Classical Poetry (Classical Poetry-Mids)

Word Limit: 500

Assessment Rubric: All answers will be evaluated in line with the following rubric (all elements carry equal marks):

i)                  Correct grammar and spellings

ii)               Organization of thoughts and ideas

iii)            Accuracy of content

iv)            Direct/indirect textual references        

1)    How does Geoffrey Chaucer use the descriptions of the various characters in the prologue to illustrate the social hierarchy and diversity of 14th-century England?

Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" offers a vivid and nuanced view of 14th-century English society through the diverse characters introduced in the General Prologue. Chaucer uses these descriptions to highlight the social hierarchy of the time while capturing the variety of professions, personalities, and behaviors present in medieval England. Through his detailed portrayals, Chaucer reflects the tensions, aspirations, and moral contradictions of the society he observed.

Chaucer's characters are the three estates of medieval society: nobility, clergy, and peasantry. The highest in this order is the Knight whom Chaucer describes as "a worthy man" who "loved chivalrie, Trouthe and honour, freedom and cutesie" (Chaucer, lines 43-46). The Knight is an ideal nobleman, his deeds on the battlefield pointing out the values of loyalty and honor characteristic of the aristocracy. His son, the Squire, embodies the younger generation of nobility, described as "a lovyere and a lusty bachelor" (Chaucer, line 80), a sign of a turn towards more personal pursuits, like romance and self-expression. The clergy is treated to both respect and criticism.

The Parson is the ideal clergyman; he is described as "riche he was of hooly thoght and werk" (Chaucer, line 489), an example of spiritual devotion. The Friar and the Pardoner, on the other hand, expose the corruption in the Church. The Friar is depicted as a man who "knew the tavernes wel in every town" (Chaucer, line 240), prioritizing pleasure over his religious duties. Similarly, the Pardoner is "full loude he song, 'Com hider, love, to me! '" (Chaucer, line 672), reflecting his corrupt and materialistic personality. The working class and peasantry are represented by characters like the Plowman, a farmer who is "a trewe swynkere and a good was he"(Chaucer, line 531), embodying honesty and diligence. The Miller, on the other hand, is described as "a jangler and a goliard-eys" (Chaucer, line 562), reflecting the more bawdy and boisterous aspects of the lower classes.

 The cultural and occupational diversity of the period was revealed through Chaucer's characters.

The Wife of Bath challenged the gender roles because of her flamboyant attires and multiple marriages. She has "of clooth-makyng she hadde swich an haunt, She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt" (Chaucer, lines 455-456). This has shown the spirit and independence of a businesswoman. The Merchant, with his "forked berd and motteleye" (Chaucer, line 270), represents increasing mercantile power and a rising middle class.     Even though Chaucer provides a lot of imagery of the 14th-century England in which he lives, it is easy to realize his biases.

The extent of contrast between goodly figures like Parson and Plowman and scoundrels such as the Friar and Pardoner shows how Chaucer condemned moral corruption that he saw around him among the clergy.

However, his portrayal of women, especially the Wife of Bath, can be seen as perpetuating stereotypes about women as controlling or fixated on appearance. Additionally, Chaucer's concentration on individual characters rather than systemic issues limits the scope of his social inequality critique. Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" succeeds in depicting the diversity and complexity of 14th-century England, as presented through detailed characterizations to give a cross-section of the social hierarchy. Chaucer, through juxtapositions of ideals of nobility and morality against corruption and greed, is able to deconstruct societal values while reveling in the individualism of his characters. This work will remain timeless for all humanity and social dynamic.

2)     How do the portrayals of religious figures reflect Geoffrey   Chaucer's views on religion and morality during the Middle Ages?

In "The Canterbury Tales," Geoffrey Chaucer critiques the corruption and moral failures of the Church while celebrating the virtues of true faith. Through vivid characterizations, Chaucer provides insight into the complexities of faith and morality during the Middle Ages. (I will try to mention more through particular line numbers, textual analysis, and intext-citation related to the references given below that how Chaucer describes his opinion about religion and morality) in the upcoming part.

