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 18th
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.
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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 14th 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.