Chaucer as a Modern Poet

Chaucer as a Modern Poet

When we make a careful and critical analysis of Chaucer’s poetry, we arrive at a definite conclusion that sympathy, realism, intelligence, straight forwardness, humor, irony, satire and keen observation are salient features of Chaucer’s literary works. He enchants the reader by his lovely diction, his description and narrative power and the graceful movement of his verse. He is the founder of pure pimple and musical style of writing verses, which was later on followed by Spencer, Shakespeare and Milton.

Chaucer is regarded as the father of English poetry and the earliest of the great modernism. In those, dark days when light of modernism was not visible on the horizon, Chaucer anticipated the modern taste and the modern mind and in his poetry, he introduces qualities of advanced age. Though Chaucer has not written a drama or a novel as we know it, yet his works contain the seed of modern drama and novel. If he had lived a few years, he would certainly have been our first dramatist and novelist, just as we know he is the first true national poet of England.

Chaucer made several great contributions to English poetry and his debt is so large that it can never be repaired even by the most exalted panegyrics that may be written for him .Chaucer has enlarged the scope and range of the poetry and has observed life minutely around him. He has not only made narration on art but also has given a new shape to language and versification. All these qualities make Chaucer a modern poet and his poetry immortal and evergreen. The main qualities, which make Chaucer a modern poet, are as numerated:

1. National Poet

Chaucer was the first great national poet of England giving full expression to the new hopes and aspiration of the people of his times. He voiced through his poetry the nationalism and unity which bad been brought about by the fusion of the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons. The growing influences of France was checked and for the first time a poet in the national language of England gave expression to the life, ideals and aspiration of the people of the fourteenth century.

2. Observation and Realism

Modern poetry is characterized by realism. A modern poet is a keen tendency of his time, which is being put by him in his poetry. This modern note of realism was sounded by Chaucer long age in the fourteenth century. He has the Seeing Eye, the retentive memory, the judgment to select and the capacity to expound. He is gifted with unusual keen observation and his penetrating eye spares nothing, which remains hidden from our eyes.
3. Descriptions
Chaucer’s best descriptions of men, manners and places are of the first rank in their beauty, impressiveness and humor. His power of describing his fellowmen with all their merits and demerits, their tastes and temperaments is unique and “The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales”, is a picture gallery bringing in its scope all the classes of people ranging from the Knight to The Miller and The Cook.

4. Narrative Art

Chaucer is a supreme storyteller in verse and he has made a notable contribution to the art of story telling. In. his stories, the narration inspite of many digression and philosophical reflections is straightforward as well as unhampered. He not only infuses humour in his narration but also makes his stories life-like and living.

5. Characterization

Chaucer has made significant contribution to the art of characterization and he presents characters in a masterly manner. His characters are both individuals as well as types. They are timeless creation on a time-determined stage. The Knight, The Friar, The Pardoner, The Wife of Bath and The Doctor of Physic, all are living characters and have an external freshness about them.

6. Humour

In the literature of the fourteenth century when so few poets seem to have any perception of fun in life, Chaucer’s humour is invigorating and delightful. His genial humour cuts across barriers of time, customs, language and idiom and refreshes and exhilarates us like a tonic.

7. Love for fresh out-door life

An especially charming feature of his poetry is its freshness and out-of-doors atmosphere. This quality makes him not only a modern poet but also his poetry universal.

8. Elements of Novel and Drama

Chaucer's contribution towards novel and drama can never be ignored. The elements of both drama and novel are a part and parcel of Chaucer’s writings. The wonderful style of characterization dialogues and story not only give a dramatic shape to its writings but also give them an ever-lasting life. On the other hand, the tales with their atmosphere are also novels in miniature and “The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales” is the prologue to the modern age.

9. Contribution to Language and Versification

Chaucer made notable contribution to English language and versification. In 1360 English was split in four dialects. Chaucer popularized and reshaped the east Midland dialect and gave it the form of standard language. It was a great service rendered by Chaucer and only a poet of great caliber could perform such a task.

In the light of above mentioned we can conclude that Chaucer was a genius born at a time when lights were hazy. By the alembic of his genius, he created something of lasting and permanent value in literature. After Chaucer follows a century of arid barrenness and supremacy and greatness of the poet become apparent when we view him in the light of his followers.