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.

Discuss the role and function of Teiresias in the play “Antigone”.

The role and function of Teiresias is an exceptional creation in the plot of Sophocles’ drama. It was necessary for Sophocles to introduce Teiresias in “Antigone” as he was a part of the myth. As Greek tragedies are full of Gods, Goddess, divines and prophetic speeches, the introduction of Teiresias is essential to prove the drama as a perfect tragedy.

Teiresias was the blind prophet of Thebes. In Greek mythology he was known as a living oracle (divine) gifted with the power of prophecy. The conversation between Teiresias and Creon is very important for the construction of the plot. The scene shows Creon’s cruelty and his disregard towards the prophet or any religious belief. The audience feel horror (fear) at the prophecy and feel pity (kind) for Creon thinking. Though Teiresias is blind, he can see the truth. On the other hand, Creon can’t see the truth with his eyes. Teiresias says;                                 

                                                             “The time shall come,

And soon your house will be filled lamentation of men and women.”

Sophocles uses the legendary character of Teiresias with great advantages. The plot of the drama is such that it surely needs Teiresias. The prophet is highly respected personality in Thebes. His prophecy is gifted by one of the Gods, Apollo. But another God modified it that nobody will believe his prophecy. However, we can see that his prophecy becomes true at the end of the play, Antigone.

Conflict is the essence of any drama. The play “Antigone” is based on the conflict between patriotic and religious ideals. Creon stands for the patriotic ideal and Antigone stands for the religious ideal. Polynices, son of Oedipus, came to attack his own homeland and wanted to win the throne of Thebes. But Eteocles, another son of Oedipus, came to save the land. They killed each other in the battle. Eteocles is buried with state honour. On the other hand, the dead body of Polynices is forbidden to bury by Creon. Because,the king considers him as a traitor.

 In this sense, Creon is the most blameless nationalist. But Antigone defies (disobey) the order of the king because of two reasons. The first is her sisterly feelings and the second is her obedience to divine law. Meanwhile, we have understood that who is wrong or right. The prophet makes clear the wish of Gods and says that it is obligatory to bury the dead body. Here,the opinion of prophet is conflict between the king and the prophecy and it goes on the side of Antigone. This conflict is absolutely a dramatic point of the play. 

At first, Creon receives cordially the prophet and asks him what news he has brought. Then the prophet replies that he had brought some news and some advice for Creon. The king says that he has never failed to follow the advice of the prophet before. But after that the dialogue becomes serious and alarming. The prophet says that God’s command is to bury a dead body. So the dead body of Polynices should be buried and his blood is of none but Oedipus. The prophet says; 

Creon reacts angrily with the statement that goes against the order of the king. He says that the prophet is moved by his self-will. The old prophet feels very insulting and criticizes the king for his incapability to realize the advice. The king becomes more bitter in his remarks and warns the prophet not to forget that he is speaking in front the king. Then Teiresias reminds Creon that he is the king guided by the prophet.

Thus, Teresias is compelled to make the frightening prophecy. The prophet warns again the king that the death of his son will be the payment of the death of Antigone. Another death will happen due to the dead which is still lying unburied. Creon has no alter it. This is the outcome of Creon’s misdeeds. Teiresias says; 

“You shall have given a son of your own loins

To death, in payment for death – two to pay.”

It is very surprising for the audience that Creon defies the prophet who is an honourable person in the city. The king has no special consideration for the prophet. On the other hand, the prophet is failed to show the humanity.

At last, the impact of the prophet’s uttering resounds around the whole stage. The Chorus and Creon feel afraid of it. The king goes to undo his misdeeds giving honour to Polynices and spare Antigone. By this time, Antigone has already hanged herself, Haemon has stabbed himself and queen committed suicide. All these happened as a result of Creon’s misjudgment. The king realized his errors and wanted to heed the advice. But it was too late.

However, the character of Teiresias serves a dramatic purpose to the play. We could not realize the character of Creon if there was no activities of Teiresias. The prophet’s principle is to always speak the truth. He knows the truth. When the king gets angry, he doesn’t stop the speaking the truth

The conflict between human laws and divine laws?

In the play Antigne the conflict between human law and divine law becomes apparent. Human law is represented by the king Creon and divine law is represented by Antigone. There are also other characters in the play who support Antigone, such as, Haemon, Teiresias. In other words the conflict in the play is not of personalities but of ideologies– the conflict of principles. The king supports the view of secular or political while others upholds (supports) the religious spirit. 

In Antigone, the conflict is an external conflict. The plot develops through a conflict between Creon and Antigone. Actually this is the conflict between the human law and divine law.

Creon comes to clash with one by one Antigone, Haemon and Teiresias. As a king Creon stands for the state which is governed by the fixed laws. But Antigone and others believe in something divine which is also unavoidable. In fact, Antigone is unable to appreciate the position of Creon. At the same time, Creon has also failed to appreciate the divine law. Both remain strict in their own principles and don’t tolerate each other’s views. In this way, tragedy befalls them both.

At the beginning of the drama Creon appears as a wise and good ruler. He is sincere, patriotic and selfless. He is dutiful and careful about the welfare of his country. Eteocles, one  of the brothers of Antigone, died for country. For this reason, the king orders to bury him with state honour. His noble deeds will make him live in the heart of man. On the other hand, Polyneces, another brother of Antigone, came to fight against his own country and died. His sin is unforgivable. So, the king forbids to bury his dead body even falls to be eaten by the animals. 

Creon deems (considers) his judgment to be right. Because, he is careful about the welfare of his country. The person, who is harmful to his country, can never be called friend. According to him, Eteocles is the friend of country whereas Polyneces is the traitor. A patriot and a traitor are never received the same honour. Thus, Crion is blameless in his view. 

Divine law is obviously something hard to understand. The king becomes so blind to his authority that he never paid heed (attention) to other’s advice. At the end of the drama, he came to realize the value of the divine law. But he was too late to avoid the tragedy.

Antigone is determined to bury her brother’s dead body whereas the king forbids it. She is ready to disobey the order of the king to obey the laws of Gods. She is not afraid of death to show her love and responsibility for her brother. So, we see that she is lady of complete to obey the law of God. She says;  

             “….I will bury my brother, And if I die for it, what happiness !” 

According to Antigone the laws Gods are everlasting. She says; 

                   “They are not yesterday or today but everlasting.” 

So every should obey the law of God.

The son of Creon, Haemon is also in support of divine law. He supports Antigone. The vital reason is that he falls in love of Antigone and promises to marry her. But he doesn’t express his love in front of his father. The other reason is that the people of the city stand for Antigone and deem her death penalty is unjust. According to the people Antigone has done her duty. Haemon thinks Antigone’s action to be honourable.

Teiresias who is known as a prophet supports the divine law. He says that the sufferings of the city are due to Creon’s misdeeds. The Gods are displeased with Creon’s misjudgment. The prophet warns the king that the death of his son will be the payment of the death of Aantigone. Another death will happen due to the dead which is still lying unburied. Creon has no alter it. He says;

                      “Creon is going to lose his son as the punishment.” 

To the Greek belief, the soul can’t find peace if the dead body is dishououred. When a man is killed, it is punishment enough for his sins.

Thus, at the end of the drama we see that both Antigone and Creon justly meet their doom. At first Creon seemed to be a good ruler. But he was wrong in not appreciating Antigone and what Haemon said to him. At last he finds himself as a guilty person. If he could forgive Antigone he might not have to lose his son and wife. And he lived a peaceful life.