English Literature GCE A/L: Poets and Poetry
Geoffrey Chaucer
English poet
in the 2nd quarter of 1374 Chaucer lived in a 'whirl of Prosperity'. He
became a Justice of Peace for Kent. "He was also appointed as a clerk of
the various works at various royal palaces" "The development of his
genius has been attractively summed up as comprised in three stages,
French, Italian and English" He was in touch with the best French Poets,
acquainted with Petrach's Sonnets. As a great technical master of poetry
his fame and popularity remained unshaken.
Chaucer's most popular work is Canterbury Tales Borrowing both stanza
forms and "decasyllabic couplets"
chaucer's music like that of his French master and his successors
"depend very largely on assigning to every syllable its full value and
move especially on the due pronunciation of the final" "Death of the
Three Rioters", an extract from Canterbury Tales, a series of stories
told by twenty seven pilgrims travelling to Canterbury to "enliven
themselves." Each member was supposed to have told two stories one, on
the way to Canterbury and one on the way back.
"Death was taken as a retribution for sin", The three Rioters
symbolizing the sinful deeds of people and how they suffer for their
sins. Avarice is highlighted by the poet in a symbolic manner through
Gold Coins. This is a moral story in dialogue form presented in a
pleasing manner and "enrapture an audience" different techniques used by
chancer rouse the curiosity enhancing the flow of the poem.
The poet's anxiety to innovate good will, sympathy and understanding
in the hearts of all human beings. Rhythm an Rhyme creating the
background for the tale to be told in narrative style inculcating in the
hearts of the listeners and readers the evil effects of Avarice.
"He took a bottle full of poison
And drank and his companion nothing loth
Drank from it also and they both perished,"
Chaucer's genius being a result of the influence of French poets. His
translation of "Le Roman de la Rose" a poem written by Guillaume. Lorris
was translated into English by Chaucer.
Chaucer's A,B,C, a poem in honour of the Blessed Virgin, with the
stanzas beginning with the"successive letters of the alphabet" chancer's
"Canterbury tales" being his attraction he failed to complete the
"Legend of Good Women" the "Prettiest Specimen" of his prose is his
short prologue in the prose "addressed to 'Litel Lowis My Son,' a
treatise on the use of Astrolabe?
"The portrait of Chaucer with the affection of his disciple, Thomas
Hoccleve, caused to be painted in a copy of the latter's Regement of
Princess" showing him as an old man, "white hair, fresh complexion, grey
eyes, straight nose, a grey moustache and a small double pointed beard".
His dress and hood being black and carrying a string of beads in his
hands, Thus reflecting his ardent love and devotion to the creater.
Mrs. C. Ekanayake,
Retd. Specialist Teacher Eng.,
St. Anne's College,
Kurunegala |