in such a state , the genial zest for life was found to be missing in the literary pursuits of the time . Yet , Chaucer breathed in plenty spirit and liveliness , so much needed in lasting creative literary works . In fact , he had in plenty what most of his fellow poets lacked unfortunately , the sense of the comic , rare for his age .

The comic spirit is particularly resonant  in two elements-wit and humour . In fact , the fun of life and literature is closely associated with the flash of wit and the depth of humour . Wit is an intellectual flash rather a sort of intellectual exercise and it gives diversion and delight . Humour , too , is an intellectual gift , a sensitive expression . It causes laughter just as wit does . But the play of wit is spectacular , somewhat superficial , but in humour , laughter is deep and dignified . Both these elements of wit and humours are necessary constitution in the respresent of any sense of the comic . This is so with Chaucers literary talent . His creative genius bears out , in a plentiful measure , his wonderful  sense of humoum with which the rare flash of wit is found well mingled .

The Canterbury  Tales , Chaucer's  last and best work , is imbued with his most delighted  sense of the comic . The work is , no doubt , great as a wonderful  document of the English social life of the fourteenth century . But it is also a delightful comedy of human life , a grand social comedy , through it is no drama technically .

Chaucer's comic art is vividly revealed in The Canterbury  Tales . In his conceptiin and execution of the entire work , a truly comic spirit is intensely felt . The idea of bringing so many pilgrims together is certainly  quite humorous . But more humorous and witty is his description of different pilgrims , with the wonderful fidelity to reality  and a profound sense of humorous . Chaucer makes his pilgrims  quite engaging . Chaucerian humour is certainly the chief draw here .

As a comic artist , Chaucer goes deep to what is incongruous in human life and behaviour . He does not fail to make fun with the pilgrims  drawn  by him in the prologue . All his portraits sharply indicate a sense of joy that the true comedy possesses . Thus , although the Knight is not drawn  for the purpose of fun , the poet makes diverting reflections on his horse and its nature . His horse was good , but he was not gay . More enjoyable , however , seems Chaucer's  description  of the Cook . He mentioned  the Cook's skill in different ways , and in doing so , he also makes fun of his nature .

Indeed , The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales is sufficiently illustrative of Chaucer's sense of wit and humour in which subtle irony does not remain unmixed . His portrait of the Monk may be mentioned in this connection . The Monk's love for eating is wittily caricatured in a single sharp line-

A fat swam loved he best of any roost
Of course,  Chaucer's humour appears a bit crude and heavy in the portraits of the Wife of Bath and the Miller . He makes a sarcastic comment on the kerchief that the former wears on her head on a Sunday.  The Miller's bulky and robust body is also funnily represented. Chaucer's humour, however,  is not absolutely simple innocent.  Along with the play of wit , there is a touch of irony , as already noted,  in Chaucerian humour.  Of course,  his irony has little of pungency and more of entertainment . He makes fun and provokes laughter. but does not lash savagely.  His irony is, perhaps,  vividly marked in his description of the nature of the Prioress.  He makes a good deal of exaggeration about her,  with an ironical hit on her pretentious and demonstrative nature.

What is, however,  striking in Chaucer's irony is the natural , effortless revelation of the corruption in the high offices of the Catholic Church . This he does by means of his representation of the clerical order of his time. The effect achieved is almost Aristophanic,  in which the comic spirit is best manifested .

Chaucer's gifts of humour and wit and the flash of his diverting irony have breathed into his poetry an atmosphere of loveliness geniality and comical gaiety.  He is truly the first great English humorist and original harbinger of the comic spirit in English literature.

Chaucer's comic spirit is also marked in his other literary works ,including Parlement of Foules and The Hous of Fame . His allegories are enlivened with diverting balance between wit, humour and irony. They well reveal him as a comedian in high verses .

readmore

Chaucer's picture of the fourteenth century English society in The Canterbury Tales

As a story- teller in verse , Chaucer , no doubt a unique master of narration is found to be grand observer of life and society around him . As he narrates his tale , in simple and melodious verses , and creates engaging characters , he presents , too , the life of his time scrutinises its specific traits , with lively and realistic touches .

In The Canterbury Tales , which is the crowing glory of Chaucer's literary achievements , is found fully exhibited his power to represent the fourteenth century English society in its different aspects , ecclesiastical as well as secular , with a rare artistry . The Prologue to The Canterbury  Tales is found to testify to his close association with the English life of his time . Truly speaking , it remains a great social documents of fourteenth  century English life in verse.
Chaucer's picture of the fourteenth century English society

Indeed , in the prologue , Chaucer represented adequately different strata of the English community under the feudal hierarchy . He presents here different character to represent different classes of medieval English society . His triumph lies in his power of observation and analysis that makes his characters typical of the age or society they represent , Here Chaucer stands without any parallel among his predecessors and contemporaries . 

