MODULE 13 GEOFFREY CHAUCER OBJECTIVES OF THE MODULE: This module is an attempt to trace the journey of one of the most influential writers in the entire range of English literature. It attempts to discuss the various periods in which his literary career has been divided in order to facilitate our understanding of Chaucer’s seminal works. However, the English period has just been referred to here, since a separate module (Module 14) has been allotted for its discussion elaborately. TIMELINE 1343: Chaucer Born Geoffrey Chaucer is born to upper-middle class parents, John and Agnes Copton Chaucer. Scholars believe he was born in London, but the exact place and year of his birth is unknown. 1357: Becomes a Page A teenage Chaucer gets a job as a page to the Countess of Ulster. 1359: Joins the Army Edward III invades France during the Hundred Years' War between France and England. Chaucer fights in the English Army. 1360: Captured Chaucer is captured during the Seige of Rheims in north-eastern France. He is ransomed for sixteen pounds. 1366: Marriage Geoffrey Chaucer marries Philippa de Roet, a lady-in-waiting to Queen Philippa of Hainault. Jun 20, 1367: Becomes a Member of Court Chaucer becomes a member of the royal court as a valet to King Edward III. 1369: Begins Book of the Duchess Chaucer begins work on the Book of the Duchess, an elegy for noblewoman Blanche of Lancaster that is commissioned by her husband. It is completed by 1374, when her widower John of Gaunt pays Chaucer for the book. 1370: Second Tour of Duty Chaucer completes his second tour in the English Army, after spending one year fighting in France under John of Gaunt. 1373: Travels to Italy Chaucer visits Genoa and Florence. He reads Italian medieval poetry, an influence on his own creative work. Jun 8, 1374: Becomes Comptroller Chaucer is appointed to the lucrative job of Comptroller of Customs for the Port of London. In the twelve years during which he holds this position, he writes most of his poetic works. 1375: Anelida and Arcite Around this time, Chaucer begins work on the poem Anelida and Arcite. Like most of Chaucer's works, it's impossible to know the exact date at which the poem was written. Scholars believe the poem was composed in the late 1370s. 1377: Change of Kings King Edward III dies. His grandson Richard II takes the throne. He is the nephew of Chaucer's political patron, John of Gaunt, which is favourable for Chaucer's career. 1379: The House of Fame Chaucer begins The House of Fame. It describes a vision he received in a dream, and is completed the following year. May 4, 1380: Accused of Crime Chaucer appears in a legal document in connection with the raptus - either rape or kidnapping - of Cecilia Chaumpaigne. The legal matter is evidently resolved fairly quickly, since there is no other mention of it in Chaucer's records. 1382: Troilus and Criseyde and Parlement of Foules Chaucer composes the 700-line poem Parlement of Foules (also spelled Fowles). Around this time, Chaucer also begins work on the epic poem Troilus and Criseyde. Scholars believe Troilus and Criseyde was composed between 1382 and 1388. 1385: Justice of the Peace Chaucer takes a four-year position as a Justice of the Peace in Kent, where he now resides. 1386: Joins Parliament, begins The Legend of Good Women Geoffrey Chaucer resigns as Comptroller and becomes a member of Parliament, representing Kent. He also begins work on The Legend of Good Women, a poem completed between 1386 and 1388. 1387: Wife Dies Philippa Chaucer dies. The causes and exact date of her death are unknown. 1388: Begins Canterbury Tales Chaucer begins work on his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales. The collection of stories about religious pilgrims is written over a period of about ten years, between the late 1380s and the late 1390s. Jul 12, 1389: Receives Royal Appointment Chaucer is appointed Clerk of the King's Works, a job akin to chief overseer for all royal building projects. In this capacity, he oversees jobs at the Tower of London, Westminster Palace, Windsor Castle, and St. George's Chapel. Sep 1390: Robbed Chaucer is robbed while at work. Records show that he may have been injured during the robbery. Jun 1391: Changes Jobs Chaucer leaves the King's job and begins working as a Deputy Forester in the royal forest of North Petherton. 1398: Completes Canterbury Tales As the end of the 1390s approaches, Chaucer ceases work on The Canterbury Tales. Oct 25, 1400: Chaucer Dies Geoffrey Chaucer dies of unknown causes. 