📘 The History of English Literature:
THE AGE OF CHAUCER (1340–1400):
[For NET, SET, ENGLISH SLST INTERVIEW, B.A (HONS)]
🔹 Historical Background of the Age of Chaucer:
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Period: 14th century (Chaucer lived 1340–1400).
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Time of transition: Middle Ages declining, Renaissance ideas beginning.
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Major events:
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Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453) between England and France.
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Black Death (1348–49) killed one-third of England’s population.
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Peasants’ Revolt (1381) led by Wat Tyler.
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Weak monarchy under Richard II (1377–1399).
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These events brought social unrest, demand for reforms, and humanistic awakening.
🔹 Social and Religious Conditions
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Church corruption exposed by reformers like John Wyclif (“Morning Star of Reformation”).
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Rise of Lollard movement (religious reformers inspired by Wyclif).
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Growth of towns and guilds; middle class became powerful.
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Social inequalities were strongly felt, and literature reflected them.
🔹 Literary Characteristics of the Age
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Transition from Medieval to Modern spirit.
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Allegory, didacticism, and satire remain, but realism emerges.
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Humanism awakens – literature shows interest in man, not just theology.
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Development of English prose (Wyclif’s Bible translation).
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Growth of popular poetry – ballads and folk songs.
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Culminates in the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, “Father of English Poetry.”
🔹 Major Literary Figures (Besides Chaucer)
1. John Gower (1330–1408)
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Called the “moral Gower” by Chaucer.
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Works:
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Speculum Meditantis (in French) – allegorical poem.
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Vox Clamantis (in Latin) – about the Peasants’ Revolt.
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Confessio Amantis (in English) – stories told by lovers to the priest of Venus.
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Clear style but lacked Chaucer’s humour and variety.
2. William Langland (1332–1400?)
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Author of The Vision of Piers the Plowman.
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Allegorical poem in alliterative verse.
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Criticized corruption in church and society.
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Important for social protest in literature.
3. John Wyclif (1320–1384)
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Philosopher, theologian, reformer.
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First English translation of the Bible.
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Attacked abuses of the Church.
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Inspired the Lollards, forerunners of Protestant Reformation.
4. Popular Ballads
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Originated among common people.
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Themes: love, adventure, tragedy, outlaws (e.g., Robin Hood).
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Preserved oral tradition; written down later.
🔹 Geoffrey Chaucer (1340–1400) – The Central Figure
His Position
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Called “Father of English Poetry”.
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First to show that English could be a fit language for literature.
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Bridged medieval and modern traditions.
His Major Works
Early Works (French influence):
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The Romaunt of the Rose (translation from French).
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The Book of the Duchess (elegy for Blanche, wife of John of Gaunt).
Italian Period (influenced by Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio):
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Troilus and Criseyde – tragic love story, shows psychological depth.
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The House of Fame – allegory about poet’s reputation.
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The Parliament of Fowls – earliest reference to St. Valentine’s Day.
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The Legend of Good Women – stories of virtuous women from history/myth.
English Period (his maturity):
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The Canterbury Tales – his masterpiece.
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Framework: 30 pilgrims travel to Canterbury, each tells a tale.
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Rich panorama of 14th-century English life.
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Mixture of satire, humor, realism, and romance.
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Characters like the Knight, the Wife of Bath, the Miller, the Pardoner are immortal creations.
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🔹 Features of Chaucer’s Poetry
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Realism – true picture of contemporary life.
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Humor and irony.
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Narrative skill – vivid storytelling.
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Characterization – lifelike portraits.
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Language – Middle English at its finest.
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Versification – introduced iambic pentameter (heroic couplet).
🔹 Importance of the Age of Chaucer
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Language: Laid foundation of modern English.
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Poetry: Shifted from allegory to realism.
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Society: Reflected social unrest, church corruption, rise of middle class.
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Prose: Wyclif’s Bible made English prose a literary medium.
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Legacy: Prepared ground for Renaissance literature.
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