The very conception , on which The Canterbury Tales is based , has a social background . Chaucer is found to exploit here the medieval religious practice to visit the tomb of Thomas Becket at Canterbury . That was a custom in which all the sections of the British people were participants . The pilgrimage to Canterbury is the occasion of Chaucer's Prologue in which he introduces different pilgrims , belonging to different professions , occupations , or functions , both secular and ecclesiastical .

Indeed , the Prologue alone bears out Chaucer's power to observe and examine , in a vivid and lovely manner , the fourteenth century . Except the highest ranks of the feudal order , the varons and the bishops , and the lowest , the serfs , all other sections are possibly represented through different characters , making pilgrimage to Canterbury .

In fact , Chaucer is found to present the then English society through different portraits introduced by him as the pilgrims to but they mainly focus the social types which are represented  in the work . Above all , colour , variety , interest and charm which Chaucer  had represented through  his portraits of pilgrims  make the whole social picture precise , clear , engaging and emphatic .

Thus,  of the secular sections of the society of his time, Chaucer's portraits of the Knights and the squire as also of the Yeoman may be mentioned . They represent the feudal chivalry of the time. In the medieval age those people had a specific role in society . Chaucer is found to have presented them according to their real situation and character,  which he possibly obtained from his own experience and personal contacts . Again , Chaucer goes to treat the members of the other sections of the community . The learned professions of the time , belonging to the secular sections , are typified by the Sergeant of the law and the doctor of physique. Both those professional men were held in highest esteem in the middle ages and Chaucer had his own experiences about them which he gave vent to his portraits of the pilgrims.

The common professional secular people, described by Chaucer,  include the five Guildsmen, the Shipman , the Miller , the Merchant,  and so on . He indicates aptly,  in his portraits , their physical characteristics as well as the nature of their occupation and the impact thereof on their conduct and behaviour. The common officers of state represented by Chaucer in the Prologue are the Manciple and the Reeve while the Franklin and the wife of bath stand for the free gentleman and the family women of the time respectively.

By the side of the secular characters, Chaucer represents the religious order of medieval English through his representation of the persons of some religious professions . They include the Prioress,  Monk,  Friar,  Clerk , Parson,  Pardoner and Summoner . Chaucer is here found to classify the functions which different churchmen had under the ordain of the Catholic code. His range of portraits is quite wide and never appears narrow or shallow in his representations.

Chaucer's picture of the English society of the medieval age as well noticed in his portraits of different pilgrims is varied and engaging.  Of course,  he never makes himself boring by any unnecessary elaboration or detail. On the other hand,  he is extremely precise and what is more, delightfully witty in his scrutiny of different personalities,  secular as well as religious.  As a result Chaucer's characters are not merely documentary but also freely individual.  His originality in the representation of the social figures is amply demonstrated here, and in this respect , the good wife of bath and the monk may be mentioned in particular .

The Wife of Bath is not only a typical , easy going, rather an unthinking feminine being of the age, but also appears to be extremely extrovert and talkative.  Her love for gay companions , fondness for travelling in some good company and other features well bear out the type of characters Chaucer portrays here with acute social consciousness . The Monk,  as already noted,  is an ecclesiastical representation .Chaucer well shows out how his interest lies in physical comfort and the worldly enjoyment of life . He is, therefore, shown as extremely fond of hunting dressing,  eating and other thoroughly physical pleasures.

Indeed, Chaucer's pilgrims well represent a comprehensive circle of social types . At the same time , they remain original and interesting in their individuality and that separates each of them from the general crowd of pilgrims and gives him or her class or rank of his or her own.

In conclusion , Chaucer's slight but enjoyable satire in his social account , is perceived in his representation of the ecclesiastical order in particular,  such as the Monk,  the Pardoner and the summoner. Chaucer court with a love for materialism , splendour and luxurious living . Here he may be placed by the side of Langland in his representation of the vices and follies of the ecclesiastical order of the fourteenth century in his famous Piers Plowman.  But Langland is serious and to some extent openly satirical , while Chaucer remains diverting , even lovely with flashes of wit and banter.  Naturally , the latter remains more enjoyable and popular than the former,  and is read even now with delight and interest to have the knowledge of the social fabric of his time.

Moreover, Chaucer appears to be a spectator of life , one who does not wish to make himself a moralist like Langland . He seems to view life as it was revolving , revealing and renovating. He appears to accept,  with the spectator's disinterestedness , the changes,  taking place rapidly.  Perhaps,  he might have felt that the old order and practices , however good and useful they must have been once,  would necessary change , lest they should go corrupt and inert.

