CHAUCER'S HUMOUR
DEEP
INSIGHT AND SYMPATHETIC ATTITUDE: Humour
produces laughter and smile. With the help of this literary weapon the author
laughs at someone and at something. It is sometimes limited to gentle and
sympathetic laughter. Chaucer's humour is based on his deep insight and
sympathetic attitude. His laughter is never the laughter of contempt. It is
because this great poet has no scorn for idiots. He has no strong feeling of
distaste for rascals. It is the laughter that springs from the frailties and
foibles of mankind.
KEEN
OBSERVATION OF EVERYDAY LIFE: 'The Prologue to
the Canterbury Tales' is full of humour. The laughter echoes on all sides. It
is the result of the poet's keen observation of everyday life. Sometimes
negligible becomes significant for the poet. The insignificant things like the
Squire's coat, the Wife of Bath's hat, the Monk's bridle and the Reeve's thin
legs become very important for the poet. He describes all these things in such
a way that they evoke much laughter.
MULTI-ANGLED
HUMOUR: Chaucer's humour is multi-angled and of
wide range. With the help of this humour the poet's laughs at all. He spares
none. He is never perceptive but critical. Sometimes his attack is like the
strike of a whip. With a good humoured laugh the humourist ridicules the vices
of the church and churchmen. In this contest we can quote the following lines
that describe the Monk's attitude:
' He yaf nat of that text a pulled hen,
That seith that
hunters ben nat hooly men.'
PARADOXICAL
HUMOUR: Paradox is one of the important
features of Chaucer's humour. It offers us laughter and smile. When the poet is
ridiculing the weaknesses of the Wife of Bath, it seems that he is making her
praise. The character of Harry Bailly is paradoxical. During the journey he
controls a number of pilgrims but he appears as a lamb before his wife at home.
SLY
HUMOUR: The description of characters raises
irresistible laughter. The physical peculiarities of these characters are
humourous. The presentation of their dresses also evoke good laughter. But
sometimes Chaucer's humour is categorised as sly humour. This humour slyly
reveals the weakness of certain characters. The best example of this humour can
be found in the character of the Prioress:
'
Full weel she soong the service dyvyne,
Entuned in hir nose ful semely.'
PATHOS: Chaucer's humour is full of pathos. It shows no trace of anger and
it has no sign of cruelty. It is always genial. It has a tinge of pity for
natural human weakness. Sympathy and forgiveness are the important qualities of
such humour. It produces tears in happiness and smile in misery. In this
context we can compare Chaucer with Dickens.
CONCLUSION: Thus Geoffrey Chaucer is rightly called the first great humorist.
His faith in humanism and realism makes his humour remarkable and powerful. It
effectively serves the poet's purpose. In short, Chaucer's humour is
praiseworthy.
About the author:
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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