REVIEW OUTLINE.—Make a summary of the chief public events of Chaucer's time. Give the leading events of Chaucer's life. Find as many points of connection as possible between the two. Describe the state of Italy at the time of Chaucer's visits, and the effect upon the poet of what he saw there. England as a whole did not feel the influence of the Italian Renaissance until the sixteenth century, in the reign of Henry VII.; but Chaucer was a man of the Renaissance, in his gaiety, his humanity, his interest in what was known of the literature of classic times, in his delight in the humor and picturesqueness of social life. What evidences do you find of these traits in what is here told of his life and work? What circumstances of Chaucer's life were calculated to give him the wide knowledge of men shown in the "Canterbury Tales"? Bring together as many hints as you can find in the text (or elsewhere) concerning Chaucer's personal appearance; his habits; his character and tastes. Supplement this with a study of the Occleve portrait here reproduced. Note the chief works belonging to each of his three literary periods. What special aspect of his genius comes out for the first time in "Troilus and Cressida "? Make clear to yourself the meaning of the word "realism" here applied to Chaucer's treatment of the Troilus story. What special aspect of Chaucer as a poet and as a man does the prologue to the "Legend of Good Women" illustrate? This prologue suggested Tennyson's "Legend of Fair Women": if possible, read the two together, and contrast them. In what direction did Chaucer's genius develop during his later life? Note some reasons for this development in Chaucer's own life and in the life of the nation. Describe the plan of the "Canterbury Tales." A harmonious relation exists throughout the "Canterbury Tales" between story and story-teller: point out as many instances of this as you can find in what is here told of the Pilgrims on the road. Note the means which Chaucer takes to keep the company vividly before our eyes while they are telling their stories. What sly means does the poet take to ridicule the metrical romances of his day? What can you gather from this episode concerning the state of the metrical romance— once so dignified and entertaining a form of literature at the end of the fourteenth century? What is here said of Chaucer's prose as contrasted with his verse? Note in this connection that nearly all the literature we have reviewed up to this point has been poetic. Can you see any reasons why poetry should develop earlier than prose? By what accidental circumstance was the secret of Chaucer's melody and careful verse-structure lost to succeeding generations, and only recently found again? 66 State the social and political conditions which brought on the uprising known as Tyler's rebellion. What were the motives which prompted Wyclif to originate the Lollard movement? (Illustrate your answer from what Chaucer reveals of the worldliness of the church at this time, in the Prologue to the "Canterbury Tales," and study the Parson as a type of Wyclif 's poor priests.") Wyclif is called the "father of English prose;" this is of course not to be understood to mean that he was the first to write prose which can be understood by modern readers, but that his prose style was the first to have a large and lasting influence. By what works has he gained the title? State in your own words why Wyclif deserves to be called the "father of the Reformation." Contrast Chaucer with his great contemporary Langland, in character, and in the kind of themes they each chose to write about. What is the source of our knowledge concerning Langland's life? Give the chief facts known about him. Note that his last work treats of the same king whose story Shakespeare afterward presented in one of his dramas: which one? Describe briefly the subject of " Piers Plowman." What changes does the character of Piers the Plowman undergo in the course of the poem? In what respects is Langland's book mediæval, and in what respects modern? How and by whom was Chaucer's portrait preserved to us? Tell the story of The King's Quair." How was lyric poetry nourished and kept alive during the fifteenth century, when, because of disturbed political conditions, it was apparently neglected among the higher classes? (The simple poetry of this period was destined to have a great influence on the later history of English poetry. Keep it well in mind and be prepared to recognize this influence.) If possible read the ballads named in the text; rephrase in your own language one or two of them, as Sir Patrick Spens," the "Nut-Brown Maid," etc.; then read the originals again, noting how much is lost by the substitution of modern phrases for the picturesque old ones, and by the substitution of prose for the rude but vigorous ballad rhythms. What is the chief prose work of the fifteenth century? What modern poet has used the same material for an epic poem ? 66 READING GUIDE.-Students should read at least the prologue to the "Canterbury Tales," and "The Knight's Tale." Many school editions exist; two of the most satisfactory are by F. J. Mather, Jr. (Houghton, Mifflin), and by Morris & Skeat (Clarendon Press), both of which contain also "The Nun's Priest's Tale." The class work can be much enlivened by calling for volunteers to read and report to the class upon other poems, as "The Nun's Priest's Tale," "The Clerk's Tale," "The Parlement of Fowls," and the prologue to the "Legend of Good Women." G. L. Kittridge's "Selections from the Canterbury Tales," soon to be published (Ginn) will prove excellent for supplementary work. The best complete single-volume edition of Chaucer is "The Student's Chaucer," edited by W. W. Skeat (Clarendon Press). Good editions of the early ballads are "The Ballad Book," edited by W. Allingham, in the Golden Treasury series, and "Old English Ballads," by W. D. Armes, in Macmillan's Pocket Series. An excellent brief selection is given in the inexpensive series of Maynard's English Classics. For more advanced study consult F. B. Gummere's "Old English Ballads" (Ginn), or Miss Child's "English and Scottish Popular Ballads" (Houghton, Mifflin). "The Travels of Sir John Mandeville" is included in Cassell's National Library. Selections from Mandeville, and from Wyclif's Bible, are given in Number 107 of Maynard's English Classics. Malory's "Morte D'Arthur," selected portions, is edited by E. Rhys in the Camelot Series. Biography and Criticism.-Lowell's delightful appreciation of Chaucer in "My Study Windows," also in the fourth volume of his collected works (Houghton, Mifflin), should, if possible, be put before the class. A. W. Ward's life of Chaucer, in the English Men of Letters series, may with profit be made the basis of additional reports to the class, the work being distributed among several students. TABULAR VIEW MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD: FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO THE MIDDLE OF THE POLITICAL HISTORY THE NORMAN KINGS, 1066-1154. William of Normandy invades England, and conquers ANGEVIN or PLANTAGENET KINGS, 1154-1399. Be 1. Under Henry II. (1154-1178), the barons refuse to LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE When FUSION OF ENGLISH AND FRENCH TONGUES. First work in English tongue after the Conquest is TABULAR VIEW MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD FROM THE NORMAN CONQUEST TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY (Continued) LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE Normans, are translated freely into English in the Come, Alysoun, etc., and the early Robin Hood ballads, 3. THE AGE OF CHAUCER, 1340-1400. (a) Chronology of Chaucer's Work: Romaunt of the (b) Other Writings of the Period. Langland's Vision |