Estimate Chaucer's picture of the fourteenth century English society in The Canterbury Tales

Green Land | October 22, 2016 | 0 comments

Chaucer's picture of the fourteenth century English society in The Canterbury Tales

As a story- teller in verse , Chaucer , no doubt a unique master of narration is found to be grand observer of life and society around him . As he narrates his tale , in simple and melodious verses , and creates engaging characters , he presents , too , the life of his time scrutinises its specific traits , with lively and realistic touches .

In The Canterbury Tales , which is the crowing glory of Chaucer's literary achievements , is found fully exhibited his power to represent the fourteenth century English society in its different aspects , ecclesiastical as well as secular , with a rare artistry . The Prologue to The Canterbury  Tales is found to testify to his close association with the English life of his time . Truly speaking , it remains a great social documents of fourteenth  century English life in verse.
Chaucer's picture of the fourteenth century English society

Indeed , in the prologue , Chaucer represented adequately different strata of the English community under the feudal hierarchy . He presents here different character to represent different classes of medieval English society . His triumph lies in his power of observation and analysis that makes his characters typical of the age or society they represent , Here Chaucer stands without any parallel among his predecessors and contemporaries . 

The very conception , on which The Canterbury Tales is based , has a social background . Chaucer is found to exploit here the medieval religious practice to visit the tomb of Thomas Becket at Canterbury . That was a custom in which all the sections of the British people were participants . The pilgrimage to Canterbury is the occasion of Chaucer's Prologue in which he introduces different pilgrims , belonging to different professions , occupations , or functions , both secular and ecclesiastical .

Indeed , the Prologue alone bears out Chaucer's power to observe and examine , in a vivid and lovely manner , the fourteenth century . Except the highest ranks of the feudal order , the varons and the bishops , and the lowest , the serfs , all other sections are possibly represented through different characters , making pilgrimage to Canterbury .

In fact , Chaucer is found to present the then English society through different portraits introduced by him as the pilgrims to but they mainly focus the social types which are represented  in the work . Above all , colour , variety , interest and charm which Chaucer  had represented through  his portraits of pilgrims  make the whole social picture precise , clear , engaging and emphatic .

Thus,  of the secular sections of the society of his time, Chaucer's portraits of the Knights and the squire as also of the Yeoman may be mentioned . They represent the feudal chivalry of the time. In the medieval age those people had a specific role in society . Chaucer is found to have presented them according to their real situation and character,  which he possibly obtained from his own experience and personal contacts . Again , Chaucer goes to treat the members of the other sections of the community . The learned professions of the time , belonging to the secular sections , are typified by the Sergeant of the law and the doctor of physique. Both those professional men were held in highest esteem in the middle ages and Chaucer had his own experiences about them which he gave vent to his portraits of the pilgrims.

The common professional secular people, described by Chaucer,  include the five Guildsmen, the Shipman , the Miller , the Merchant,  and so on . He indicates aptly,  in his portraits , their physical characteristics as well as the nature of their occupation and the impact thereof on their conduct and behaviour. The common officers of state represented by Chaucer in the Prologue are the Manciple and the Reeve while the Franklin and the wife of bath stand for the free gentleman and the family women of the time respectively.

By the side of the secular characters, Chaucer represents the religious order of medieval English through his representation of the persons of some religious professions . They include the Prioress,  Monk,  Friar,  Clerk , Parson,  Pardoner and Summoner . Chaucer is here found to classify the functions which different churchmen had under the ordain of the Catholic code. His range of portraits is quite wide and never appears narrow or shallow in his representations.

Chaucer's picture of the English society of the medieval age as well noticed in his portraits of different pilgrims is varied and engaging.  Of course,  he never makes himself boring by any unnecessary elaboration or detail. On the other hand,  he is extremely precise and what is more, delightfully witty in his scrutiny of different personalities,  secular as well as religious.  As a result Chaucer's characters are not merely documentary but also freely individual.  His originality in the representation of the social figures is amply demonstrated here, and in this respect , the good wife of bath and the monk may be mentioned in particular .

The Wife of Bath is not only a typical , easy going, rather an unthinking feminine being of the age, but also appears to be extremely extrovert and talkative.  Her love for gay companions , fondness for travelling in some good company and other features well bear out the type of characters Chaucer portrays here with acute social consciousness . The Monk,  as already noted,  is an ecclesiastical representation .Chaucer well shows out how his interest lies in physical comfort and the worldly enjoyment of life . He is, therefore, shown as extremely fond of hunting dressing,  eating and other thoroughly physical pleasures.

