Age of Chaucer- 14th century

Background of the age

1. Transition and Turbulance

The age of Chaucer is the age of transition and turbulance. It covers the period of 1340-1400.

2. Hundred year  war

It was the series of war between France and England.

The hundred year war was divided into three phases:-

i)Edwardian Era (1337-1360)
ii)Caroline war
iii)Lancastrian war (1415-1429)

3. Growth of Trade and Commerce

The economy was overwhelmingly agricultural.

4. The Black Death

The black death was the devastating pandeman in human history. It killed more that four million people. It was caused by the bacteriam Yersinia pestis that circulates among wild rodent.

5.Power of Church

The Church was the most powerful institution and owned a third of the property. it owned about 75% of English Land

6. The Peasant Revolt

It was began in 1381. The cause of the peasant revolt is uprising third poll tax. On 7th june 1381 Wat tyler joined the uprising in maidstone.

7. Alliterative revival

Alliterative poetry culminated in the major masterpiece of :-
Sir Gawain, Green knight, Pearl and pierce plowman( william langland)

Important Romances in the age of Chaucer

i) The Tale Of Gamelyn-1350)
ii)William and the Werewolf
iii)Sir Gawain and the Green Knight


Short Intro of these three Romances

I) The Tale of Gamelyn

It is the story of the younger son, left at his fathers's death in the care of his wicked elder brother, who seeks to cheat him out of his inheritance. The Father of three son Sir John Boundys divides all his land and gives five ploughland to the eldest son, five more to the second, and all that remain to the share of Gamelyn.

II) William and the werewolf

This is the retelling of the much older Roman de Guillaime de Palerne. This is the first work of fiction to feature a benevolent werewolf.

III) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

The frame of the narrative was surrounded by the Morgan le Faye's traditional hatred for Arthur and his court, valled Camelot.

Important religious writing in the age of Chaucer

i)Ayenbite of Inwyt
ii)Prickle of conscience
iii)Revelations of divine love
iv)Religious pieces of Poetry
v)The Pearl

Short intro of The Pearl( Elegy)

It is an elegy in about 1200 lines.It is written in the form of dream vision. In this poem the narrator is wanders through a garden containing the grave of his infant daughter. He has a vision of Paradise lying beyond a river and recognize the adult woman seated there as his adult daughter. As she scolds him for his extended grief, she describes his present situation married to the lord of heaven.

Most notable Ballads of the age
i) Robin Hood Ballad
ii) Chevy Chase
iii) Sir Patrick Sspens
iv)The Nutbrown maid

The Pearl Poet

The Peal poet is the name given to the author of pearl, an alliterative poem written in 14th century. The pearl poets remain unidentified. The Pearl or the Gawain wrote in the ancient alliterative Tradition of Old English narrative poetry.

Major works of Pearl Poet
i) The Pearl
ii) Cleanness
iii) Patience
iv) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Geoffrey Chaucer

Chaucer was born about 1343 to 1400 in the Vintry. His father was a prosperous wine merchant. When Chaucer was taken to prisoner then the English Prince Edward III paid a ransom for his release.Edward III sent him to the diplomatic missions to France, Geneo and Florence. His travels exposed him to the work of authors such as Dante, Boccaccio and Froissart.
Chaucer married to Philippa de roet, daughter of the Flemish Sir Gilles De roet around 1369.

Three periods of Chaucer's life

i)First Period(French Period)
     -The Book of Duchess
     -Translation of the Roman de la Rose

ii)Second period(Italian Period)
   -The House of Fame
   -The Parliament of fowls
   -Translation of Bothius' de Consolation.

iii)Third period(English period)
    -The Legend of the good women
    -Canterburry Tales


Short intro about the works

I) The Book of the Duchess

In 1369 Chaucer was asked by John of Gaunt to compose a memorial poem, written in English, to be recited at the mass for his deceased wife  Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster. The result was Chaucer's first work, The Book of the Duchess. It is written in the form of dream allegory. The poem begins with the Sleepless poet who reads a story about Ceyx and Alcione and wanders around in his thought. He falls asleep and dreams a beautiful story. He sees a man in blak, a knight who tells him about his courtship pf a beautiful lady and his mourning for her death.

II) The House of Fame

It is an autobiographical poem written in the form of dream allegory. It is composed in three books,

Book I begins with the narrator falling asleep and dreaming about a temple dedicated to the Goddess venus. Inside the temple, he finds inscriptions that depict the story of Virgil's Aeneid.

Book II- The narrator was carried out by an Eagle, which speaks to him in human voice and assures him that Jove has decided to reward him by sending him to the House of Fame.

Book III- In this book he reaches the house of fame and meets the Goddess of fame


III)  The Parliament of Fowl

It is written to celebrate the marriage of King Richard II to Anne Bohemia in 1382. It is also written in dream vision. It relies upon the beast fable tradition. It presents a vision of birds gathered to choose their mates on St. Valentine's Day. The birds conduct a debate about hoe to choose a mate. While the debate remains unresolved.

IV) Troilus and Criseyde

Longest poem about 8000 lines. The poem is about tragic love affair of a Trojan Prince, Troilus and a young beautiful Widow Criseyde. Criseyde id]s both beautiful and mysterious and also a practical woman who thinks before she acts. Troilus is a brave warrior. He is emotional and reticent.

V) The Legend of Good Women

It is also written in dream vision and it contains of Prologue and nine stories. It recounts the stories of women from history  and myth who were martyrs to love such as Dido, Thisbe, Medea, Cleopatra, Hypsipyle, Ariadne, Lucrece, Phillis, Philomela and Hypermnestra.

VI) The Canterbury Tales

It is a collection of stories written narrated by 29 pilgrims. All the pilgrims gather at Tabard inn.

Pilgrims in the Canterbury tales

a)The Knight
b)The Squire
c)The Yeoman
d)The Prioress
d)The Monk
e)The Friar
f)The Merchant
g)The Clerk of Merchant
h)Seargent of law
i)The Franklin
j)The Guildesmen
k)The Cook
l)The Shipman
m)The Doctor
n)The wife of Bath
o)The Parson
p)The Plowman
q)The Miller
r)The Manciple
s)The Reeve
t)The Summoner
u)The Pardoner

William Langland

He born in Ledbury, Herefordshire in about 1332. he had a deep knowledge of medieval theology and was fully committed to all the implications of Christian doctrine.

His famous work Piers the Plowman

Its full title is The vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman. It is an allegorical poem. The lead character, Piers is a hardworking, sincere and honest Plowman. The poem describes his spiritual quest and it consistes of three dream vision.

John Gower

Gower was the personal friend of Chaucer.

"Gower was a more typical representative than Chaucer could claim to be"

                                          -David Daiches
His works
a)Speculum Meditantis
b)Vox Clamantis
c)Confessio Amantis
d)In Praise of Peace

John Mandeville

Work- The  Travel of Sir John Mandeville

John Wycliffe

He was described as the morning star of the Reformation.
He is known for his first complete translation of Bible into English. He born in Yorkshire village which gave him the surname.

His works

a)The Truth of the Sacred Scriptures
b)The Pope's Power
c)Apostacy
d)On the Eucharist
e)Trialogue

Lolard Movement

Lollardy was the medieval reform movement based on the writings and teachings of the Oxford University theologian, John Wycliffe. Wycliffe's followers were known as  The Lollards.
The lollard's not only attacked many belief's and practices of the Church, but also demanded social reforms.

Reference

Arihant Publication for UGC NET/SET