1. The age of Chaucer
BY TRUSHALI DODIYA
SEM 1
A STUDENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
MAHARAJA KRISHNAKUMARSINGHJI BHAVNAGAR UNIVERSITY
2. Historical background
According to William J. Long, two great movements can
benoted during 14th century:
1. Political Movement
2. Social Movement
3. 1. Political Movement :-
Reign of Edward III,
Emergence of great national spirit and patriotic enthusiasm.
English became the speech of court and parliament, means french
language started to disappear.
2. Social movement:-
Reign of Richard II
Contrast between luxury and poverty, idle wealthy classes and the
overtaxed peasants
English people began to be conquering and colonising people, like
Anglo-Saxon
Increasing Trade, People became traveller, going first toview places
where trade had opened the way, and returning With wider interests
and a larger horizons.
4. Other important historical aspects
Revolution of 1399, deposition of Richard II and foundation
of Lancastrian dynasty- greater importance in social and
intellectual movements
Overthrown and again accession of Lancastrian
Standardisation of English language
Expansion of trade
Plagues – Black death(4 times, first in 1348-49, reappeared
in 1362, 1367 and 1370) which whipped half of the
population
Personal rebellion – peasants’ war
Corruption mainly within the Roman Catholic Church
5. Plagues – Black death(4 times, first in 1348-49, reappeared
in 1362, 1367 and 1370) which whipped half of the
population
Hundred years’ War(it was over 116 years, though it is called
as hundred years’War)
It was not a single war but series of wars
As a result of the hundred years’War there were famine,
death, anarchy, tyranny, wars, heavy Taxation.
The common people suffered from All the consequences of
the war not wealthy or couriers or churchmen)
It also cause Peasant’s rebellion
6. Literary characteristics
The entire age is known as the age of Chaucer.
The time period of this age has literary glory by
the works of Geoffrey Chaucer
The age is also known as the real starting point or
opening moment of English literature.
7. Literary characteristics
1. Standardisation of English language –
>East Midland speech as standard speech
>The language of the capital city as well as of the
universities
2. Modern note:-
> Sharper spirit of criticism
. > Searching interest in man’s affairs
> Influence of humanism
> Writer started to reveal or use their name for their works,
instead Of anonymous publication
8. 3.Foundation of English prose style –
> works of Mandeville and Malory
. > Latin and French were losing grip as popular
prose medium
> Wycliffe’s translation from Italian to English
> Wycliffe’s pamphlets which were constroversial
and show the power of vernacular (over Latin) for
theological discussion.
> The travels of sir John Mandeville, his constested
authorship and it was believed that it could be a
compilation of stories translated from French. And also it is
believed as a first English prose classic available.
9. Development of literary forms
1. Poetry:-
The lyrics – chiefly the religious and love lyrics
The Rise of Ballads
The rise of the Allegories
Descriptive and narrative poems
2. Prose:-
Civil records
Simple, straightforward, and free style
Translations of Bible by Wycliffe
.
10. Age of Transition
Rise of middle class
Birth to Nationalism
Feudal to free society
Humanism – spirit of antiquity, critical
attitude and new learning
Expansion of English literature
11. All these historical, literary and
transitional aspects led English
literature as well the English people
to the emergence of English
Renaissance
12. Major literary figures
Geoffrey Chaucer:-
Father of English poetry
Entire age is known as the Age of Chaucer, it tells us the
glory of his work
Chaucer is believed as the starting point of English
literature , Rising star of English literature
Influenced by Franch, Italian and English language and
literature
Lived under Three monarch
13. Major Works of Chaucer
Canterbury Tales
Troilus and Criseyde
Blanche of Lancaster
Anelida and Arcite
The romance of the roses
The house of fame
The legend of Good women
14. Other writers / poets
William Langland
John Wyclif
John Mandeville
John Gower
John Barbour
Sir Thomas Malory
15. Reference
Edward Albert, History of English literature
W. J. Long, History of English literature
https://youtu.be/_wxjDUPqkCk age of Chaucer
Britannica, Age of Chaucer
Wikipedia, age of Chaucer