Indeed, Chaucer's pilgrims well represent a comprehensive circle of social types . At the same time , they remain original and interesting in their individuality and that separates each of them from the general crowd of pilgrims and gives him or her class or rank of his or her own.

In conclusion , Chaucer's slight but enjoyable satire in his social account , is perceived in his representation of the ecclesiastical order in particular,  such as the Monk,  the Pardoner and the summoner. Chaucer court with a love for materialism , splendour and luxurious living . Here he may be placed by the side of Langland in his representation of the vices and follies of the ecclesiastical order of the fourteenth century in his famous Piers Plowman.  But Langland is serious and to some extent openly satirical , while Chaucer remains diverting , even lovely with flashes of wit and banter.  Naturally , the latter remains more enjoyable and popular than the former,  and is read even now with delight and interest to have the knowledge of the social fabric of his time.

Moreover, Chaucer appears to be a spectator of life , one who does not wish to make himself a moralist like Langland . He seems to view life as it was revolving , revealing and renovating. He appears to accept,  with the spectator's disinterestedness , the changes,  taking place rapidly.  Perhaps,  he might have felt that the old order and practices , however good and useful they must have been once,  would necessary change , lest they should go corrupt and inert.

readmore

The Canterbury Tales , though an unfinished work , is definitely the best specimen of Chaucerian literature and remains unsurpassable in the English literary works before Spenser . What , however , constitutes the crowning interest in this unfinished work is the finished and most artistic execution of the Prologue to the Tales .

Prologue implies a kind of introduction and in his sense the prologue to the Canterbury Tales may be taken as Chaucers introduction to his whole literary scheme in the work . He , no doubt , intended to make the Prologue a befitting introduction to his entertaining tales about which he had perhaps not drawn any definite plan . His original plan to have two stories , told by each pilgrim enroute to Canterbury and two more in course of the return journey , is given out here .
it's that you each , to shorten the long journey , Shall tell two tales enroute to Canterbury ,And coming homeward, tell another two, Stories of things that happened long ago.(From the verse translation in modern English by David Wright)

Of course , that was , perhaps only schemed ,  but not put into any definite literary action . Nervertheless , the Prologue was employed by him , with an eye to the whole scheme as a just introduction to his numberous tales , characteristic of the age .But what Chaucer has achieved in the Prologue is something more than a mere introduction . The Prologue to Canterbury Tales to Canterbury and planning to make their journey diverting and free from monotony by telling tales to one another .The most important thing that Chaucer is found to have accompanied in his introductory purpose is to bring the picture of the entire English society of his time , and this is truly a unique attainment . Within the brief compass of some eight hundred and sixty lines , the poet has presented the whole English community of the fourteenth century with different classes and ranks and professions , except the nobles , the bishops and the serfs . This is really a commendable representation in a precise and entertaining manner . Indeed , Chaucer's Prologue passes from a mere introductory verse to a poetical social chronicle of a high order.

In Chaucer's poetical social chronicle character appears particularly significant and entertaining.  He does merely mention some professional names Knight,  Squire, Monk,  Friar , Summoner, Pardoner, Parson,  Yeoman , Physicians,  and so on . He also draws an engaging poetical portrait for his pilgrims , ready to make a pilgrimage to Canterbury in observation of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket.  His portraits reveal his wonderful artistry. He seems here really an artist without a peer.

Thus Chaucer present the Knight first.  He is a 'worthy man', who participated in different battles and sieges.  But this is not all.  
Chaucer  also goes to describe his dress and his horse .  The picture of the knight is fully true to what a knight was in the feudal world . Chaucer's description genius is, perhaps,  more penetrative in his representation of the Prioress whom he makes an object of irony.  Hee showy and demonstrative nature is marked in the very description of her conduct at the dinner time-
"At mete wely -taught was she with -alle, Shr bet no morsel from her lippes falle""Good table manners she had learnt as well:She never let a crumb from her mouth fall"-(Modern translation) 
Chaucer's Monk, however,  deserve  a greater attention and reveals the poet's power to describe and satirize mildly at the same time.  The boisterous habit of the Monk and his love for the material pleasures of life are subtly indicated . The Monk is fatty and well dressed and is fond of rich dishes.  Chaucer's irony is subtle but sharp in regard to the Monk whose description is really illustrative of the poet's art-
' A fat swan loved the best of any roost'
The next member of the ecclesiastical order is the Friar,  whom Chaucer also describe with an equal skill.  He is gay and pompous and rather wanton in his habit . He is also an expert in songs and his beggarly habit is well represented in the description -
' He was the beste beggere in hous.'
By the  side of the greedy. corrupt persons of the Catholic Church,  Chaucer also represent some honest churchmen.  In this respect , the poor Parson may be particularly mentioned . In fact in his description of the parson , the poet contrasts the piety and industry of the secular clergy with the wickedness and laziness of the religious orders or monks . The Parson is a learned man who is ready to serve others,  without extracting money from them . He is diligent and patient to attend to men in adversity.  He is not a mercenary,  but a man of virtue and holiness , and bears no spite against the sinners . In fact , he follows the very precept of Christianity,  and is a true Christian :
"But Christes loore, and his Apostles twelve He taughte,  and first folwed it hymselve."
Chaucer's art of description is of a high order.  His pilgrims are the specific instance of his grand techniques as a master portrait painter . What is more, Chaucer makes his figures alive by informing them with his gift of wit and humour . In short , in Chaucer's descriptions, as already indicated,  pilgrims are no.more the mere representation in writing , but the living portraits of the men and women of this time,  with their queerness,  mannerism and practices.  His pilgrims,  in fact, are alive,  and in no way less dramatic figures.

