Why is Chaucer called the father of English poetry?

Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the greatest poets in England. He is known to be the father of English poetry. This does not mean that there was no poet or poetry in England before him. There was other poets also in his time.But there poetry is little read and enjoyed. But the poetry of Chaucer is famous all over the world. According to John Dryden –“Chaucer is the father of English poetry. “

I)Contribution to the development of English poetry.

II)Use of Variation and Style in English poetry.

III)Contribution to the development of English language in poetry.

 

★Contribution to the development of English poetry :-Chaucer is called the father of English poetry because of his contribution to the English poetry. He wrote many famous poems which is now spread in all over the world.

In his first period he was influenced by French literature. His poems are modelled upon the French originals.Some important poems of this period are–

*The Romance of the Rose,

*Compleynt into Rity,

*The ABC

In his second period, he was influenced by Italian literature. Petrarch, Boccaccio and Dante, these 3 poets influenced him deeply. His main poems of this period are —

*The Parliament of Fowls,

*The House of Fame,

*The Legend of Good Women.

In his third period, he was influenced by English literature. It was his most important period because his masterpiece “The Canterbury Tales”,one of the greatest poems in all literature was written. Some of the important poems of this period are–

*The Canterbury Tales,

*Complaint to His Empty Purse,

*Truth or Good Councel.

 

★Use of Variation and Style in English poetry :
Chaucer stands at the end of the middle age and the beginning of the Modern age. His variation and style in poetry are described below:

*Chaucer starts his career by following the tradition of courtly love, allegory and dream poetry.

*Chaucer is one of the most musical of English poets. He introduced heroic couplet into English verse.

*Chaucer is the first humorist in English literature. Humour is the life and soul of his works.

*Most of the works of Chaucer is allegorical.

*His poetry is famous for his use of wit, satire and rude humor of the common people.

*Chaucer’s poetry enjoys the genre of story, drama novel, etc.

★Contribution to the development of the English language in poetry :
Chaucer is called the father of the English language. Before Chaucer, there was no national language in England. There was merely a number of regional languages, East Midland.

 

By the force of his genius, he raised it to the level of the National language. Chaucer is the first great poet of England. He became the founder of Modern English poetry. Because he freed himself from foreign influences.He used his own native English language in poetry.
To conclude, Chaucer’s contribution to English poetry and literature is incomparable. So, he is rightly called the father of English poetry.

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