Role of Chaucer in English Literature

Geoffrey Chaucer is remembered as the author of The Canterbury Tales, which ranks as one of the greatest epic works of world Literature. Chaucer made a crucial contribution to English Literature in using English at a time when much court poetry was still written in Anglo Norman or Latin. Chaucer is sometimes considered the source of English Vernacular tradition & the ‘father of modern English Literature'. His achievement for the language can be seen as a part of general historical trend towards the creation of Vernacular Literature. 

                       Chaucer's first major work, The Book of the Duchess was an elegy for Blanche of Lancaster. Two other early works by Chaucer were Anelide & Arcite & The House Fame. His Parlement of Foules, The Legend of Good Women & Troilus & Criseyde all date from the time Chaucer is best known as the writer of The Canterbury Tales which is a collection of Stories told by Fictional pilgrims on the road to the cathedral at Canterbury, the tales would help to shape English Literature.

                       Chaucer also translated some important works. He wrote The Canterbury Tales in the Vernacular of the English people. Geoffrey Chaucer is often credited with being the Father of English Literature.

                       During Chaucer's life time, most literary works were written in French; in fact Chaucer himself wrote in French & Italian; certainly his poetry was modeled up on French poetry. However, he chose to write in the old English that was popular with those who were not necessarily among the nobility. In addition, his stories have a humor & freedom that anticipated the works of such English greats as Henry Fielding.

                        He introduced iambic pentameter into poetry, a meter that many a reader recognizes as that of William Shakespeare & is prevalent in much of English & American poetry.

                          The ideas of Chaucer's development of characterization & large depiction of motivators of characters in his work become critical elements in English Literature after Chaucer. The motion of creating multi dimensional character is powerful elements in the landmarks of Chaucer's English Literature.

 

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