There is another important aspect of this Chaucerian Prologue . Chaucer remains one of the outstanding humorists in English literature , and the Prologue bears out his genius as a comical author. The Canterbury Tales is deemed as a great comedy of the human society and this is particularly evident in Chaucer's representation of different characters in the Prologue and his full exploitation of their nature and practices to create an appropriate comic spirit all  over the poem.  In fact,  the Prologue reaches the height of a grand social comedy in poetry . This comic effect is finely achieved by his wonderful sense of wit and humour and power to intermingle irony with it. Chaucer's comic artistry , as exhibited here , has remained a source of inspiration for all aspirants for fame in comic literature .

Finally,  there is Chaucer's wonderful versification,  his use of octo-syllabic lines with a novelty and a vigout. Indeed,  the father of english poetry , as he is called , is in his full glory here in his technical command over versification which is almost flawless.

Make a Critical Analysis Of Prologue To The Canterbury Tales And Find Out The Author's Artistry

Green Land | October 12, 2016 | 2comments

The Canterbury Tales , though an unfinished work , is definitely the best specimen of Chaucerian literature and remains unsurpassable in the English literary works before Spenser . What , however , constitutes the crowning interest in this unfinished work is the finished and most artistic execution of the Prologue to the Tales .

Prologue implies a kind of introduction and in his sense the prologue to the Canterbury Tales may be taken as Chaucers introduction to his whole literary scheme in the work . He , no doubt , intended to make the Prologue a befitting introduction to his entertaining tales about which he had perhaps not drawn any definite plan . His original plan to have two stories , told by each pilgrim enroute to Canterbury and two more in course of the return journey , is given out here .
it's that you each , to shorten the long journey , Shall tell two tales enroute to Canterbury ,And coming homeward, tell another two, Stories of things that happened long ago.(From the verse translation in modern English by David Wright)

Of course , that was , perhaps only schemed ,  but not put into any definite literary action . Nervertheless , the Prologue was employed by him , with an eye to the whole scheme as a just introduction to his numberous tales , characteristic of the age .But what Chaucer has achieved in the Prologue is something more than a mere introduction . The Prologue to Canterbury Tales to Canterbury and planning to make their journey diverting and free from monotony by telling tales to one another .The most important thing that Chaucer is found to have accompanied in his introductory purpose is to bring the picture of the entire English society of his time , and this is truly a unique attainment . Within the brief compass of some eight hundred and sixty lines , the poet has presented the whole English community of the fourteenth century with different classes and ranks and professions , except the nobles , the bishops and the serfs . This is really a commendable representation in a precise and entertaining manner . Indeed , Chaucer's Prologue passes from a mere introductory verse to a poetical social chronicle of a high order.

In Chaucer's poetical social chronicle character appears particularly significant and entertaining.  He does merely mention some professional names Knight,  Squire, Monk,  Friar , Summoner, Pardoner, Parson,  Yeoman , Physicians,  and so on . He also draws an engaging poetical portrait for his pilgrims , ready to make a pilgrimage to Canterbury in observation of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket.  His portraits reveal his wonderful artistry. He seems here really an artist without a peer.

