Comparative Analysis of Chaucer, Spenser and Shakespeare

Comparative Analysis of 3 well-known Poets

Thinking Activity assigned by Dilip Barad Sir 

Comparative analysis of Geoffrey Chaucer, Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare as poets. Focus on their poetic styles, themes, contributions to English literature and their influences on subsequent literary traditions.

• Introduction:

The age of Chaucer is one of the most important era of the history of English literature as it gives the new ideas and themes to English literature. The central figure of this era Geoffrey Chaucer is widely regarded as the Father of the English literature. From this age new ideas and features are widely spread in English literature. After this age Spenser became a central figure after a long time during 16th century. The time period of 14th century to early 17th century is known as Chaucer to Shakespeare the main figures of the ages in English literature. 

•  A brief introductions of the poets:   

1. Geoffrey Chaucer.

Geoffrey Chaucer was a 14th-century English poet and author, often referred to as the "Father of English Literature". His influence on the development of English poetry, including the use of iambic pentameter. He was also known for his career as a courtier, diplomat and civil servant under King Edward III  and King Richard II. He popularized rhyme royal(seven-line stanzas rhyming ababbcc) and heroic couplets. He mainly used themes of Social criticism, Love and marriage, Fate and Fortune, Human nature , Religion and morality etc. He is best known for his notable works like:

The Canterbury Tales

Troilus and Criseyde

The Book of the Duchess

       2. Edmund Spenser.

Edmund Spenser was a significant English poet of Elizabethan era, active in the late 16th century. He was born around 1552-1553 in London and He was died in 1599. He served as a colonial administrator in Ireland which influenced some of his later works. He often explored the themes of Virtue and morality, Protestant faith, Love and beauty, Nationalism and politics, Nature, Colonialism etc. He was known for his style of archaic language, intricate allegories and vivid imagery. His best known works are:

' The Faerie Queene ' which is an incomplete epic poem celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. 

The Shepheardes Calender 

Amoretti 

Epithalamion

       3. William Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet and actor widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and one of the world's pre-eminent dramatists. He was born in 1564 and was died in 1616. He works as an actor and playwright in London, becoming part-owner of the Globe Theatre. During his life he wrote 37 plays, 154 sonnets and 2 long narrative poems. His works are greatly enriched the English language, coining many new words and phrases. He mainly used the themes of love, beauty, time, morality, desire and the human condition. He experimented with and expanded poetic conventions of his time. He was mainly known as a playwright but some of  his known poems are here as he has written sonnets and that style became known as Shakespearean sonnet:

All the world's a stage from his play "As You Like It" 

Sonnets that are addressed to a Fair Youth 

Venus and Adonis 

The Phoenix and The Turtle

• Comparision Between the 3 poets:

	Geoffrey Chaucer	Edmund Spenser	William Shakespeare
Era	Late middle ages (14th century)	Elizabethan age (16th century)	Elizabethan age / Jacobian age (late 16th – early 17th century)
Themes	Social criticism, Love, Fate	Virtue, Protestant faith, Love	Human nature, Power, Love
Major Works	The Canterbury Tales	The Faerie Queene	37 Plays and 154 Sonnets
Language	Middle English	Early modern English	Early modern English
Poetic Innovation	Rhyme Royal, Heroic couplets	Invented Spenserian Stanza	Shakespearean sonnet
Style	Realistic characterization, Frame narrative	Elaborate allegory, Archaic language	Psychological depth, Blank verse
Spenser and Chaucer both are influential English Poets, but they lived in different centuries and their work represents distinct periods of English literature. Chaucer is known for his middle English works. Spenser is known for his Epic poems.  Shakespeare and Chaucer both are renowned English authors, but they lived different life styles in different time periods. The time period of Chaucer is 14th century while Shakespeare's was 16th century's major figure. Chaucer was known for shorter poetic works while Shakespeare is known for his plays of tragedy, comedy and history and also for the Shakespearean sonnets.  Spenser and Shakespeare are both from the Elizabethan or the Renaissance era. Spenser was active in 16th century and Shakespeare was active during late 16th century & early 17th century. Spenser's work are characterized by allegory, elaborate language while Shakespeare's poetry is emotionally resonant with a focus on human relationships.

• Conclusion:

All the three poets had contributed to development of English poetry, their styles, themes and literay contexts differs significantly. As major figures of perticular ages all the three poets innovative works are the great contribution to the English literature.

• References:

https://images.app.goo.gl/LrUJ9gndP6AcFi2k6

https://images.app.goo.gl/WJ7YjgxHwz1KdaRY7

https://images.app.goo.gl/a2eotp7bjuL2Jma96

https://www.unife.it/letterefilosofia/lm.lingue/insegnamenti/letteratura-inglese-1/materiale-didattico-2019-2020/Edward%20Albert-%20History%20of%20English%20Literature-%20OUP-%202000.pdf