Memorable Points on Chaucer’s Age
- Chaucer’s Age witnessed three kings-Edward III, Richard II and Henry IV
- It was the midsummer of English chivalry, which is portrayed in Chaucer’s ‘Knightes Tales’ dealing with successive wars with France and the famous victories of Crecy and Poictiers.
- The age underwent pestilence after pestilence ravaging the land.
- In 1348-49 came the awful epidemic called the Black Death, which took away the lives almost a third of the entire population. It re-appeared in 1362, 1367 and 1370.
- After the Black Death came Plague.
- French Wars occurred in which Edward II emerged victorious but Edward’s imposition of heavy taxes on the public causing theft, robbery and the other.
- The despotic rule of Richard II aggravated the situation.
- Corruption in churches multiplied. Clergymen were leading a godless life, amassing wealth at the cost of the welfare of the people in general.
- The ‘Morning Star of the Reformation’ John Wycliffe emerged who with the help of his disciples produced a complete English version of the Bible which was the first translation of the scriptures into any modern vernacular tongue.
- The influence of the Italian writers Petrarch (1304-1374) and Boccaccio (1313-1375) could easily be noticed in England. Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’ was highly influenced by the writing of ‘Boccaccio’.