Who were the main writers during the age of chaucer and list one of their. Chaucer took the basic plot for this 8,239line poem from boccaccios filostrato. The book of the duchess is the first of chaucers major poems. Although there is no official consensus regarding the exact beginning and end of the medieval period, it is most commonly associated with the collapse of the roman empire, around the 5th century, and leading up all the way to the 15th century, which is widely considered though the exact beginning is disputed the beginning of the renaissance. It marked the first significant literary age in english literature. Chaucers female characters in the canterbury tales.
The period between 43 and 1450 is known as the age of chaucer. The middle english period means the literature developed in the period from 1100 1500 century. The first significant period in the literary history o. What are the characteristics of all the english literary. One of the minor problems about chaucers fabliaux is why he turned to a genre that had, in effect, been dead for a hundred years. The age of chaucer was the fourteenth century, a time of great religious. His the canterbury tales ranks as one of the greatest poetic works in english. In order to analyze the female characters in the canterbury tales, an introduction to women. For a profound and comprehensive study of an authors. Twelfth grade lesson introduction to chaucer and the.
It was the age of transition, a transformation of medieval to the modern times. The fourteenth century brightly opened for industrial england but the glory was overtaken by plague, the black death 4849, as a result most of the laborers escaped death, left the country. During this unique period the english language got maturity. Among the great contemporaries of chaucer, few deserve more attention than john wycliffe, for he was one of the first englishmen to challenge the authority of the catholic church. They introduced him to medieval italian poetry, the forms and stories of which he would use later. Chaucer shines forth as a star in the gloom of the middle ages, the morning star of. During this time the chancery standard, a form of londonbased english became widespread and the printing press regularized the language. Chaucer was descended from two generations of wealthy vintners who had everything but a title and in 57 chaucer began pursuing a position at court. The prologue to canterbury tales reveals the true state of affairs of the church in the age of chaucer. Geoffrey chaucer was born around 43, probably in london.
He died of unknown causes and was 60 years old at the time. Infact, next to shakespeare he is the greatest in this field. The term middle english literature refers to the literature written in the form of the english language known as middle english, from the 14th century until the 1470s. And its first part is the age of chaucer 401400, which is the age of unrest and transition, rickett. The legendary 14th century english poet geoffrey chaucer died october 25, 1400 in london, england. It refers especially to the rebirth of learning that began in italy in the fourteenth century, spread to the north, including england, by the sixteenth century, and ended in the north in the midseventeenth century earlier in italy. Chaucer also gained fame as a philosopher and astronomer, composing the scientific a treatise on the astrolabe for his 10yearold son lewis. The age of chaucer was the fourteenth century, a time of great religious, political. Most scolars ascribe the date of composition between 69 and 72. History of english language and literature the age of chaucer prof. During the age of chaucer, religious people didnt pay due heed to worship, religious rituals and spiritual purgation. Scolars are uncertain about the date of composition. Chaucer probably wrote the poem to commemorate the.
A short summary of characteristics of ages of british literature old englishanglosaxon era 4501066 a. Describe in detail the age of chaucer, including background events as well as social, political, and literary works. The development of english literature summary old english, middle english and chaucer old english english, as we know it, descends from the language spoken by the north germanic tribes who settled in england from the 5th century a. He was a great writer who is not only of an age but of all the ages. In this age, for the first time, the major poets wrote poetry in the native. The ages are included in these time frame and major characteristics are discussed below. Widely considered the greatest english poet of the middle ages, he is best. The fourteenth century brightly opened for industrial england but the glory was overtaken by plague, the black death read more. Its also important to note that chaucers english this is around 1100 or 1400 ad in england is called middle english middle ages, middle english, makes sense, which is. In the canterbury tales chaucer tried to paint faithfully the body and soul of the fourteenth century life. Chaucer is the first great painter of character in english literature. Geoffrey chaucer geoffrey chaucer born 4044, died 1400 is remembered as the author of the canterbury tales, which ranks as one of the greatest epic works of world literature.
Cec ugc the age of chaucer features of the age of chaucer. Perhaps the chief characteristics of chaucers works are their variety in subject. Chaucers uniqueness and significance in english literature are particularly borne out in the very designation given to his. The salient features of the age of chaucer or the late. The main purpose of this introductory powerpoint is to give the students an idea of what life was like in medieval england.
The social, political, religious and literary changes were taking place. Without acquaintance with the historical context our evaluation and apprehension of literature is bound to be lopsided, if not altogether warped and garbled. Chaucer s female characters in the canterbury tales. Chaucer probably became familiar with italian literature in the 60s and 70s during his diplomatic missions to italy, and he seems quite conversant with the works of the great triumvirate of fourteenthcentury italian writers, dante alighieri 126521, francesco petrarca 474, whom he may well have met, and giovanni boccaccio 75.
