Chaucer as the father of English Poetry:
Chaucer is considered “ the father of English poetry” . He
is the first who founded English language and poetry . According to Alber “ the
earliest of the great moderns” and Matthew Arnold says “ with him is born our
real poetry” .
Some major Characteristics of Chaucer works :
1. New Poetic Subject
Chaucer
collected ,adopted and molded his matter without hesitation. Chaucer rurned his
eyes to the life and people of his time. His realism reflects his modernity.
2. Humour and Pathos
He
is the first to use humour in English poetry. According to A Brooke “ His
humour is broad, , sometimes shy, sometimes gay, but it is also exquisite and
affectionate.”
3. Chaucer’s Language and Versification
At
that time there were four dialects: Southern, East Midland , Northumbrian and
Kentish. And Chaucer popularized the East Midland dialect by reshaping it. This
is reason Lowes remark “ he found English a dialect and left it a language.”
And spenser called him “ the well of English undefiled.” Chaucer’s style is noticeable
for vigour, clarity and concreteness. Some example from his works:
Monk’s
horse is “ as broun as is a berie”
The
friar’s eyes twinkle “ as doon the sterres in the frosty night.”
The
Franklin’s purse is as white as morning milk,
Clerk’s
mount is “ bene as is a rake.”
Wife of
bath creates a graphic effect:
Booled
was hir face, and fair and reed of hewe.
Chaucer
is the first man to use “naked words”
and he introduced the heroic couplet into English and invented the rhyme
royal.
4. Chaucer’s narrative art:
“ Had
Chaucer written in prose, it is possible that his Troiluc s=and Cressyde and
not Richardson’s Pamela would be celebrated as the first English novel”.
Chaucer’s method of narration is dramatic . Action,
dialogue, gesture and costume all looks like of real life.
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