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Joffrey Chaucer has been called the father of english poetry, he was the first English poet who wrote in a style of language which is readily recognisable today. Chaucer is undoubtedly the founder of English literature and language. The Anglo Saxon literature does not express the the varied genius of english people; it breaths the air of tomb. Even Metrical romance written before chaucer are dull and monotonous and do not have the the vitality and variety which characters the work of Chaucer.
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| Chaucer |
Chaucer has been acclaimed is the first realist, find humourist, fast narrative artist, fast great metrical artist, and representative of mediaeval poet in english literature. Further he has been created not only the fatherhood of english poetry but he has also been hailed as the father of English drama before the drama was born and father of English novel before the novel was born.
Chaucer is the father of english language before him there was as yet no standard form of the new tongue to take the place. English language was divided into northern, southern, midland dialects. Chaucer chose his medium medium the east midland dialect the speech of the capital and it was on account of his influence east midland dialect attain the dignity of national language. Thus chaucer is the first national english poet.
He played a part as the creator of English versification, here octosyllabic lines already in use he had to borrow or manufacture his tool. From French he imported the decasyllabic lines which was become the heroic verses. In The Canterbury Tales Chaucer used lines of 10 syllables with five accents. The rime royal arranged in seven rhyme stanzas is found in its perfect form in Troilus. The eight syllabic line with 4 accents rhyming with couplet are found in "The Book of the Duchess". In short, Chaucer used all the prosodic systems of English poetry.
Chaucer is the first to show the poetic possibilities of the language. In sweetness, sureness and easy of style he recall all the greatest disciple Spencer. He was the master romancer; he gave a new life to allegory.
Chaucer showed his skill in the the portrayal of characters. He was indeed the predecessor of Shakespeare. He presented characters and human senses impartially in a way that we can trust. The character of "pandarus" that easy going talkative personality in "Troilus Testifies" it's shown the Chaucer's power of character painting.
Not only did he give English poetry a new dress but also a new body and a new soul. His major contribution to the content of poetry is in his strick adherence to realism. His "Canterbury Tales" embodies a new effort in the the history of English literature as it strictly deal with the real man, manners and life which before Chaucer was lacking in poetry. He realised to adopt Pope's famous couplet.
"Known then and they self presume not dreams to to scan The proper study of mankind is man."
Chaucer's tone as a poet is wonderfully instance with geniality, tolerance, humour and freshness which are absent from that of his contemporaries and predecessors, who are too dreamy or too serious to be e interesting. In spite of his awareness of the corruption and unrest in the society of his age Chaucer is never upset or upsetting. No one can read him without feeling that it is good to be alive in this world however imperfect may it be in numerous respects. Chaucer is a chronic optimist.
He leaves didacticism to Langland and, he himself peacefully coexist with all human imperfection. It does not mean that he is not satirical but is satire are always seasoned with lively human.
And in the end of quote David Daiches with Chaucer the English language and English literature grew at a bound to full maturity. No other middle English writers has his skill, his range, his complexity, his large human outlook. His followers lack both his technical brilliance and his breadth of vision, leaving him the one undisputed master in mediaeval English literature.