CHAPTER III

THE AGE OF CHAUCER

 

GENERAL OUTLINE

 

1.   THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

2.   LITERARY FEATURES OF THE AGE

3.   GEOFFREY CHAUCER

4.   OTHER POETS

5.   PROSE-WRITERS

6.   THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITERARY FORMS AND STYLE

 

 

CHAPTER III

THE AGE OF CHAUCER

CLOSER OUTLINE

1.    THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

2.    LITERARY FEATURES OF THE AGE

2.1.        The Standardazing of English

2.2.        The Modern Note

2.3.        Prose

2.4.        Scottish Literature

3.    GEOFFREY CHAUCER (c. 1340-1400)

3.1.        His Life

3.2.        His Poems

3.2.1. (a) French stage:

—   The Romaunt of the Rose

—   The Book of the Duchesse

—   The Compleynt unto Pité

—   An A.B.C of the Virgin

—   The Compleynt of Mars

3.2.2. (b) Italian stage:

—   Anelida and Arcite

—   The Parlement of Foules

—   Troilus and Criseyde

—   The Hous of Fame

—   The Legend of Good Women

3.2.3. (c) English stage:

—   The Canterbury Tales

—   The Lak of Stedfastness, Compleynte of Chaucer to his Empty Purse; Origines upon the Maudeleyne (lost); The Flower and the Leaf and The Court of Love (not his)

3.3.        His Prose:

—   The Tale of Melibeus, The Parson's Tale

—   The Consolation of Philosophy

—   The Treatise on the Astrolabe

3.4.        Features of his poetry:

3.4.1. (a) His unique position

3.4.2. (b) His Observation

3.4.3. (c) His Descriptions

3.4.4. (d) His Humour and Pathos

3.4.5. (e) His Narrative Power

3.4.6. (f) His Metrical Skill

3.4.7. (g) Summary

4.    OTHER POETS

4.1.        William Langland, or Langley (1333 (?)-1400 (?)):

—   Piers Plowman

4.2.        John Gower (?-1408):

—   Speculum Meditantis (French)

—   Vox Clamantis (Latin)

—   Confessio Amantis (English)

4.3.        John Barbour (1326 (?)-95):

—   The Bruce

5.    PROSE-WRITERS

5.1.        Sir John Mandeville or Jehan of Mandeville:

—   The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (betw. 1357-71, by Jehan of Bourgogne)

5.2.        John Wycliff, or Wycliffe (1320-84):

—   Tracts and pamphlets in Latin and English

—   English translation of the Bible (?)

5.3.        Sir Thomas Malory (died 1471 (?):

—   The Morte d'Arthur

6.    THE DEVELOPMENT OF LITERARY FORMS AND STYLE

6.1.        Poetry

6.1.1. (a) The Lyric

6.1.2. (b) The Rise of the Ballad

6.1.3. (c) The Rise of Allegory

6.1.4. (d) Descriptive and Narrative Poems

6.1.5. (e) The Metrical Romances

6.1.6. (f) Poetical style established itself

6.1.7.(a) Metre

6.1.8. (b) Revival of alliteration

 

6.2.        Prose

6.2.1.(a) Extending field.

6.2.2.   (b) Still immature prose, but advance.