The Pardoner exemplifies clerical corruption. In lines 675-714, he manipulates religious sentiment for personal profit, proclaiming, “I’ll have money, wool, and cheese, and grain” (Chaucer, lines 675-714). This reflects his greed, as well as the selling out of faith, indicating the moral degradation of the Church (Wisdom Press, p. 62). Furthermore, the Friar demonstrates moral relativism. Being charismatic and sociable, as depicted in lines 208-236, he has placed personal interest above spiritual requirements. Chaucer comments that the Friar "knew the taverns well in every town" (Chaucer, lines 208-236), and it exposes the hypocrisy and misuse of his position for profit purposes (Wisdom Press, p. 62).  The Monk and Prioress are in a position further to highlight the contradiction between spiritual obligations and worldly ambitions.

The Monk, lines 165-184, gives himself over to hunting and luxury abdication of the ascetic principles of monasticism. He criticizes this deviation by saying, "He let go by the things of yesterday" (Chaucer, lines 165-184). Similarly, the Prioress emphasizes outward show and social standing, as evident in lines 138-162, in her preference for elaborate falsity, such as her affected French accent (Chaucer, lines 138-162). Chaucer's descriptions show that the Church fails to achieve its spiritual goal (Wisdom Press, p. 62). In contrast, the Parson and Plowman portray true faith and morality.  The Parson, in lines 476-488, is a very modest and dedicated clergy who "practices first and preaches afterward" (Chaucer, lines 476-488), upholding true Christianity.

 Moreover, the Plowman, in lines 541-548, goes about his task with honesty and devotion, as the perfect Christian layman. These characters make up the moral opposites of rotten clergy persons and establish integrity as well as faith in importance (Wisdom Press, p. 62). Even though Chaucer is finely taking a peek at individual clerkly failures, he does not speak to the systemic issues that exist within the Church's power systems. This narrow focus, while illuminating does not examine the institutional roots of corruption enough (Wisdom Press, p. 62). Also, the representation of women, especially the Prioress, tends to dramatize the inherent superficiality and frivolity of women.

How she is concerned with etiquette and an "artificial French accent" (Chaucer, lines 138-162) reflects a narrow connotation of women's roles in medieval society, which questions the attitude Chaucer pursued toward gender (Wisdom Press, p. 62). Through satire, Chaucer critiques corruption and hypocrisy in the Church while exalting the virtues of genuine faith. Focusing his work on such contrasting characters as Pardoner and Friar and contrasting with the Parson and Plowman, he draws out the continuing relevance of faith, morality, and ethics in religious as well as secular life. 

Part-02 (Imagine a world where speaking the truth could cost you your life. In the Middle

Ages, the church was not just a place of worship but a powerful institution. Those who

questioned its corruption were silenced, like the theologian Jan Hus, who declared, “God

desires obedience, not gold. The wealth of the church must serve the people” (Cohn, 2000).

For these words, he was burned alive in 1415, a tragic example of how the church crushed

opposition. Living in such times, Geoffrey Chaucer avoided direct criticism and instead used

his characters in The Canterbury Tales to expose the hypocrisy of religious figures through

satire.

To begin with, Chaucer’s Prioress, Madame Eglantine, shows hypocrisy by failing to

live the humble and selfless life expected of a nun. She enjoys luxury, wearing a golden

brooch with the words “Amor vincit omnia” (Love conquers all) (The Canterbury Tales,

General Prologue, line 162), and seems more attached to wealth than to God. Her actions also

reveal misplaced priorities, as she feeds her dogs fine bread and roasted meat while ignoring

the poor who are starving, despite the Bible’s teachings: "Sell your belongings and share the

proceeds with those in need" (Luke 12:33). This not only highlights her personal failure but

also reflects the church’s neglect of its moral duties.

In addition, the Friar meant to protect the weak, exploited them instead. He pursued

inappropriate relationships, even with grieving widows, ignoring the Bible’s teaching: “Pure

religion is to help orphans and widows” (James 1:27). His actions reveal moral decay within

the church.

Similarly, the Pardoner sold indulgences, exploiting people’s guilt to grow rich. "True

forgiveness, according to Jesus, is unconditional: 'When you forgive others, your Heavenly

Father will also forgive you' (Matthew 6:14)." Yet, forgiveness became a product for sale,

exposing the church’s corruption and leaving the poor, unable to afford such a transaction, in

despair.

