CHIEF CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AGE OF CHAUCER
AN AGE OF TRANSITION:
The age of Chaucer was a transitional age. The medievalism was departing and
modernism was developing slowly. Wycliffe and his followers were sowing the
seeds of Reformation. They were making attack upon the church. Individualism
was being emphasized. Military events were contributing to the growth of
patriotism and national consciousness. The industrial development was giving
rise to the middle and working classes. It led to the end of feudal system. In
this way we find that the age of Chaucer was an era of transition.
GROWTH OF NATIONAL
SENTIMENT: The age of Chaucer witnessed the beginning of the Hundred
Years War. England was at war with Scotland and France. This war brought great
victories in the battles of Crecy and Poitiers. The consciousness of national
unity was strengthened. The war gave a feeling of national pride and self
respect to the people of England. The national life got purified and powerful
national sentiments grew.
BLACK DEATH, FAMINE AND SOCIAL UNREST: The age of Chaucer faced natural calamities and social
unrest. Plagues and pestilences, constitutional conflicts and unorthodoxy came
to the forefront. In 1348-49 came the terrible Black Death. It shook the social
fabric violently. A large number of people died. It reappeared in 1362, 1367
and 1370. Famine followed plague. Vagrants and thieves multiplied. Labour
became scarce. Heavy taxation was imposed. The Toll Tax brought about the
peasants' revolt. This revolt was a clear sign of social tension and unrest.
THE CoRRUPTION OF THE CCURCH: In the age of Chaucer the church was the seat of power and
prestige. It was infected with corruption. The churchmen were fond of wealth
and luxury. They indulged themselves in all sorts of vices. They lived in a
Godless and worldly way. John Wycliff, the morning star of the Reformation, led
an attack upon the growing corruption of the church.
THE NEW LEARNINGThe:
The age of Chaucer marked the dawn of new learning. It brought about a change
in the general outlook of the age. Man's intellectual horizon expanded. He
began to make efforts to liberate himself from the shackles of theological
slavery. Two Italian writers Petrarch and Boccaccio were the pioneers of this
great revival. But beneath the medievalism the heaven of Renaissance was
already at work. The modern world was in the process of being born.
CONCLUSION: Thus in
the age of Chaucer a curious modern note began to be apparent. There was a
sharper spirit of criticism. The vogue of the romance was passing. In this age
there was a spirit of revolt. The church was losing her great hold upon the
masses of people. Reformation was in process.
The light of new learning was shining. This age was given proper voice
by Chaucer.
About the author:
Dr. Hareshwar Roy, Professor of English at
Govt. P.G. College, Satna, Madhya 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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