gower, lydgate and hoccleve

Page 1

John Gower

friend of chaucer

dedicated part of troilus and criseyde to him

revival of interest in gower's poetry when c.s lewis mentioned him in his "allegory of love"

gower's poems were considered moral, political historical and religious

poems were written in french latin or english

He is remembered primarily for three major works,

the Mirour de l'Omme, =

french work -

comments on married life ,

effects of sin

Vox Clamantis, (voice of one crying out)-

latin work -

addresses sin.

criticises corrupt politician ,

about peasants revolt -

critical about amoral government -

hence chaucer nicknamed him as MORAL GOWER

Confessio Amantis, (lovers confession)

requested by richard the IInd as he was worried that there wasnt enough written in english

has a prologue

8 books

an old man making confessions about his love life to venus

pericles of shakespeare was based on this

written in octasylabic couplets

30,000-line poem

makes use of the structure of a Christian confession

narrative frame (story within story)

Page 2

Thomas Hoccleve

'Regement of princes '

for Henry 5th

it is on virtues and vices

Page 3

John Lydgate

SERPENT OF DIVISION -

only prose

account of julius caesar

FALL OF PRINCESS-

boccassio in french=original ..

he translated into chaucerian rhyme royal

REASON AND SENSUALITY -

from french

allegory

theme of chastity

TROY BOOK

started writing it at the command of the prince of wales

and later at the command of henry5th

SEIZE OF THEBES-

response to canterbury tales ,

follows same structure -

stories taken from boccaccio

additional tale in the cycle of cant.tales --part of knight's tale(first tale)

COMPLAIN OF THE BLACK KNIGHT - modeled on book of duchess

TEMPLE OF GLASS- on house of fame