THE AGE OF CHAUCER (1350-1400)1

AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES

BY: SHIREEN BILGRAMI

BACKGROUND OF THE 14TH CENTURY:

The age of Chaucer is described as a period “where the half shadows of the middle Ages were only
beginning to scatter before the clear dawn light of modern culture2”. As the author William J.Long
describes in his book “English Literature: its history and its significance for the life of the English speaking
world”, that this period marks the dawn of the political movement in the reign of Edward III which not
only restored the English national spirit but also the language and culture that was long forgotten after
the Norman conquest of England in 10663. Eventually the political movement and victories of Edward III
separated England from France. However it should be noted that alongside the political movement, the
social and intellectual movements and events during the age of Chaucer, also played a major role. The
plague (1348-49) which resulted in the loss of laborers, the declining prestige of the Church that lead to
the birth of parliament and the chivalry which remained as a sentiment rather than a practical system
contributed in leading the society away from the influence of the middle ages and into the Renaissance.
The literary movement of this age dominated by five poets: William Langland, John Wyclif, John
Mandeville, Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare4. The movement was significant as it not only
mirrored the stirring events but the works by these individuals, created awareness and impacted all
classes of society.

Life of Chaucer (1340-1400)

Chaucer’s early life was spent in London where he witnessed the ever increasing growth of businesses,
trade and merchandise. There is not much known about where he got his early education however he
was an avid reader and at the age of seventeen became a page to Princess Elizabeth. This should come
as no surprise because his father was a merchant but above all worked for the royal household. At the
age of nineteen Chaucer accompanied the King and witnessed the Hundred Years’ war. Chaucer’s
relation with the court strengthened over the next forty years where he worked for three kings as a
personal attendant and confidant of the king.

His first marriage was into a noble family of the famous Duke of Lancaster and was not a happy one.
From 1370-1385 he spent majority of his time travelling on diplomatic missions and it was during this
time that his work gained the influence of Italian Literature. In between his travelling he worked as a
chief comptroller of customs at the port of London. As mentioned by J.long “The first, of thirty years,
includes his youth and early manhood, in which time he was influenced almost exclusively by French
literary models. The second period, of fifteen years, covers Chaucer’s active life as diplomat and man of
affairs; and in this the Italian influence seems stronger than the French. The third, of fifteen years,
generally known as the English period, is the time of Chaucer’s richest development. He lives at home,
observes life closely but kindly, and while the French influence is still strong, as shown in the Canterbury

1
http://www.limpidsoft.com/ipad10/englishliterature.pdf
2
http://www.josbd.com/the-salient-features-of-the-age-of-chaucer-or-the-late-14th-century/
3
http://www.limpidsoft.com/ipad10/englishliterature.pdf
4
http://www.limpidsoft.com/ipad10/englishliterature.pdf
Tales, he seems to grow more independent of foreign models and is dominated chiefly by the vigorous
life of his own English people”.

In 1386 Chaucer became a Member of Parliament and during this period he starts producing work in
English. Author J.long regards Chaucer’s work as a creator of awareness and reflection of the political
ladder he is been on, as he mentions: “From this time until his death he is up and down on the political
ladder; to-day with money and good prospects, to-morrow in poverty and neglect, writing his
"Complaint to His Empty Purs," which he humorously calls his "saveour doun in this werlde here." This
poem called the king’s attention to the poet’s need and increased his pension; but he had but few
months to enjoy the effect of this unusual "Complaint." For he died the next year, 1400, and was buried
with honor in Westminster Abbey. The last period of his life, though outwardly most troubled, was the
most fruitful of all. His "Truth," or "Good Counsel," reveals the quiet, beautiful spirit of his life, unspoiled
either by the greed of trade or the trickery of politics”.

THE WORK OF CHAUCER AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES:

Work of Chaucer: Chaucer’s early work was influenced by French literary works and revolved around the
theme of love, death and emotions such as hate, envy, jealousy, Idleness, sorrow The best known poem
of the first period is the Romaunt of the Rose, a translation from the French Roman de la Rose.

The work that he did under the Italian literary influence consists of his classic Troilus and Criseyde, a
poem of eight thousand lines. The original story was a favorite of many authors during the middle Ages,
and Shakespeare makes use of it in his Troilus and Cressida. Chaucer during this period uses his work to
reflect the ideals of his own age and society.

Chaucer’s masterpiece, the Canterbury Tales, one of the most famous works in all literature, fills the
third or English period of his life. Though never finished, the work talks about the life of England through
the tales of thirty two characters sitting in an inn. However he managed to complete the tales of twenty
four only. These stories cover a wide range, including stories of love and chivalry, of saints and legends,
travels, adventures, animal fables, allegory, satires, and the coarse humor of the common people. The
combination of prose and poem used to narrate the story makes Chaucer the first short story teller and
the first modern period. As quoted in the book “English Literature: its history and its significance for the
life of the English speaking world” Chaucer is played a vital role in the English literary movement for two
reasons “first, for discovering the music that is in our English speech; and second, for his influence in
fixing the Midland dialect as the literary language of England”. All his work were directed to the
privileged people.

Work of William Langland: Langland was born in London to a poor freeman and spent his early life as a
shepherd. He went on to work as a clerk to a church. His work Piers Plowman was a huge success.
Literature had always been about pleasing the upper classes but in his poem Langland appealed directly
to the masses, making the poem successful. The poem revolved around the long forgotten principles of
the equality of men before God and the dignity of honest labor. It talks about justice, honesty, power of
right over wrong and more importantly talks about loyalty to church and Christian duties of all members
of the society. In a period where people had lost their faith in political and religious institutions due to a
rise in corruption and feudalism, this poem gave rise to hope in common people giving them feeling of
freemen. Due to his work, Langland is regarded as a social reformist.
Works of John Wyclif: He was a renowned scholar and his work similar to that of Langland had a huge
impact on the masses. He wrote his work in the native language addressing the interest of the common
people rather the privileged. His translation of the Bible was slowly copied all over England, and so fixed
a national standard of English prose to replace the various dialects. Portions of this translation, in the
form of favorite passages from Scripture, were copied by thousands, and for the first time in the history
a standard of pure English was established in the homes of the common people. His translation of the
Bible earned him the title of “father of English prose” and a “religious reformer”.

Works of John Mandeville: Mandeville’s famous book was published in 1356 called the “Voyage and
Travail of Sir John Maundeville”. It was written in the midland dialect which was the literary language of
England. It was translated in many other languages. In his book he talks about the new English interest
of travelling to distant lands following the development of foreign trade. The work reflects the general
culture and credulity of the fourteenth century.

Conclusion: The 14th century marked the growth of the English national spirit against the French, the
influence of the House of Commons, the power of the laboring classes and the decline of feudalism. The
writers discussed above had a profound influence not just in restoring people’s faith but also in the
history of English literature.

Bibliography
“English Literature: its history and its significance for the life of the English speaking world” by William
J.Long

http://www.limpidsoft.com/ipad10/englishliterature.pdf

http://www.josbd.com/the-salient-features-of-the-age-of-chaucer-or-the-late-14th-century/