On the other hand, some scholars suggest that Chaucer’s intent was not simply to

criticize the church but to show how difficult it was for religious leaders to live up to the high

standards placed on them. Dr. Margaret E. Tinsley argues that Chaucer’s satire invites

readers to question whether it is fair to expect religious figures to be perfect in a flawed

world. For example, the Prioress’s love of wealth may reflect the societal pressure to

maintain a refined appearance. The Friar’s actions could be seen as a result of the unrealistic

expectations placed on him. Even the Pardoner might symbolize how some people, both

religious leaders and laypeople, turn to shortcuts for salvation in a corrupt system (Tinsley,

2002; Rigby, 1996; Patterson, 1987).

As a result, this interpretation challenges the idea that Chaucer was only exposing the

corruption of the church. Instead, it invites readers to empathize with the human side of these

figures, acknowledging that they are imperfect individuals caught in a system that demands

the impossible. In short, Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales shows the hypocrisy of religious leaders

and how the church often took advantage of people instead of helping them. At the same

time, it asks readers to understand the pressure on these leaders and think about the true

meaning of morality and the church’s role in medieval times. As William Shakespeare once

wrote in Hamlet: “Give thy thoughts no tongue, nor any unproportioned thought his act. Be

thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.” (Shakespeare, 1609) Chaucer, too, masterfully balances

familiarity with criticism, using his art to reveal timeless truths without direct confrontation,

leaving us to ponder the frailty of human morality and the weight of societal expectations.

3)    In the sonnet "I find no peace, and all my war is done," Thomas Wyatt uses numerous paradoxes ("I fear, and hope; I burn, and freeze like ice") to convey his internal turmoil. How do these contradictory states reflect the speaker's emotional and psychological struggles in love? How does Wyatt use this technique to enhance the sonnet's exploration of the human condition?

Thomas Wyatt masterfully uses paradoxes in this sonnet “I find no peace, and all my war is done. The paradoxical states represent what the speaker has to endure or experience inside, and that inner turmoil reflects a complex emotional and psychological struggle, highlighting the war between desire and despair, pain and pleasure. These paradoxes are used by Wyatt for the deepening of exploration of the human condition, wherein the conflict of desire and restraint is depicted universally.

The sonnet begins with the paradox, "I find no peace, and all my war is done"(Wyatt. T, line 1). This establishes the speaker's state of mind as conflicted. Even though external conflict is over, inner conflict remains, indicating that love, though satisfying, brings unrest. Likewise, the line "I fear and hope; I burn and freeze like ice" (line 4) captures the coexistence of opposing emotions. This juxtaposition of fear and hope indicates how love is unpredictable; whereas burning and freezing show that the flame of passion is all but chills from the freezes of rejection or insecurity. The following paradox, "I fly above the wind, yet can I not arise" (line 7), portrays that he wants to rise up beyond love's shackles yet cannot.

This captures the paradox of love as both elevating and imprisoning. The line "I desire to perish, and yet I ask health" (line 8) emphasizes the destructive power of unfulfilled desire, where the speaker seeks relief from love's pain but simultaneously clings to its intoxicating grip. The use of paradoxes by Wyatt makes the sonnet more intense in its exploration of love's duality. Love is an inescapable force that binds the speaker in a web of conflicting emotions. The sonnet reflects a universal truth about human nature: the simultaneous pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain. The contradictory imagery reveals how love defies logic, challenging the rational mind with its unpredictability.

The speaker’s lament, ‘I love another, and thus I hate myself” (line 12), further underscores the self-destructive nature of unreciprocated or unattainable love. This admission illustrates how love can create a fragmented identity, where self-worth becomes tied to another’s affection. Wyatt’s ability to articulate such inner conflict resonates deeply, making the sonnet a timeless exploration of love’s psychological effects.