Thus Chaucer present the Knight first.  He is a 'worthy man', who participated in different battles and sieges.  But this is not all.  Chaucer  also goes to describe his dress and his horse .  The picture of the knight is fully true to what a knight was in the feudal world . Chaucer's description genius is, perhaps,  more penetrative in his representation of the Prioress whom he makes an object of irony.  Hee showy and demonstrative nature is marked in the very description of her conduct at the dinner time-
"At mete wely -taught was she with -alle, Shr bet no morsel from her lippes falle""Good table manners she had learnt as well:She never let a crumb from her mouth fall"-(Modern translation) 
Chaucer's Monk, however,  deserve  a greater attention and reveals the poet's power to describe and satirize mildly at the same time.  The boisterous habit of the Monk and his love for the material pleasures of life are subtly indicated . The Monk is fatty and well dressed and is fond of rich dishes.  Chaucer's irony is subtle but sharp in regard to the Monk whose description is really illustrative of the poet's art-
' A fat swan loved the best of any roost'
The next member of the ecclesiastical order is the Friar,  whom Chaucer also describe with an equal skill.  He is gay and pompous and rather wanton in his habit . He is also an expert in songs and his beggarly habit is well represented in the description -
' He was the beste beggere in hous.'
By the  side of the greedy. corrupt persons of the Catholic Church,  Chaucer also represent some honest churchmen.  In this respect , the poor Parson may be particularly mentioned . In fact in his description of the parson , the poet contrasts the piety and industry of the secular clergy with the wickedness and laziness of the religious orders or monks . The Parson is a learned man who is ready to serve others,  without extracting money from them . He is diligent and patient to attend to men in adversity.  He is not a mercenary,  but a man of virtue and holiness , and bears no spite against the sinners . In fact , he follows the very precept of Christianity,  and is a true Christian :
"But Christes loore, and his Apostles twelve He taughte,  and first folwed it hymselve."
Chaucer's art of description is of a high order.  His pilgrims are the specific instance of his grand techniques as a master portrait painter . What is more, Chaucer makes his figures alive by informing them with his gift of wit and humour . In short , in Chaucer's descriptions, as already indicated,  pilgrims are no.more the mere representation in writing , but the living portraits of the men and women of this time,  with their queerness,  mannerism and practices.  His pilgrims,  in fact, are alive,  and in no way less dramatic figures.

There is another important aspect of this Chaucerian Prologue . Chaucer remains one of the outstanding humorists in English literature , and the Prologue bears out his genius as a comical author. The Canterbury Tales is deemed as a great comedy of the human society and this is particularly evident in Chaucer's representation of different characters in the Prologue and his full exploitation of their nature and practices to create an appropriate comic spirit all  over the poem.  In fact,  the Prologue reaches the height of a grand social comedy in poetry . This comic effect is finely achieved by his wonderful sense of wit and humour and power to intermingle irony with it. Chaucer's comic artistry , as exhibited here , has remained a source of inspiration for all aspirants for fame in comic literature .

Finally,  there is Chaucer's wonderful versification,  his use of octo-syllabic lines with a novelty and a vigout. Indeed,  the father of english poetry , as he is called , is in his full glory here in his technical command over versification which is almost flawless.
readmore
Chaucer's  most criginal and truly English work is The Canterbury Tales , Which is the product of his sufficient maturity as a story-teller in verse . In this very ambitious project , Chaucer is found to turn to England and the English society of this time . The work ,breathing the spirit of genuine poetry , is a laudable effort to capture the spirit of England in the fourteenth century , and may well be taken as an emblem of truly national poetry , as a national social epic of fourteenth century England .

Chaucer began to work on The Canterbury Tales about 1387 , in which his wife philippa Chaucer , as far as known , died . He continued to work on it till his own death , some thirteen years after . Obviously , the work was left unfinished by him .The formulation of the scheme of The Canterbury Tales was certainly activated by the practice of a large number of pilgrims to visit the holy tomb of St. Thomas at Canterbury . It was common for such pilgrims to move in groups for security and to entertain themselves with  various stories for relaxation during their journey from London which generally lasted for three days or more .Chaucer planned a comprehensive portrait of his contemporary society from the conventional pilgrimage to Canterbury . He brought together several pilgrims , belonging to different stations and occupations and geared up his creative genius to enliven them all .

The Canterbury Tales , as already asserted , to Chaucer English period . His main inspiration is , no doubt , the English society of his own time . Yet , the influence of foreign masters mights well be traced in the work . The subtle deployment of realistic details in Dante's Divina Commedia appears to have an influence on his description of the pilgrims in the General prologue to the Tales . Again , Boccaccio mechanic contrivance of the collection of stories in the Decameron might have provided Chaucer with the plan to attribute different tales to different pilgrims . Of course , Chaucer literary genius is found to have transmuted Boccaccio metal into gold.Chaucer's plan in The Canterbury Tales , as noted already , is quite extensive. There are thirty pilgrims , including the author himself , who are to visit Canterbury . Those pilgrims  are selected from different walks of life . There are the friar , the monk , the priest , the pardoner , the summoner , the parson , the knight , the squire , the franklin , the merchant , the doctor of medicine , the cook and so on .

