Why is Chaucer called the father of English poetry?

Chaucer symbolizes, as no other writer does, the Middle Ages. He stands in much the same relation to the life of his time as Alexander Pope does to the 18^th century and Tennyson to the Victorian era. Chaucer’s place in English literature is more important than theirs. For this he is the first great English writer.

According to John Dryden, Chaucer is the father of English poetry. Dryden venerates (honours) Chaucer as highly as the Greeks venerated Homer and Romans venerated Virgil. Dryden says that Chaucer is the perpetual foundation of good sense. He is learned in all subjects and speaks properly on all subjects.

Chaucer is regarded as the first great modern. He anticipated the modern taste and the modern mind. No other English writer has his skill and his large human outlook.

The first great national poet

Chaucer was the first great national poet. He expressed the new hopes and aspiration of the people of his times. The foundation of Chaucer’s art lies in English life and character.

Chaucer’s Narrative art

Chaucer stands successfully in his power of description. His description and narrative gifts possess rare qualities. In fact, he is the first great English story teller in verse. The employment of verse is Chaucer’s notable contribution. In his stories the narration is straight forward and unhampered. He introduces humor in his narration. “The Canterbury Tales” is a collection of narrated story. As a poet Chaucer’s greatness is strongly founded. The power of telling story is supremely well. He is one of the world’s three or four story tellers.

Art of Characterization

In English literature Chaucer is the first great painter of character. Next to Shakespeare, he is the greatest master of this field. He presents his character in a masterly manner. His characters are both individuals and types. In fact, Chaucer presents the 14^th century life as clearly as Tennyson.

Humor of Chaucer

He is regarded as the first great English humorist. No English literary work before him revealed (expressed) humor in the modern sense. Chaucer’s humor is always sympathetic. His understanding sympathy made him alive.  In fact, Chaucer’s humor is natural and spontaneous. After all, he was the poet of man and he had large humanity.

Realism of Chaucer

Modern poetry is characterized by realism. The modern poet is a keen observer of his times. Chaucer was a great observer of men and he had an extra ordinary insight into human nature.

His humanistic outlook

His descriptions of his fellow men reveals his wide humanity. His wide sympathy and gentle humanity make him lovable among the English poets. He is the poet of humanity.

Dramatic elements

Actually Chaucer is a dramatist. His characters are not dolls(puppets) but men and women of flesh and blood. His characters are full of vitality. His method of narration is dramatic. His characters talk in a dramatic manner.

Messenger of English novel

Chaucer has been called the father of English poetry. He is also the grandfather of English novel. In his “The Canterbury of Tales” we have the seeds of novel. It’s the fundamental characteristics of a novel.

At last we can say that he is the earliest of great moderns. He stands alone and no one climbs equally with him for two hundred years. English language and literature became full maturity with Chaucer. So he is the father of English poetry.