when we explore Chaucer’s writings, it’s important to remember that he wasn’t addressing everyday people. He served as a poet at the royal court and aimed his works at educated readers. During his lifetime, there were significant challenges like the Black Death, wars, and plagues that ravaged society. In 1348-49, a devastating Black Death pandemic struck, causing a third of the population to perish in a single year. The financial strain caused by conflicts with France added to the hardships, leading to the emergence of harsh leaders like Wat Tyler and Jack Straw. Despite these dire events, Chaucer didn’t incorporate them into his writings, possibly because he sought praise from the upper classes. The church was also corrupt at the time, but Chaucer didn’t address these issues in his work, as he may have seen himself primarily as a poet, not a social reformer.
Chaucer gained fame due to his association with the royal court and his favor with King Edward III. His court connections led him to travel to various places for diplomatic purposes. When he journeyed to Italy, he met influential writers like Petrarch and Boccaccio, who had a profound impact on his work. Chaucer’s entry into the royal court was facilitated by John of Gaunt, a close friend who provided him with support that greatly benefitted his career. However, when this support was withdrawn, Chaucer faced financial difficulties and had to rely on a pension for support. His education was shaped by formal learning as well as life experiences, including his extensive travels.
Chaucer’s intellectual development can be divided into three phases: he drew inspiration from French literature, then Italian literature, and finally his own English literature. He was particularly influenced by French and Italian literary traditions. “The Canterbury Tales,” one of his most famous works, emerged from his travels, where he encountered a variety of people and cultures, collecting diverse sources from different places. The central theme of the Canterbury Tales was pilgrimage, as he explained in the prologue, and this prologue has become a masterpiece in English literature.
Chaucer had several contemporaries during his era, but none could overshadow his brilliance. His primary rival was John Gower, who was a distinguished scholar and a meticulous poet. However, Gower couldn’t outshine Chaucer’s charisma. Initially, they were friends, but over time, misunderstandings and jealousy led to their rivalry.
Another contemporary of Chaucer, who wrote for the common people, was William Langland, and different from the court poets like Chaucer and John Gower. Unfortunately, we have limited information about him, though we know he came from a humble background. Born in the Malvern Hills, his early life was spent in rural settings, tending to fields and shepherding. Later, he moved to London with his wife and children and worked as a church clerk. His notable work, “Piers Plowman,” was an allegorical poem that strongly critiqued the social issues of his time.
The opening line of Langland’s “Piers Plowman” is “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” a quote from the Book of Isaiah. This line addressed common people at a time when court poets catered mainly to the upper class. It was the first poem to shed light on lower-class society, asserting their place in society. In 1362, the poem was introduced to the public, and many critics believed it might have had multiple authors. The poem utilized alliteration, similar to “Beowulf,” and played a significant role in advocating for reform. After achieving success with this work, in 1399, he wrote another poem called “Richard The Redeless,” which criticized Richard II’s rule. However, it’s uncertain if William Langland was the author of this unfinished poem. His death is also shrouded in mystery; in 1399, he disappeared from historical records.
John Barbour, a Scottish poet, had a significant impact on readers during Chaucer’s era. In fact, Henry Hatson referred to him as the true pioneer of Scottish poetry.
John Wycliffe, a notable social reformer of the 14th century, Chaucer’s time, earned the moniker “Morning Star of Reformation.” Wycliffe was unafraid to express his views and wrote religious pamphlets that rekindled a more spiritual form of Christianity. John Wycliffe had a significant influence on the language and culture of his society. He attracted many followers, known as Lollards, who were primarily common people. Unlike Chaucer, who wrote mainly for the royal court, Wycliffe was deeply interested in the common people, much like Langland. He focused on prose rather than poetry, different from Langland and Chaucer. He personally translated The Bible into the English language with the help of his followers. During this period, typewriters and printing presses did not exist, so books had to be painstakingly handwritten, making them quite costly.
Wycliffe particularly translated the four gospels in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Other parts of the Bible were completed by his disciples. Wycliffe was the first to write in prose, although his works are not widely read today. His literary fame stemmed from his use of the English language. He is renowned for translating the Bible into the vernacular, which, at the time, made it accessible not only in England but throughout Europe. During an era when English was spoken in various dialects across different regions, The Bible played a crucial role in establishing a standardized national dialect of the English language in society.