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Chaucer & Spenser BEGC -104 Indira Gandhi BRITISH POETRY AND DRAMA – 14th -17th CENTURY National Open University School of Humanities Block 1 CHAUCER & SPENSER Block Introduction UNIT 1 Chaucer: Life and Works UNIT 2 The Wife of Bath’s Prologue UNIT 3 Spenser: Life and Works UNIT 4 Amoretti Sonnets LVII, LXVII, LXXV 1 EXPERT COMMITTEE Prof. Balaji Ranganathan Prof. Romika Batra Gujarat Central University Indira Gandhi University Gandhinagar, Gujarat Meerpur, Rewari Dr. Anand Prakash (Retired) Dr. Hema Raghavan (Retd.) Formerly at Hansraj College Formerly at Gargi College University of Delhi University of Delhi Dr. Rajnish Kumar Mishra Dr. Richa Bajaj Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies Hindu College JNU, New Delhi University of Delhi Dr. Payal Nagpal IGNOU Faculty Janki Devi Memorial College Prof. Anju Sahgal Gupta Delhi University Prof. Neera Singh Prof. Malati Mathur Prof. Nandini Sahu Prof. Parmod Kumar Dr. Pema Eden Samdup Ms. Mridula Rashmi Kindo Dr. Malathy A COURSE PREPARATION Dr. Anand Prakash (Retd.) (Unit 1 & 2) Dr. Richa Bajaj (Unit 3 & 4) Formerly at Hansraj College Hindu College University of Delhi University of Delhi COURSE COORDINATION & EDITING Ms. Mridula Rashmi Kindo Dr. Anand Prakash IGNOU Ms. Mridula Rashmi Kindo PRODUCTION Sh. C.N. Pandey SO (Publication) School of Humanities COVER PAGE ARTIST & COVER DESIGN Ritu Bhutani, an independent artist, conducts regular art workshops at Pathways School, Gurgaon and The Social Canvas, a weekly art program. Cover Design by A.D.A. Graphics, New Delhi (c) Indira Gandhi National Open University ISBN- All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form, by mimeograph or any other means, without permission in writing from the Indira Gandhi National Open University. Further information, about the Indira Gandhi National Open University Courses may be obtained from the University’s office at Maidan Garhi, New Delhi – 110068 Printed and published on behalf of the Indira Gandhi National Open University by Director, SOH. 2 COURSE INTRODUCTION British Poetry and Drama from 14th to 17th Century Friends, this course will provide to you valuable information, ideas and approaches related to the English literary writing that emerged in the period ranging from the fourteenth century to the seventeenth century. Broadly, the four centuries were witness to the crucial change that occurred in the domain of English culture; it pertained to the shift in concerns and interests. In fact, the change and shift we talk about defined this period as early modern—when the first signs of movement towards men and women in their material existence came up and drew attention. We are making reference here to the emphasis that the society of the previous centuries in England and the surrounding countries of Europe laid on God and divinity. In a region where the Church enjoyed supreme authority and power to direct life and nature, where it took upon itself the responsibility of organising and governing all matters of existence, and moulded the minds of men to serve a power beyond their control. To what end did men and women work, how did they think about the world surrounding them? These questions were answered by Christianity, the Church of Rome that was the seat of final authority and judgment. This did not leave any place for the creative thought, the act of culture where humans would enjoy the freedom to dream and imagine in their own distinct manner, as a matter of choice. Men and women lived a life of values, morality, ethics, justice, of virtues dictated to them by the supreme authority of religion. It was a static world, swearing by permanence. Human beings were symbols of the right conduct. This is the starting point of the discussion in this course. Somewhere in the fourteenth century, signs of a new attitude emerged. No, humans were not means, they were not mere symbols. Instead, they were individuals and citizens with a sense of initiative. They were persons in flesh and blood, interacting with one another with purposes that clashed and created an environment of vitality and dynamism. What is a better example of this than the description of the fourteenth century ethos in the hands of Geoffrey Chaucer? He presented characters from the fourteenth century rooted in their cultural and ideological soil. Rightly, the first block in this course is devoted to Geoffrey Chaucer. You will read in this block about Chaucer’s life and works that in turn are strong indicators of English society in that period. Additionally, you will be reading about people of the time imaginatively captured by poet Chaucer. He mixes in the portrayals his imagination and approach that work outside the parameters of religion. Yes, religion is present in the portrayals, but only as a pursuit; it comes in for analysis and comment by individuals who apply their minds to it and make sense of it in the context. Constantly, the said individuals take recourse to humour, satire and irony. On some occasions, they are annoyed or angry. For this reason, they move