Chaucer first of all draws the portrait of each of his pilgrims before assigning them any speech . Those portraits from the prologue of his work. The portraits are drawn with a graphic ease and lively sense of humour. The characters become living and entertaining .They bring before the reader a full portrait of the English society of the time.Chaucer's plan is not exhausted here, but it is further extended .

He brings those pilgrims together and makes them talk and argue and even quarrel among themselves in their own way. He further assigns each of them a story to relate.  Their stories are as diverting as they themselves are, and indicate their own nature . The knight relates the tale of war and love and chivalry.  The friar speaks of religion , while the wife of Bath narrates the tale of domesticity. The Canterbury Tales, as already indicated , could not be finished by Chaucer . His original project was to assign two tales to each pilgrim  enroute to Canterbury and two more to each of them during the homeward journey . Thus he ought to have included a hundred and twenty tales, but Chaucer could complete actually a few more than a score of them. Some of these tales were even left out in fragments . These tales include The Knight's Tale , The Miller's Tale ,The Reeve's Tale, The Cock's Tale , The Man of Law's Tale , The Wife of Bath's Tale,The Friar's Tale, The Summoner's Tale, The Clerk's Tale , The Merchant's Tale , The Squire Tale,  The Franklin's Tale , The Physician's Tale,  The Pardoner's Tale, The Shipman's Tale , The Prioress's Tale, The Tale of Sir Thopac , The Second Nun's Tale, The Yeoman's Tale, The Manciple's Tale, The Parson's Tale, and so on.The Canterbury Tales,  though it is an unfinished work is, perhaps,  the greatest English work before the mighty Elizabethans.But what particularly marks the merit of this work is the social value which is tremendous here.  Chaucer , with a rare skill,  presents here accurately the English society of the fourteen century , with its different classes and profession . He makes The Canterbury Tales a great human document, containing a clear and comprehensive picture of the age,  the spirit of which is adequately expressed through literary and artistic channels.  He succeeds wonderfully in making the poem a living picture of his own country of his own time.In fact, Chaucer's pilgrims belong to different social ranks and positions,  secular as well as religious.  

These pilgrims represent the important strands of the English society in Chaucer's age and elevate the poem to the level of a national portrait gallery.  They cover the entire range of the society of the time,  except the barons, the bishops and the serf,  who could hardly be imagined . In Chaucer's period, as participating in a collective pilgrimage to Canterbury,  The Knight and the squire belong to the respectable gentry. The sergeant at law and the Physician represent two learned professions. The Franklin typifies the common people, growing prosperous in riches and rank. The Merchant,  the Wife of Bath, the Shipman,  etc., come from the world of trade and commerce . The Miller and the Plowman are from the simple innocent,  rural life . The prioress ,with her three attendant priests,  the village Person, the Friar and the Monk are the representatives of the ecclesiastical order. The Oxford Clerk stands for the educated youth of the university.  The Manciple's,  the Reeve, the cannon's  Yeoman and the Cook form a fairly large body of servants,  both high and low,  urban and rural. The Summoner and the Pardoner finely exemplify the corrupt wing of the Church , engaged in exploiting common men and women in the name of religion.  Chaucer's masterpiece contains a comprehensive and comprehensive picture of the English poetry society of the fourteen century.  The pilgrims,  whom he describes, are the living character in the great drama of the social life of the period.  A critic rightly sums up the greatness of Chaucer's social portraiture :

In all our literature,  there is not such another picture of a whole society,  which Chaucer contrived in some two and thirty character and in 860 lines.

Assess illustratively The Canterbury Tales-Its plan and Social Picture

Green Land | October 01, 2016 | 0 comments
Chaucer's  most criginal and truly English work is The Canterbury Tales , Which is the product of his sufficient maturity as a story-teller in verse . In this very ambitious project , Chaucer is found to turn to England and the English society of this time . The work ,breathing the spirit of genuine poetry , is a laudable effort to capture the spirit of England in the fourteenth century , and may well be taken as an emblem of truly national poetry , as a national social epic of fourteenth century England .

Chaucer began to work on The Canterbury Tales about 1387 , in which his wife philippa Chaucer , as far as known , died . He continued to work on it till his own death , some thirteen years after . Obviously , the work was left unfinished by him .The formulation of the scheme of The Canterbury Tales was certainly activated by the practice of a large number of pilgrims to visit the holy tomb of St. Thomas at Canterbury . It was common for such pilgrims to move in groups for security and to entertain themselves with  various stories for relaxation during their journey from London which generally lasted for three days or more .Chaucer planned a comprehensive portrait of his contemporary society from the conventional pilgrimage to Canterbury . He brought together several pilgrims , belonging to different stations and occupations and geared up his creative genius to enliven them all .

