CHAUCER AS A POET
Chaucer is called the father of English poetry. It is he who founded English language and poetry alike. He is always remembered for his humour, realism, characterization, humanism and narrative art.
HUMOUR: Chaucer is the father of English humour also. He made it
the life and soul of his writings. His humour is allied to his humanism. It is
healthy device to penetrate into human heart. It is not sarcastic, bitter and
pungent. But it is marked by tolerance, charity, forgiveness and sympathy.
These qualities make his humour genial. With the help of this humour, the poet
laughs at the frailties and foibles of mankind.
REALISM: As the first great realist Chaucer presents the true picture of the 14th centuryEngland . He plays the role of a
true social chronicler. By choosing a pilgrimage framework He has given a
realistic touch to the setting of ' The Canterbury Tales'. He sees things and
paints them as he sees. He portrays men and women truthfully. He gives us
minute details of their behaviour, personality and dress. Thus Chaucer is a
realist in true sense of the term.
REALISM: As the first great realist Chaucer presents the true picture of the 14th century
CHARACTERIZATION: Chaucer is the first great painter of character
in English literature. His characters are timeless creations. They are both
individuals and types. They are not puppets but living human figures. All the
characters of 'The Prologue' have their individual traits. At the same time
they are the typical figures of the 14th century. Each character is
representative of his own class. Thus in his ' The Prologue' the characters are
vividly real and life like. In fact, they are dynamic.
HUMANISM: Chaucer takes delight in the large prospects of humanity.
He has a wide sympathy and charity for all. He is equally interested in man and
nature. The opening of 'The Prologue' clearly justifies this statement. Chaucer
is always free from personal bias. He looks at life as it is. He teaches us how
to enjoy it. In short, Chaucer is very sensitive to the resurgence of life in
spring and brings man in tune with it.
NARRATIVE
ART: As a narrator in verse Chaucer is superb. His narration is magical. It
is full of action and variety. His narrative art holds the reader's attention.
With the help of this unique art he tells a story with point and precision. His
narrative method is characterised by straightforward directness and simplicity.
The ending of his tales is as suggestive as the opening. Digression is one of
the important features of his art.
'The Canterbury Tales' reveal his dramatic power. His stories, plots,
characterisation, dialogue and setting have dramatic essence. His contribution
to the art of novel is also significant. Plot, character, dialogue and
description are major elements of a novel. These all are found in his tales.
LANGUAGE AND VERSIFICATION: Chaucer is the founder of modern
literary language of England .
He found English a dialect and left it a language. As the first national poet
of the England ,
he gave to the people a language. It became an instrument to express national
life and thought. He paid particular attention to versification. He stuck a
modern note in versification. He discarded irregular lines, alliteration and
complicated stanza form. He introduced 'heroic couplet' into English verse and
invented rhyme royal. These forms are marked by variety and flexibility.
CONCLUSION: Thus Chaucer
is a great poet of English poetry. His contribution to English poetry is
memorable. He is the English Homer, the father of English poetry and a great
national poet. His place in English literature is more important than that of
any writ.
About the author: Dr. Hareshwar Roy
Dr. Hareshwar Roy, Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College, Satna, Madhy Pradesh, obtained his bachelor and master degrees in English from Patna University Patna, Bihar. He completed his Ph.D. from A.P.S. University Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. His ‘The Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji’ is an incisive book that makes an in-depth study of the novels of M.G. Vassanji who is one of the best known literary members of Indian Diaspora. His research papers (more than 40) have been widely published in reputed literary journals. Currently he is teaching English Literature in Govt. Autonomous P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. He has attended a number of seminars and conferences. His area of interest is the writing of the writers of Indian diaspora.
Dr. Hareshwar Roy, Professor of English at Govt. P.G. College, Satna, Madhy Pradesh, obtained his bachelor and master degrees in English from Patna University Patna, Bihar. He completed his Ph.D. from A.P.S. University Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. His ‘The Diasporic Articulation in the Novels of M.G. Vassanji’ is an incisive book that makes an in-depth study of the novels of M.G. Vassanji who is one of the best known literary members of Indian Diaspora. His research papers (more than 40) have been widely published in reputed literary journals. Currently he is teaching English Literature in Govt. Autonomous P.G. College Satna, Madhya Pradesh. He has attended a number of seminars and conferences. His area of interest is the writing of the writers of Indian diaspora.
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