quite close to us today and become a subject of enquiry for us. Chaucer is truly a poet of human concerns and interests. In his approach, he is modern and human-centred. From here, the trend of poetic expression goes towards a different kind of writing in the sixteenth century when literary forms become yet more creative and experimental. Herbert Spenser typifies engagement with the world of nature and human fantasy. That is a continuation of as well as a departure from Chaucer. Like Chaucer earlier, Spenser in the sixteenth century is a major literary figure. It is interesting that he uses a new form, the sonnet form, to present short thematic representations. Imagine that with him and a few others, the sonnet form comes into its own and would become an established mode to run its course uninterrupted till the twentieth century. The first block of this course is aptly named “Chaucer and Spenser.” 3 The second block is titled “Shakespeare and Donne.” It covers the two writers in some detail, the former with reference to his life and three sonnets, and the latter in the context of two of his poems. This block tells you how to read literary pieces under the socio-historical perspective, and consider the issue in terms of the opinions the writers held. The third block has the title “Marlowe: Dr. Faustus.” It is on the path-breaking text of Marlowe’s play. The play belonged to the closing years of the sixteenth century; it brought out the sharp ideological conflicts of the age. The play is known for its use of the blank verse that replaced the rhymed verses employed for depiction in literary writing till then. The play is considered in its historical context. The fourth and last block of this course offers an extensive analysis of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It is a tragic play but in the block, emphasis is given on its political nature, too. You will also see that the witches in the play are not ghostly figures but women on the margins and compelled to leave society to take refuge in the forest. The multi-dimensional approach helps us absorb the complexity of the play’s theme. We are sure that you would gain insights into literature’s varied aspects traced here under a critical plan by the course writers. Please see that the comments and assessments made in the four blocks are open- ended; they are meant to make you think and form your own impression about the works and authors discussed. 4 BLOCK INTRODUCTION Block 1: Chaucer and Spenser In this block, you will read about England in the fourteenth century as well as the sixteenth century. To these centuries, poets Geoffrey Chaucer and Herbert Spenser belonged respectively. Chaucer confronted his society with a sense of criticism and amusement. It gave him a lot to wonder about. We use the Prologue to his famous “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” for explaining some important issues that engaged the minds of the people at the time. The foremost issue was of conflict between traditional moral principles and the common people seeking liberty and initiative. The wife of Bath, or the woman who came from the village named Bath, faced the question of fighting with the contemporary males. The latter were oppressive and extremely exploitative. This is made clear by Chaucer when he gives voice to the woman as she is arguing her case in the text. This apart, the block also offers a view of English society and culture in the fourteenth century. The poet Spenser lived in sixteenth century England. At that time, England was being ruled by the Tudor Monarchs—primarily King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth. He came from a relatively humble background but rose to literary fame on the strength of his active imagination and creative genius. Unlike Chaucer who was a keen perceiver of social norms and values, Spenser engaged with concerns of beauty and sensuousness. In this block, we have a chance to look at some short poems written by him. They are in the sonnet mode—a literary form that restricts itself to fourteen lines of rhymed verse. In the poems selected for this block, Spenser shows an interaction between two human figures, the man and the woman enjoying fascination for each other. The background is of nature and gives the impression that the two human figures are indeed extensions of nature. The block also provides details of social life of the period necessary for visualizing the poet in the act of composing his verses. 5 UNIT 1 CHAUCER: LIFE AND WORKS Structure 1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Chaucer’s Life and the Rich Backdrop of Life’s Realities 1.3 Chaucer: Main Literary Works 1.4 Placing Chaucer in the Broad Literary Tradition of Europe 1.5 Chaucer’s Humanism and Secular Outlook 1.6 Inter-twining of Society and Literature 1.7 Characteristics of Chaucer’s Art and Vision 1.8 A View of The Wife of Bath’s Prologue 1.9 Let Us Sum Up 1.10 Questions 1.11 Suggested Readings 1.0 OBJECTIVES In this unit, we shall gain a view of the great English poet Geoffrey Chaucer.
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