ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – GEOFFREY CHAUCER

ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – GEOFFREY CHAUCER

Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343-1400): The Father of English Literature

Geoffrey Chaucer stands as the towering figure of medieval English literature, bridging the gap between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. His innovative use of vernacular English, mastery of diverse genres, and keen observation of human nature revolutionized English poetry and established its literary prestige.

1. Life and Influences

Chaucer's unique perspective came from his varied career as a courtier, diplomat, and civil servant, exposing him to:

French tradition (Roman de la Rose)

Italian masters (Dante, Boccaccio, Petrarch)

English alliterative poetry

This cosmopolitan background allowed him to synthesize continental innovations with native English traditions.

2. Major Works and Innovations

a) The Canterbury Tales (1387-1400)

Framework of 29 pilgrims telling stories reveals medieval society

Showcases multiple genres: romance, fabliaux, sermon, beast fable

Pioneers iambic pentameter in English with heroic couplets

Masterful characterization through prologues (e.g., Wife of Bath)

b) Troilus and Criseyde (1380s)

Sophisticated psychological romance adapting Boccaccio

Introduces rhyme royal stanza form

Explores themes of love, fortune, and moral ambiguity

c) Early Works

The Book of the Duchess (elegy blending dream vision and consolation)

The House of Fame (metapoetic exploration of storytelling)

The Parliament of Fowls (first Valentine's Day poem)

3. Literary Significance

Elevated English as a literary language equal to French/Latin

Established London dialect as standard literary English

Developed naturalistic characterization unprecedented in medieval literature

Balanced scholarly depth with popular appeal

4. Legacy

By 1590, Chaucer's influence was undeniable:

Printed by Caxton (1476, 1483)

Revered by Renaissance poets like Spenser

Paved way for dramatic monologues and novelistic techniques

Chaucer's works remain vital for their human insight, linguistic brilliance, and enduring humor, securing his place as the first great English author.

 

ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – MIDDLE ENGLISH ALLITERATIVE POETRY

ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – MIDDLE ENGLISH ALLITERATIVE POETRY

Middle English Alliterative Poetry (12th-15th Centuries)

The alliterative tradition represents one of the most distinctive and powerful strands of medieval English poetry, bridging the Old English heroic tradition and the Chaucerian revolution. This body of work flourished particularly in the 14th century, producing some of the most vigorous and inventive poetry of the Middle Ages.

1. Continuity and Revival

Following the Norman Conquest, alliterative verse—the dominant form of Anglo-Saxon poetry—survived in modified form:

Maintained the four-stress line with strong medial caesura

Relaxed strict alliterative patterns of Old English

Incorporated French vocabulary and themes

Flourished particularly in the West Midlands and North

2. Major Works and Characteristics

The 14th-century Alliterative Revival produced masterpieces blending traditional form with new sophistication:

a) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (c. 1380)

Combines Arthurian romance with moral allegory

Features intricate "bob and wheel" stanzas

Explores chivalric ideals through supernatural challenge

b) Piers Plowman (multiple versions, 1370-90)

William Langland's dream vision attacking clerical corruption

Uses alliteration for satirical punch and prophetic intensity

Mixes social critique with spiritual quest

c) Pearl (same manuscript as Gawain)

Elegiac dream poem with 12-line stanzas

Combines alliteration with complex rhyme schemes

Meditates on grief and divine grace

d) The Alliterative Morte Arthure

Epic treatment of Arthur's fall

Emphasizes tragic grandeur over romance

3. Technical Innovations

Later alliterative poets developed:

Greater metrical flexibility

Incorporation of rhyme (seen in Pearl)

Blending with continental forms

4. Decline and Legacy

By the 15th century, the tradition waned due to:

Chaucer's influence establishing rhyme royal and iambic pentameter

Shift toward London-based literary culture

Yet its rhythmic power influenced later poets like Hopkins and Auden

This body of work preserves a vital English poetic identity during French cultural dominance, showing remarkable artistic ambition in its fusion of native and continental traditions.

 

ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – KING ARTHUR AND MIDDLE ENGLISH PROSE

ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – KING ARTHUR AND MIDDLE ENGLISH PROSE

King Arthur and the Development of Middle English Prose (up to 1590)

The Arthurian legend served as a vital bridge between oral tradition and written literature in medieval England, with its evolution in Middle English prose marking a significant milestone in literary development. By the late 15th century, these stories had transformed from French verse romances into sophisticated English prose narratives that would influence literature for centuries.

1. French Origins and English Adaptation

The Arthurian tradition entered English literature primarily through French sources like Chrétien de Troyes' 12th century romances. These were gradually anglicized, with the Vulgate Cycle (13th century) providing the comprehensive pseudo-historical framework that English writers would later expand upon.

