Nov 10, 2018 chaucer is called the father of english literature. The prologue to canterbury tales short ques the prologue to canterbury tales. Remembering geoffrey chaucer, the father of english literature. He passed away on october 25, 1400 in london, and was the first to be buried in the famed westminster abbeys poets corner. The son of a successful london wine seller, it is thought that he may have attended st pauls latin grammar school. It was written by the father of english poetry geoffrey chaucer who was at once a courtier, scholar, traveller, businessman and a prominent literary figure of the fourteenth century.
Chaucer was the first who had written poetry in english language. Before chaucer, it was not fashionable for serious poets to write in english. It is a poor compliment to the father of english poetry, to say that by such treatment the bouquet and individuality of his works must be lost. Critical analysis of the canterbury tales by chaucer. Chaucer stands in much the same relation to the life of his time as alexander pope does to the early part of. Chaucers contribution to english language and versification. The poetry saw the amalgamation of religion, humanism and secular passions. His the canterbury tales ranks as one of the greatest poetic works in english. Spencer became the father of poetic diction as there was no poetic diction before this age.
Chaucer was the first great poet writing in english, whose bestknown work is the canterbury tales. He passed away on october 25, 1400 in london, and was the first to be buried in the famed westminster abbeys poets. He died of unknown causes and was 60 years old at the time. Chaucer, father of english poetry geoffrey chaucer, known as the father of english literature, is widely considered the greatest english poet of the middle ages and was the first poet to be buried in poets corner of westminster abbey. Short poems by geoffrey chaucer this edition is intended for students just beginning to read chaucer and does not reflect any single manuscript reading it combines readings from the benson and fisher editions. Geoffrey chaucer is considered the founder of modern english literature. John dryden, preface to the fables of ovid and chaucer dryden translates the knights tale, the nuns priests tale, the wife of baths tale, and the flower and the leaf then thought to be chaucer s, and the character of a good parson, based on rather than translated from the portrait of the parson in the general prologue. Geoffrey chaucer is called the father of english literature because he was the first. Read all poems of geoffrey chaucer and infos about geoffrey chaucer. Chaucer is the father of english poetry and even the father of english writing, we comprehensively imply that his commitment to the development of english verse or writing is a great deal more huge than that of his counterparts and antecedents.
Chaucers contribution in english language and versification. He was the first writer buried in poets corner of westminster abbey. While he achieved fame during his lifetime as an author. The father of the english literature the english project. Jan 25, 2018 why is chaucer called the father of english poetry. Geoffrey chaucer the father of english literature scihi blogscihi. I have chosen here, for the sake of clarity, to substitute eyes for eyen, thus losing some of the music, and to use the modern sustain replacing sustene thus destroying the strict rhyme. Chaucer developed a vision of english poetry that would be accessible to all, not just those who could read and write foreign languages. He was therefore, both the father of english poetry as well as the father of english language. Oct 24, 2017 geoffrey chaucer, the father of english literature, was born in circa 40 in london.
Aug 27, 2015 in the early eighteenth century john dryden famously described geoffrey chaucer as the father of english poetry, although he wasnt the first one to do so. Not only is he the first poet buried in westminster abbey, chaucer remains the proven favorite poet of the middle ages. Geoffrey chaucer was born between 40 and 45, probably in london. As a forerunner of the english novel chaucer has been called the father of english poetry. Chaucer as a father of english poetry english poetry geoffrey. Oct 12, 2018 ma english lecture 2 prologue to the canterbury tales geoffrey chaucer urdu hindi pdf ea english. It is also evident that he attempted to provide his own commentary on his society. Chaucer uses the form, possibly based on knowledge of boccaccios decameron gained on a visit to italy in 73, to provide a highly varied portrait of his society, both. As a squire in the court of elizabeth, countess of ulster, the wife of lionel, earl of ulster later duke of clarence, chaucer would have. The date of his birth is not known precisely but experts estimate that he was born somewhere around 43. Chaucer is called the father of english literature.