While paradoxes do convey emotional tumult by Wyatt, some say the strength of contradictions makes it overly dramatic for a sonnet. The continuous display of inner struggles might appear to be overindulged, thus belittling the universality of the feeling. The speaker's inaction when he faces his dilemmas further projects a medieval thought of love as an outer force that acts upon people, making the modern audience question the lack of actions that can be taken for such turmoil.

Thomas Wyatt's "I Find No Peace" is a very poignant exploration of love's contradictory nature, reflecting the emotional and psychological struggles that define the human condition. Through paradoxes, Wyatt encapsulates the tension between longing and despair, illustrating love's capacity to both elevate and destroy. Despite its intensity, the sonnet remains a timeless meditation on the complexities of desire, resonating across generations.

 Wyatt, T. (c. 1557). "I find no peace, and all my war is done." Line references are included in the analysis.

4)    Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, is credited with introducing the Shakespearean sonnet form to English poetry. Analyze his sonnets "The Soote Season," and “Love that doth reign and live within my thought” focusing on the structure, rhyme scheme, and thematic elements.

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, played a great role in bringing the Shakespearean sonnet form to English poetry. This paper will explore two of his most important sonnets,"The Soote Season" and "Love that doth reign and live within my thought," analyzing their structure, rhyme scheme, and thematic elements.

Surrey's sonnets follow the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure, which is composed of 14 lines, divided into four quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. In "The Soote Season" Surrey uses this structure to describe the beauty of nature and its impact on his emotions (Surrey, lines 1-4). Similarly, in "Love that doth reign and live within my thought," Surrey uses the sonnet structure to explore the complexities of love and its effects on the speaker (Surrey, lines 1-4).

Both sonnets use themes of love, beauty, and the passage of time. "The Soote Season" by Surrey describes the beauty of nature using imagery and metaphor to describe the emotional state of the speaker (Surrey, lines 5-8). The poem explores the idea that beauty is a fleeting thing, and the speaker must cherish it while it lasts. In "Love that doth reign and live within my thought," Surrey probes the vagaries of love, recounting how it both exalts and torments the speaker (Surrey, lines 9-12).

Surrey's sonnets are significant because they represent one of the first attempts to adapt the Shakespearean form, though some critics feel that Surrey's sonnets are less introspective and complex than sonnets by Shakespeare and later poets. Surrey's dependence on traditional themes and imagery has been considered somewhat limited, and his sonnets have been criticized for their lack of originality (Jones, 1994). Others argue that Surrey's sonnets demonstrate mastery of form and technique and that their exploration of traditional themes is nuanced and effective (Heale, 1998).

The sonnets of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, "The Soote Season" and "Love that doth reign and live within my thought," show his mastery over the Shakespearean sonnet form. Through their traditional themes and imagery and metaphor, these sonnets give insight into the complexities of love and beauty. While some critics have claimed that Surrey's sonnets lack originality, others have praised their technical skill and nuanced exploration of traditional themes.

 References:

Chaucer, G. (c. 1387-1400). The Canterbury Tales: The General Prologue. Translated by Nevill Coghill.

Wisdom Press. (2022). Critical Interpretation of Geoffrey Chaucer. Retrieved from http://www.wisdompress.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Critical-Interpretation-of-Geoffrey-Chaucer.pdf#page=62.

Cohn, N. (2000). The Pursuit of the Millennium.

• Chaucer, G. (2008). The Canterbury Tales. Edited by Jill Mann. Penguin Classics.

• Patterson, L. (1987). Chaucer and the Subject of History. Routledge.

• Rigby, S. H. (1996). Chaucer in Context: Society, Allegory, and Gender. Manchester

University Press.

• Tinsley, M. E. (2002). Challenging Morality in the Middle Ages. University Press.

• Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. 1609

Howard, H. (c. 1540s). "The Soote Season." In Tottel's Miscellany (ed. by R. Tottel). London, 1557.

 Howard, H. (c. 1540s). "Love that doth reign and live within my thought." In Tottel's Miscellany (ed. by R. Tottel). London, 1557.

      Jones, M. (1994). The Poems of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. Oxford University   Press.

 Heale, E. (1998). Wyatt, Surrey and Early Tudor Poetry. Longman.

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5)    How do the portrayals of religious figures such as the Pardoner and thAges?