The Canterbury Tales , as already asserted , to Chaucer English period . His main inspiration is , no doubt , the English society of his own time . Yet , the influence of foreign masters mights well be traced in the work . The subtle deployment of realistic details in Dante's Divina Commedia appears to have an influence on his description of the pilgrims in the General prologue to the Tales . Again , Boccaccio mechanic contrivance of the collection of stories in the Decameron might have provided Chaucer with the plan to attribute different tales to different pilgrims . Of course , Chaucer literary genius is found to have transmuted Boccaccio metal into gold.Chaucer's plan in The Canterbury Tales , as noted already , is quite extensive. There are thirty pilgrims , including the author himself , who are to visit Canterbury . Those pilgrims  are selected from different walks of life . There are the friar , the monk , the priest , the pardoner , the summoner , the parson , the knight , the squire , the franklin , the merchant , the doctor of medicine , the cook and so on .

Chaucer first of all draws the portrait of each of his pilgrims before assigning them any speech . Those portraits from the prologue of his work. The portraits are drawn with a graphic ease and lively sense of humour. The characters become living and entertaining .They bring before the reader a full portrait of the English society of the time.Chaucer's plan is not exhausted here, but it is further extended .

He brings those pilgrims together and makes them talk and argue and even quarrel among themselves in their own way. He further assigns each of them a story to relate.  Their stories are as diverting as they themselves are, and indicate their own nature . The knight relates the tale of war and love and chivalry.  The friar speaks of religion , while the wife of Bath narrates the tale of domesticity. The Canterbury Tales, as already indicated , could not be finished by Chaucer . His original project was to assign two tales to each pilgrim  enroute to Canterbury and two more to each of them during the homeward journey . Thus he ought to have included a hundred and twenty tales, but Chaucer could complete actually a few more than a score of them. Some of these tales were even left out in fragments . These tales include The Knight's Tale , The Miller's Tale ,The Reeve's Tale, The Cock's Tale , The Man of Law's Tale , The Wife of Bath's Tale,The Friar's Tale, The Summoner's Tale, The Clerk's Tale , The Merchant's Tale , The Squire Tale,  The Franklin's Tale , The Physician's Tale,  The Pardoner's Tale, The Shipman's Tale , The Prioress's Tale, The Tale of Sir Thopac , The Second Nun's Tale, The Yeoman's Tale, The Manciple's Tale, The Parson's Tale, and so on.The Canterbury Tales,  though it is an unfinished work is, perhaps,  the greatest English work before the mighty Elizabethans.But what particularly marks the merit of this work is the social value which is tremendous here.  Chaucer , with a rare skill,  presents here accurately the English society of the fourteen century , with its different classes and profession . He makes The Canterbury Tales a great human document, containing a clear and comprehensive picture of the age,  the spirit of which is adequately expressed through literary and artistic channels.  He succeeds wonderfully in making the poem a living picture of his own country of his own time.In fact, Chaucer's pilgrims belong to different social ranks and positions,  secular as well as religious.  

These pilgrims represent the important strands of the English society in Chaucer's age and elevate the poem to the level of a national portrait gallery.  They cover the entire range of the society of the time,  except the barons, the bishops and the serf,  who could hardly be imagined . In Chaucer's period, as participating in a collective pilgrimage to Canterbury,  The Knight and the squire belong to the respectable gentry. The sergeant at law and the Physician represent two learned professions. The Franklin typifies the common people, growing prosperous in riches and rank. The Merchant,  the Wife of Bath, the Shipman,  etc., come from the world of trade and commerce . The Miller and the Plowman are from the simple innocent,  rural life . The prioress ,with her three attendant priests,  the village Person, the Friar and the Monk are the representatives of the ecclesiastical order. The Oxford Clerk stands for the educated youth of the university.  The Manciple's,  the Reeve, the cannon's  Yeoman and the Cook form a fairly large body of servants,  both high and low,  urban and rural. The Summoner and the Pardoner finely exemplify the corrupt wing of the Church , engaged in exploiting common men and women in the name of religion.  Chaucer's masterpiece contains a comprehensive and comprehensive picture of the English poetry society of the fourteen century.  The pilgrims,  whom he describes, are the living character in the great drama of the social life of the period.  A critic rightly sums up the greatness of Chaucer's social portraiture :

In all our literature,  there is not such another picture of a whole society,  which Chaucer contrived in some two and thirty character and in 860 lines.
readmore
 
Back To Top