Why chaucer is called the father of english poetry. He stands in much the same relation to the life of his time as alexander pope does to the 18th century and tennyson to the victorian era. Geoffrey chaucer, often called the father of english poetry, made the english language respectable. Chaucer the father of english literature slideshare. Geoffrey chaucer 40 1400 the father of the english literature. Describe chaucer contribution to english language to justify his title of father of english poetry. Start studying geoffrey chaucer and the canterbury tales. Ma english lecture 2 prologue to the canterbury tales. The letter e indicates that an unstressed e should be pronounced. Geoffrey chaucer, the father of english literature, was born in circa 40 in london.
Geoffrey chaucer is known as one of the greatest english poets of all time. Geoffrey chaucer is one of the greatest poets of england. But he is also the grandfather of the english novel. Geoffrey chaucer known as the father of english literature, is widely considered the greatest english poet of the middle ages and was the first poet to have been buried in poets corner of. As the first acknowledged poet in english, chaucer was a polymath who had wide ranging interests in astronomy, alchemy, philosophy and literature.
He has been called the father of english literature, or, alternatively, the father of english poetry. Chaucer as the father of english poetry, literature and language. First taught the muse to speak english tongue when it is said that chaucer is the father of english poetry and even the father of english literature, we broadly mean that his contribution to the evolution of english poetry or literature is much more significant than. Geoffrey chaucer the father of english poetry literaturemini. There were new forms of poetry like narrative and descriptive poetry that were enhanced during this time period. In the early eighteenth century john dryden famously described geoffrey chaucer as the father of english poetry, although he wasnt the first one to do so. In those, dark days when light of modernism was not visible on the horizon, chaucer anticipated the modern taste and the modern mind and in his.
Nov 10, 2018 chaucer as the father of english poetry, literature and language geoffrey chaucer realism in canterbury tales chaucer the realist still citizen sparrow is an allegory of modern life. Mar 20, 20 first taught the muse to speak english tongue when it is said that chaucer is the father of english poetry and even the father of english literature, we broadly mean that his contribution to the evolution of english poetry or literature is much more significant than that of his contemporaries and predecessors. From then on, french or anglonorman was the language of the upper and educated classes. Widely considered the greatest english poet of the middle ages, he is best known for the canterbury tales. Mar 04, 2016 geoffrey chaucer is known as the father of english poetry and his burial in westminster abbey begins the tradition of poets corner, last resting place of englands most celebrated writers. Why geoffrey chaucer is called the father of english poetry. This is a pretty huge question for this short answer space. The canterbury tales and other poems geoffrey chaucer. Chaucer is regarded as the father of english poetry and the earliest of the great modernism. John dryden, preface to the fables geoffrey chaucer, known as the father of english literature, is widely considered the greatest english poet of the middle ages and was the first poet to be buried in poets corner of westminster abbey. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
We do not know any details of his early life and education. Geoffrey chaucer the father of english literature scihi. Geoffrey chaucer is widely known as the father of english literature. Geoffrey chaucer poems by the famous poet all poetry. Touted as the father of modern english by his contemporaries and later even modern critics, geoffrey chaucer 431400 remains one of the essential medieval writers that still has prevalence in our literary culture today. While i dont advocate teaching real old english literature in an ap course, i do want to encourage teachers to consider middle english and geoffrey chaucer. Why is chaucer called the father of english poetry. In his troilus and criseyda and the canterbury tales, we have the seeds of the novel which was cultivated by others later. The prologue to the canterbury tales is a prologue to modern fiction. Geoffrey chaucer known as the father of english literature, is widely considered the greatest english poet of the middle ages and was the first poet to have been buried in poets corner of westminster abbey. Merciless beauty, one of the great glories of english poetry, is particularly difficult to translate without damage. Chaucer, who lived in medieval england during an eventful period in english history, is known as the father of english literature.
