AGE OF CHAUCER (1350-1400):
LITERARY CHARACTERISTICS
INTRODUCTION:
The age of Chaucer is the first significant period in the history of
English literature. Though often termed as “a dark epoch in the history of
England”, the 14th century witnessed the brilliance of the new
spirit of Renaissance. Changes were taking place in the social, political,
religious and literary lives of the people. These changes are apparent in the
literature written by some important poets of this age.
MAJOR WRITERS AND THEIR WORKS:
1. Geoffrey Chaucer (The Canterbury Tales)
2. John Gower (Confessio Amantis)
3. William
Langland (Piers the Plowman)
4. John Barbour (Bruce)
5. John Wyclif (Bible Translation)
1. AN AGE OF TRANSITION:
The age of Chaucer was a transitional age. The medievalism was departing
and modernism was developing slowly. Wycliffe and his followers were sowing the
seeds of revolt and reformation of the church. Individualism was being
emphasized. Because of the 100 years war, there was a rise of patriotism and
national consciousness among the people. The industrial development was giving
rise to the middle and working classes. It led to the end of feudal system. In
this way we find that the age of Chaucer was an era of transition. Old and new
spirit appear side by side in Chaucer’s poetry. Here, we see the essential
spirit of both the ages, Medieval and Modern. In Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury
Tales’, the character of the Clerk of Oxford represent the older spirit whereas
the character of the Wife of Bath represents the modern spirit.
2. GROWTH OF NATIONAL SENTIMENT:
The age of Chaucer witnessed the beginning of the Hundred Years War.
England was at war with Scotland and France. This war brought great victories.
As a result, the spirit of patriotism and nationalism was visible among the
people. The national life got purified and powerful national sentiments grew.
Chaucer has expressed this love for the country in his characters of the Knight
and the Squire.
3. BLACK DEATH, FAMINE AND SOCIAL CONFLICT:
The age of Chaucer faced natural calamities and social conflict. Plagues
and other epidemics, constitutional conflicts and unorthodoxy came to the
forefront. In 1348-49 came the terrible Black Death. A large number of people
died. It reappeared in 1362, 1367 and 1370. Famine followed plague. Labour
became scarce. Heavy taxation was imposed on the farmers. This tax brought
about the peasants' revolt. This revolt was a clear sign of social tension and
political conflict.
4. THE CORRUPTION OF THE CHURCH:
Church was the supreme power during the times of Chaucer. Most officials
of the church were corrupt and materialistic. The priests, monks and saints were
much fond of wealth and luxury. They indulged themselves in all sorts of vices.
John Wycliff, the morning star of the Reformation, led an attack upon the
growing corruption of the church. Chaucer too has projected this corruption of
the church authorities in his characters of the Monk, the Friar, the Summoner
and so on.
5. THE NEW LEARNING:
14th century is often hailed as the dawn of Renaissance. The
people of the time had a craze for learning and their intellectual horizons
were widening. The Italian writers like Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio were the
pioneers of this great revival. Chaucer was much influenced by these Italian
writers and he too along with John Wycliffe contributed in the development of
the spirit of freedom and learning.
FEATURES OF THE 14TH CENTURY ENGLISH POETRY:
1. ALLEGORY:
Most poetry written by Gower, Langland and Barbour were allegorical.
They delineated the surface stories beneath which there were hidden stories
with deeper meanings. Chaucer’s all characters represent different social,
political and religious classes of the 14th century England.
2. MORAL PREACHING:
Chaucer calls Gower “moral Gower”. Gower being a reformer by heart, his
poetry is full of moral preaching. ‘Confessio Amantis’ by Gower, ‘Pearl and
Patience’ by an unknown author and ‘Piers and the Plowman’ are bubbling with
moral sermons to the people of the time.
3. REALISM:
14th century English poetry represents the life and society
in the realistic manner. Chaucer has given the life-like picture of the
religious and social life of the people in his ‘The Canterbury Tales’. Langland
too exposes the corruption in the church.
4. SATIRE:
The poetry during the 14th century is coloured by the tone of
satire. Chaucer is known for his mild and gentle satire and Langland is known
for his fierce and bitter satire. By satirising the social evils, the poets of
this period attempted to bring social reformation.
5. STORY-TELLING:
Chaucer’s age is the age of story-telling in verse. Gower popularized
the love story in ‘Confessio Amantis’ and Chaucer expresses the new vigour of
story-telling in ‘The Canterbury Tales’. The poets of this age wrote long
narrative stories in the form of poetry.
6. PATHOS AND HUMOUR:
Chaucer is well acclaimed as the first humourist of English literature.
The touches of gentle and innocent humour are quite visible in all his
character sketches like the Wife of Bath. His poetry is also full of pathos
when he describes the stories the characters like the Clerk of Oxford.
CONCLUSION:
Thus, we may summarize by saying that the age of Chaucer witnessed two
opposite spirits – the old medieval and the new modern. In this age there was a
spirit of revolt against the church authorities. The church was losing her
great hold upon the masses of people. Reformation was in process. The light of
new learning was shining. All these traits of the political, social and
religious life of the people finds due expression in the poetry of Chaucer,
Gower, Langland and Barbour.
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