Characteristics of Chaucer's Works
Geoffrey Chaucer is an English writer who combines realism and romantic fantasy perfectly. Chaucer's works have opened up a new road of civilization for the history of English literature. He is recognized by Britain and the whole world as the greatest English native poet in the Middle Ages.
There are still many people studying Chaucer's works in the world today. Chaucer's early works were full of Italian and French literary works. Because of Chaucer's love of reading, when he began to visit European countries on behalf of King Edward III of England, Chaucer's work style was exposed to more different fresh blood. At that time, there was no convenient transportation and the popularity of printing. When Chaucer goes to different countries, he will find many local literary works to read. Walking through more and more countries, he gradually expanded his knowledge and began to know different literary works. Until he read Boccaccio and Petrarch. Chaucer's first contact with realistic works fascinated him with this artistic style.
Chaucer is a very good imitator, and his works are recreated by imitating what he thinks is good. When Chaucer discovered the works with realistic style, he directly applied this style to his later works. Chaucer's works are the product of his later realistic description and romantic humor. It is this kind of work that is different from the realistic style and romantic style that makes Chaucer's works unique. Formed his strong personal style.
Chaucer's Artistic Style
Geoffrey Chaucer is a great originator in the history of English literature, and he pioneered the road of English realistic works. Chaucer's artistic style was unrealistic from the beginning. Chaucer's early artistic style did not have its own independent style.
Chaucer's artistic style began with imitating Italian and French literary works. In his early work Trollos and Clayside, we can see that Geoffrey Chaucer's portrayal of the characters in the book is based on the fables of French knights and animals. Chaucer's artistic style at that time was still full of fantasy and unreality.
Chaucer began to represent Edward III in European countries there, and he began to get in touch with various works. Two of them had a profound influence on his literary works, namely Boccaccio and Petrarch. After reading their works, he was deeply attracted by romantic fantasy literature different from France. There is no fiction in their works, and the characters described are so close to those in reality. Reading their works is like examining your own life.
Since then, Chaucer's artistic style has abandoned the style of fantasy and fable and moved towards the literary road of realistic style. Chaucer usually loves reading. He has been reading classical literature and new literature. In his works, people can easily find the shadows of many writers, such as Li Wei, Petrarch, Poitius and Dante. Chaucer began to imitate their literary works, and then merged and reorganized the parts of their works that could be used in his own works. It is this fusion of the essence of others that Chaucer's artistic style began to have its own style characteristics. Most of his later works are realistic, but he also refers to the humorous characteristics of French literature, which makes his work style very different from the general realistic style.
A brief introduction to Chaucer's life
Geoffrey Chaucer is a great poet. He was born in England on 1343. He is the founder of the history of English literature. Under his leadership, English literature began a journey of civilization. Geoffrey Chaucer is not only a noble poet, but also has many professions that serve the people, such as diplomat and courtier.
Geoffrey Chaucer's name means shoemaker in English. It is not difficult to see from his name that Geoffrey Chaucer's ancestors started with shoemaking. In his father's generation, he began to engage in winery business, so his family conditions were very good. When Geoffrey Chaucer was thirteen years old, he was sent to the palace by his father and became the attendant of the son of King Edward of England. Two years later, he was unfortunately captured because he participated in the Anglo-French War. Fortunately, he was redeemed by the king in the second year and continued to be a servant in the palace. Geoffrey Chaucer married one of the Queen's maids at the age of 23. Married Geoffrey Chaucer often represented King Edward III at conferences on all continents in Europe. In this process, he met two people who influenced his literary view-Boccaccio and Petrarch.
Geoffrey Chaucer's early literary works have a strong Italian and French literary color. Because in the early days, he just imitated and created, and did not find his own literary style. Therefore, in his book Trollos and Clayside, based on the French knight, he imitated the French animal fable and portrayed the characters in the book with humor. Until he met Boccaccio and Petrarch, his works began to change. Geoffrey Chaucer stopped telling stories with fables and began to describe life. He portrayed all kinds of characters in real life into his own works and began his road to realistic works.