Geoffrey chaucer poems, quotations and biography on geoffrey chaucer poet page. Three centuries earlier in the regiment of princes the poet and bureaucrat thomas hoccleve offered the first recorded reference to chaucer as literary father. Chaucer the father of english poetry english literature essay. Geoffrey chaucer was the first to have made the english language popular by giving the language its prominent place in his literature. Chaucer is generally considered as the father of english poetry. The following is a list of significant men and women known for being the father, mother, or considered the founders mostly in a field, listed by category. Chaucer symbolizes, as no other writer does, the middle ages. Although old english had produced a rich literature in the early middle ages, this writing tradition ended abruptly after the norman invasion of 1066.
Why geoffrey chaucer is called the father of english. Jun 28, 2019 the legendary 14th century english poet geoffrey chaucer died october 25, 1400 in london, england. There were other poets also as john gower, william langland but there poetry is little read and enjoyed today, while chaucer continues to be as fresh and enjoyable as when he lived and wrote. Chaucer as a father of english poetry free download as pdf file. On top of composing his works in english, chaucer used the vernacular, or the english that spoken in and around london at the timewhich has a resemblence to the english spoken in the 20th century. Geoffrey chaucer is known as the father of english poetry and his burial in westminster abbey begins the tradition of poets corner, last resting place of englands most celebrated writers. The canterbury tales is a collection of stories, written in the middle english vernacular, supposedly told among a group of pilgrims travelling from london to canterbury. Chaucer himself was known for his trenchant observations. Why is geoffrey chaucer called the father of english poetry.
Chaucer is the father of english poetry not all poetry, and he was called the father of english poetry by john dryden, who recognized his influence on our literary. Widely considered the greatest english language poet of the middle ages, he authored the canterbury tales and a slew of other poetry. Before chaucer there were different dialects but chaucer used one and gave it worth and made it a language. Why is geoffrey chaucer called the father of modern english poetry. I suggest you do a separate search with this question and you will find a lot of information. His first own poem is considered to be the duchesss book. Chaucer as the father of english poetry english final year. English poet geoffrey chaucer, known as the father of english literature.
Sep 30, 2011 he was therefore, both the father of english poetry as well as the father of english language. Most well known as a poet, chaucer worked as a bureaucrat, courtier, and diplomat, which exposed him to the courtly style of life that he explores, questions, and mocks. He is most famous for writing his unfinished work, the canterbury tales, which is considered as one of the greatest poetic works in english. If his masterpiece is valuable for one thing more than any.
Modern audiences, however, know chaucer best for his unfinished poem the. Middle english consider middle english on their exams, students not infrequently use the term old englisha language linguists think fell out of use about 1200 c. On their exams, students not infrequently use the term old english a language linguists think fell out of use about 1200 c. Sep 17, 2017 although he doesnt have the same worldwide name recognition as william shakespeare, geoffrey chaucer who lived, approximately, from 43 to 1400 is sometimes known as the father of english literature. Ma english lecture 2 prologue to the canterbury tales geoffrey chaucer urdu hindi pdf ea english. Most well known as a poet, chaucer worked as a bureaucrat, courtier, and diplomat, which exposed him to the courtly. He also contributed importantly in the second half of the 14th century to the management of public affairs as courtier, diplomat, and.
The canterbury tales by geoffrey chaucer free at loyal books. Chaucer influenced english literature and the evolution of english in huge way he showed the world that this new english language which had survived 300 years of norman rule could be used in the art of literature just as well, if not better, than the french of which it had usurped. Geoffrey chaucer is called the father of english literature because he was the first to write what became generally wellknown and recognized poems and stories in the language of the common people. While he achieved fame during his lifetime as an author, philosopher, alchemist and astronomer, composing a scientific treatise on the astrolabe for his ten yearold son. Chaucer was descended from two generations of wealthy vintners who had everything but a title and in 57 chaucer began pursuing a position at court. Touted as the father of modern english by his contemporaries and later even modern. Geoffrey chaucer geoffrey chaucer poems poem hunter. While he achieved fame during his lifetime as an author, philosopher, alchemist and astronomer, composing a.
1135 1654 1363 735 174 544 1641 325 171 338 420 946 152 933 1351 1488 655 693 538 198 1316 788 739 713 237 318 1458 836 426 1592 646 486 294 424 176 582 349 571 2 338 1133 1465