1556: Tomb Moved Chaucer's remains are moved to a more elaborate tomb in a different part of Westminster Abbey. He is the first resident of what is now called Poet's Corner, a section of the abbey reserved for writers. INTRODUCTION: The most important writer of Middle English Period without whom any discussion of Middle English poetry becomes absolutely insignificant is Geoffrey Chaucer. He is undoubtedly that poet of the Middle English period in whose capable and confident hands both English language and literature attained maturity. His range, complexity, humorous tone, essentially humane outlook and technical brilliance place him much above the other poets of his times. His acquaintance with European literature enabled him to deal in English with themes and attitudes prevalent in European literature. He was a keen observer of human nature and portrayed it with a balance between sympathy and irony. His training in courtly and diplomatic lifestyle helped him to present diverse characters in his works with utmost conviction. His employment in diverse forms of public and civil services and his journeys abroad on the business of the King gave him opportunity to come across different kinds of people ranging from aristocracy to the lower segments of the society. His journeys to France and Italy are particularly significant because these helped him to be acquainted with Italian literature, especially the works of Dante and Boccaccio. During his second voyage to Italy he met Barnabo Visconti, Lord of Milan, whose death is the subject matter of one stanza in the Monk’s Tale. POINTS TO REMEMBER Chaucers’s literary career can be divided into three periods: 1. French Period 2. Italian Period 3. English Period FRENCH PERIOD: The fascination of Chaucer for everything French can be understood because of his long association with people belonging to the royalty, court and government spheres, the people for whom French was the chosen aristocratic language. Chaucer was deeply inspired by the Rose tradition and the later French developments on it. His early works bear testimony to his fascination with French poets like Deschamps and Froissart. This phase of Chaucer’s writing is termed as the French period. The poems belonging to the French group include The Romaunt of the Rose which is a lengthy allegorical poem of which only a fragment is available. It is inspired by the French original Le Romaunt de laRose and Chaucer translated only a part of it (fragment A). The poem is in the form of a dream. It is a vision of a dreamer who strolls by the side of a river one fine May morning and enjoys the sweet melodious songs of the birds, the blossoming of flowers, the cosy warmth of the pleasant weather. It is the season of love when both the humans and the animals choose their partners. The Dreamer arrives at a garden surrounded by a wall which is painted on the outside with different allegorical and disagreeable characters like Covetousness, Ill-breeding and Old Age. A young girl called Idleness opens the gate and allows the Dreamer in. Inside the garden he observes much more delightful objects as beautiful flowers, tall trees, chirping birds, small animals, melodious tune and dancing led by the allegorical figures, Mirth and his retinue. The Dreamer sees reflections of the delightful garden, particularly a rose bush surrounded by a hedge but exuding intoxicating fragrance. The Dreamer’s eyes are fixed on one particular bud which is beautiful. Fragment A comes to an end here. The other parts of the French poem are translated by Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun. The other important book belonging to this group of poems is The Book of the Duchesse which draws heavily on Machaut, Ovid and Froissart and retains the dream form. But it is marked by Chaucer’s own treatment of it. The poem is probably Chaucer’s earliest composition and dates back to 1369. It is written in dream allegory tradition on the death of Blanche, the Duchess of Lancaster. It is an elegy on the demise of Blanche who was the first wife of Chaucer’s lifelong friend and patron, John of Gaunt and mother of Henry of Lancaster, the future Henry IV. Blanche has been depicted as beautiful and accomplished and Chaucer emphasises on her sociability and gaiety. The poem begins with the poet reading the tragic story of Queen Alcyone who fervently prays to Juno for the news of the ship-wrecked Ceyx in Ovid’s Metamorphoses xi. Ceyx, though drowned, appears in the dream of Alcione to let her know about his death: And called hir right as she het By name, and sayde, ‘My swetewyf, Awake! Let be your sorwfullyf! For in your sorwe there lyth no red. For, certes, swete, I nam but died; Ye shul me never on lyveyse. ... ... ... And farewell, swete, my worlds blysse! I praye God youresorwelysse. Tolytel while oureblysselasteth! Alcione dies two days later. Eventually, the poet falls asleep and dreams about a sorrowful knight, clad in black, sitting under an oak tree in a forest.