2. The Alliterative Revival

14th century England saw a resurgence of Arthurian material in works like:

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - blending chivalric ideals with moral complexity

The Alliterative Morte Arthure - presenting Arthur as a tragic war leader

These works demonstrated the English preference for psychological depth and moral ambiguity compared to their French counterparts.

3. Malory's Monumental Achievement

Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur (completed 1469, printed 1485) marked the culmination of medieval Arthurian literature:

Compiled and translated French/English sources into cohesive prose

Established the definitive version of Arthur's rise and fall

Balanced knightly adventure with profound tragedy

Presented in clear, vigorous English prose style

4. The Transition to Print Culture

William Caxton's 1485 printed edition of Malory:

Standardized the Arthurian canon for Renaissance readers

Added a preface defending Arthur's historical existence

Made the stories accessible to a growing literate middle class

5. Tudor Transformations

By 1590, Arthurian material was being reinterpreted through:

Spenser's The Faerie Queene (allegorical treatment)

Emerging Protestant skepticism about medieval romance

Growing interest in Arthur as national myth

The Middle English prose tradition, particularly through Malory's masterpiece, preserved the Arthurian legend while elevating English prose narrative to new artistic heights, creating a foundation for later historical fiction and fantasy literature.

 

ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – DEVELOPMENT OF COMEDY

ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – DEVELOPMENT OF COMEDY

The Development of Comedy in English Literature up to 1590

The evolution of English comedy from medieval folk traditions to the sophisticated theatrical productions of the late 16th century reflects broader cultural and literary transformations. By 1590, comedy had established itself as a vital dramatic genre, paving the way for Shakespeare's masterpieces.

1. Medieval Roots (12th–15th Century)

Early English comedy emerged from:

Folk plays featuring rustic humor, disguise, and mock battles

Interludes (short, humorous plays performed between courses at feasts)

Mystery and Morality plays that included comic elements (e.g., Noah's wife in Chester Cycle)

These forms blended satire, physical humor, and social commentary, often targeting human vices.

2. Early Tudor Comedy (Early 16th Century)

The Renaissance brought classical influences:

Nicholas Udall's Ralph Roister Doister (1550s) – The first true English comedy, modeled after Roman playwright Plautus, featuring a foolish braggart and clever wordplay.

Gammer Gurton's Needle (1560s) – A bawdy farce about village life, using rustic dialects and slapstick.

These works introduced stock characters (the braggart, the trickster) and plot devices (mistaken identities, clever servants).

3. Elizabethan Innovations (1570s–1590)

Professional theaters (like The Theatre, 1576) spurred comedy's growth:

John Lyly's Endymion (1588) – Courtly comedy blending mythology and witty dialogue.

George Peele and Robert Greene – Romantic comedies with adventure, love plots, and pastoral settings.

Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus – Though a tragedy, it included comic scenes with Faustus's servant, Wagner.

By 1590, English comedy had evolved from crude farce to refined, multi-layered entertainment, mixing classical structure, native humor, and social satire—setting the stage for Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors (1594) and beyond.

 

ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – EVERYMAN

ENGLISH LITERATURE UPTO 1590 – EVERYMAN

Everyman (c. late 15th century) is the finest surviving example of a medieval morality play, a genre that used allegory to teach Christian moral lessons. Written in Middle English, it dramatizes the journey of the soul toward salvation, making abstract virtues and vices into personified characters.

Plot and Themes

The play begins when Death summons Everyman, a stand-in for all humanity, to face God’s final judgment. Desperate for companionship, Everyman seeks help from worldly figures like Fellowship, Kindred, Cousin, and Goods (material possessions), but all abandon him. Only Good Deeds, weakened by Everyman’s sins, remains willing to accompany him—but first, he must seek redemption through Confession and Penance. Strengthened by Knowledge, Discretion, Strength, Beauty, and Five-Wits, Everyman prepares for death, though even these companions eventually leave him. In the end, only Good Deeds follows him into the grave, securing his salvation.

Significance and Legacy

Religious Instruction: The play reinforces late medieval Catholic teachings on repentance, the fleeting nature of worldly life, and the importance of spiritual preparation for death.

Allegorical Drama: Unlike earlier mystery plays (which staged Bible stories), morality plays like Everyman used symbolic characters to explore ethical dilemmas.

Universality: Its theme of mortality resonates across time, influencing later works like Doctor Faustus and modern adaptations.

Originally Dutch (Elckerlijc), the English version became one of the most enduring medieval plays. Its simple yet powerful message—that only good deeds endure beyond death—ensured its lasting place in literary history.