gower, lydgate and hoccleve

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)  

Thomas Hoccleve

'Regement of princes ' for Henry 5th it is on virtues and vices

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