He wrote many of his major works in a prolific period when he held the job of customs. The age of chaucer 401400 beginning of new english language and literature vaibhav a. University wits portrait traditionally identified as christopher marlowe satirical pr. Poetry with alliteration and without rhyme, tradition of oral poetry, songs of lament, introduction of christian themes. The fabliaux was, until chaucers time, a genre of french literature, in which it flourished in the thirteenth century. They had no writing except runes, used as charms until they learned the latin. Major characteristics of the age of chaucer to romantic. Geoffrey chaucer, the outstanding english poet before shakespeare.
For a profound and comprehensive study of an authors literary work is required, among other things, a thorough understanding of the age which produced and nurtured him. It is a pictureperfect picture of the age of the chaucer, particularly, of the church. There are many period between the age of chaucer and romantic literature. Chaucer is also regarded as the originator of heroic couplet. I think they have a sense of the dark ages and that life was pretty awful, and it was pretty awful, i almost always tell students the story about visiting chaucers tomb at poets corner in westminster abbey, how it was so tiny i thought it belonged to a child. As a squire in the court of elizabeth, countess of ulster, the wife of lionel, earl of ulster later duke of clarence, chaucer. Chaucer tells us that hes never, in all his life, spoken a harsh word to anyone. Chaucer made a crucial contribution to english literature in using english at a time when much court poetry was still written in anglonorman or latin. This was the single biggest development of the age as english had previously. Indeed, in the developed of english literature, chaucer is a great name. Between the 1470s and the middle of the following century there was.
When writing a conclusion about the age of chaucer, one could discuss any similarities and differences from then and todays world. Chaucers art of characterization in the prologue of the. Widely considered the greatest english poet of the middle ages, he. Introduction the first great age of the english language was during the reign of queen elizabeth i 15581603 in england. A ii sem iv dnyanopasak college, parbhani 431 401 and the canterbury tales 1 2.
An introduction to geoffrey chaucer pdf books library land. Before the canterbury tales we do not know a poem of which the. General characteristics of the renaissance renaissance literally means rebirth. He maintained a career in the civil service as a bureaucrat, courtier, diplomat, and member of parliament. Pope and dryden perfected the heroic couplet to a great extent. The main literary ideas of the period were love, chivalry. Moschetta literature from this unit the canterbury tales by geoffrey chaucer father of english poetry first author to write in english middle english previously latin educated government official work took precedence over writing worked. Heroic couplet is widely used in the canterbury tales by chaucer and later on by his successors like pope and dryden. Chaucer 401400 important notes chaucer and his works. The english language became a standard during this period. History of english literature notes english summary. The gradual advancement of english literature, from the old english period to the middle english, reached the height of excellence, in the age of chaucer by his literary magnificence.
An introduction to the middle ages and geoffrey chaucer. Describe in detail the age of chaucer, including background events. Named after read more elizabethan poetry characteristics. The age of chaucer is the first significant period in the literary history of england. He also contributed in the second half of the 14th century to the management of public affairs as courtier, diplomat, and civil servant. Or social, religious, economic and political background of the age of chaucer. What are the characteristics of the age of chaucer answers. On the pilgrimage, hes the peacemaker of the group, calling for reconciliation between the host and the pardoner when the host takes offense at the pardoners attempt to sell fake relics to the pilgrims.
The answer will be provided if we discuss the chief events and features of the age. The period from 401400 called the age of chaucer because chaucer dominated the period. Or the salient features of the age of chaucer or the late 14th century. The salient features of the age of chaucer or the late 14th century.
He was the father of henry iv and grandfather of henry v. Age of chaucer simplified general characteristics youtube. Characteristics of the age of chaucer included prose being the major genre. Chaucer used this type of stanza in the books of the duchesse. Chaucer was part of a movement in the middle ages, and really all over the place, to write in whats called the vernacular. What are the major characteristics of middle english period. A brief introduction to the life and works of geoffrey chaucer. Chaucers poetry made english as a perfect medium for literature,this was the beginning o. The age of chaucer cec ugc the age of chaucer features of the age of chaucer english literature hub the life and great works of geoffrey. The age saw the emergence of the standard english language. What should be in a conclusion about the age of chaucer. Age of chaucer 40 1400 general characteristics of the age. Chaucer is the first great painter of character because he is the first great observer of it among english writers, in fact, next to shakespeare, chaucer is the greatest delineator of character in english literature. The chaucers were not wealthy, but they were welltodo.
Geoffrey chaucer is widely considered the father of english literature. Like many details of chaucers life, its impossible to verify either of these facts. For example, chaucers world revolved around the catholic church. In the prologue to the canterbury tales the thirty portraits traced by chaucer give us an excellent idea of the society at that time.