Geoffrey Chaucer as a Father of Poetry

Geoffrey Chaucer is known by name and his fame to the world as the greatest soul and was regarded as the father of English Literature; he became outstanding poets of the antique period. Chaucer was born in circa 1340 in London to father John Chaucer and mother Agnes sCopton. He was a famed writer, bureaucrat, noblewoman`s page courtier, scholar, diplomat and astronomer. Chaucer was the first national poet of England and admired for his poetic talents and for his philosophical works. His literary achievements include nearly five hundred written items. Thus, Geoffrey Chaucer is considered as the father of English poetry for he made use of English language, he expressed common people’s views and hopes and his legacies.  

First, Chaucer as a great poet of ancient period in England, for he used English language in his works. During his time, French and Latin were what the peoples of England uses in their walks of life. In the fields like Education and in jobs too, Latin and French was the only thing that mattered. People of England depend heavenly on French and Latin to do all purposes of life. But then, Geoffrey Chaucer chooses English as a standard form of language for his greatest work. According to Abrams (1962), he mixed freely with mankind and did not differentiate people of his time. He served as a cavalier for three kings of the Great Britain. Though being a cavalier he never stopped writing what he always loved. Chaucer’s love for his writing career was limitless. He was an active writer during his time in England. And the first poet who uses Engish as the main language, whereas other poets used Latin and French in their compositions. He uses simple language which the readers can easily understand and cope up with. Chaucer was the first person to write what became generally well known and recognized poems and stories in a language which still prevails in today’s world. Had Chaucer not used English as a medium in his works than the international language “English” would be left out as a vernacular in England. Chaucer’s work on “The Canterbury Tales” achieved the highest praises from many literacy works. According to Dryden (n.d), Chaucer contemporized many tales of Canterbury tales and called him as `father of English poetry`. Thus, with those justifications, he is renowned as a father of English poetry. 

Second, Chaucer zoomed and pictured out the general people`s views and perspectives in the atmosphere of social and political circumstances through the network of poem. Geoffrey Chaucer`s masterpiece was read and known by the world. In Chaucer`s writings, he accounts the views of common folks to express their views to limelight the social misconducts and corruption. He even transcribed the living condition related to the people of his period to the world. According to Berry, other writers like Roger and William who essentially focused on the subjects about monarchs and court love, Chaucer solely focused on the subject of common people such as how the autocracies treated the lower classes of people. According to Shameem (2014), Chaucer was recognized as the leading social chronicler of the fourteen century in England. Chaucer pictured and mirrored the social, cultural, economics and religious conditions in his book titled `The Canterbury Tales`. His other great work is the book titled `Parliament of Foul`, in which he told about the conditions of how parliaments discuss the issues. By writing on the subjects about the common people, people loved his works. Thus, those charity help in his qualification as the` father of English poetry`. 

Third, Chaucer left a lot of legacies, especially to the zestful literates. Chaucer used to be a busy man in his life. He had many obligations in the works he accomplished and earned high ranks. He probably had so many influences on his writings that we are unaware of many of them. Some that are relevant are his family life, his many careers and many changes England was going through Chaucer`s initial main work, `the book of Duchess`, was an funeral song for Blanche of Lancaster and was penned in middle English, not in the French. Most importantly, he kept an immense influence to the poet around the world. Chaucer confirmed the English as a major literary language and his usage of humors in the poems is loved by the people generations after generations. He wrote books such as `The House of Fame`, `Troilus and Criseyde` and `The Book of the Duchess`. According to Morrison (2018), till the time of Chaucer, English was used by only elite people and regarded as a language of vulgar language and common people used Latin and French as the medium of communication. As the centuries passed by, Chaucer`s literary works become hard to comprehend and understand and this ultimately lead to the creation of English Dictionaries.Besides,he kept rhyme royal in English as his one of the legacies. Chaucer was the one, who developed Iambic pentameter as a Standard English meter for the poetry.During his stay, Chaucer was not only the literary artist but he encompassed the genres of literature, social traditions and other issues of his time in his works.Hence, these legacies help him to be the `father of English poetry`.

In conclusion, first, Chaucer made huge offering in the field of English language. He was then, known as first England poet, who put grave efforts to transformed English as the major literary language. Prior to his exist; English was accustomed only by elite and cogitated English as the vulgar language. Thus, Chaucer contributed and limelight the English language. Second, Chaucer was the mirror of his age to image out the social, politics, economics and religious status of his time. In his works, he has described how social treatment was by elite to the lower class of people. In his books, he has satirized the treatments by rich people. Thus, he pictured out the social conditions of his age. Third, he left lots of legacies to the learners of the later years to unfold. He has written many books that are crucial for the upcoming learners. Through his legacies, we are able to know the social conditions of Chaucer. With all those justifications, Chaucer can be firmly justified as the `father of English poetry`.

References

1. Abrams, M. H. (1962). The Norton anthology of English literature: Geoffrey Chaucer (7 ed.). New York, NY: Norton and company         
2. Berry, M. (2015, February 10). Why Chaucer was called as the father of English poetry? Retrieved from https:/www.quora.com
3. Hudson, W. H. (1913). An outline history of English literature. London: G. Bell and Sons.
4. Morrison, B. (2018, January 24). What are the main contributions of Chaucer to English literature? Retrieved from https:/www.quora.com
5. Shameem, T. (2014, November 3). Chaucer as a social chronicle of his age. Retrieved from Tanvirdhaka.blogspot.com>2014/chaucer