The 15th Century|Literature

The 15th Century in Literature

The 15th Century|Literature
The 15th Century|Literature
The 15th century is also considered as Barren Age because there is no any poet or writer to produce great work in the field of English literature. Therefore it is called Barren Age in English Literature. There are many factors which are responsible for the barrenness of literature during this age. 

Political and religious changes

It was the period of many changes in the field of politics and religion. The old political and social order was changing giving place to new.

The War of the Roses(1455-1485)

The War of Roses was a series of English civil wars for the throne of England. It was fought between two groups during the 14th century. The two groups were The House of Lancaster and The House of York. Infect these fights were fought between the supporters of these houses. It is known as the War of Roses because the house of Lancaster associated with a red rose and the House of York was associated with a white rose. It means white rose and a red rose were the symbols of two groups. It had a bad effect on the literature of this period. People wasted their time in small fights. There was an atmosphere of wars, unrest, chaos in the country. This kind 
of atmosphere did not support the development of literature.

Introduction to the printing press(1476)

 William Caxton introduced the printing press into England in 1476. He was an English writer and merchant.

Establishments of schools and universities

New schools and universities were established during this age. Thus chances were given to the new Greek ideas and culture but they were not in the state of development because of confusedness or turmoil. So the poets and writers were failed to produce any master peace in the field of literature.

lack of free thought in literature

Free expression of thought is the main part of producing masterpieces in literature but unfortunately, it was prevented by those who were in power and authority during this period. Great literature could not be produced in this kind of atmosphere where poets and writers were not allowed to express their thought freely.

Poor education

The state of education in the 15th century was very poor. There were many universities and learning centres but people were not interested in learning new things. The poets and writers were not motivated and inspired to produce great literary works. 
Thus it was the age of barrenness in producing the great works of literature. There were two kinds of disciples of Chaucer who tried to carry his skills of literature forward. They both contributed during this period in the field of English Literature. They were The English Chaucerians and the Scottish Chaucerians.


The English Chaucerians were--

Lydgate, Occleve, Stephen Hawes, Barclay and John Skelton. 

The Scottish Chaucerians were-- 

king James-1, Robert Henryson, William Dunbar, Gavin Douglas, David Lindsay



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The Age of Chaucer (1340-1400)

The Age of Chaucer...14th century 

The Age of Chaucer (1340-1400)
The Age of Chaucer (1340-1400)

The political and social background

The age of Chaucer was an age of Transition. Here the word transition means change and transformation. It was an age of transformation from middle age to modern age. It was the meeting ground of two ages- The medieval and the Modern Age. Chaucer has presented the sprite of both the ages in his poetry. It was the time when medieval age had passed away and the new age of modern world had started. 

The Hundred Years War (1338)

The Hundred Years War is an important incident in the age of Chaucer. It was the age of conflicts between France and England. It is known as The Hundred Years' War. During the reign of Edward-3, England got victories in the battlefields of Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt.

The Black Death (1348)

The outbreak of the Plague is known as 'The Black Death'. It occurred in 1348 during the reign of Edward-3 in England. Half of the total population had died during the black death. The condition of the poor and ordinary people was very bad at that time.

The Peasants' Revolt (1381)

It was the time when there was social strife between the landlords and the peasants. It has resulted in the bloody Peasants' Revolt in 1381. After the black death, there was an acute shortage of labourers. Therefore the labourers were demanding for higher wages but the landlords did not want to accept it. They wanted to suppress the voice of peasants with the help of legislation. As a result, the peasants' revolt started against landlords.

The condition of women

The condition of women was not very good during the age of Chaucer. They were considered inferior to men. The women from poor families had to work hard and women from rich families enjoyed their life only by marriage. Child marriage was also in vogue at that time. 

The condition of Church

The condition of the church was also not very good. It had become the place of corruption. Materialism also had spread in the church. The religious persons of the church had become materialistic. They spent their time in trivial activities instead of religious activities. Chaucer has described the bad condition of the church in his 'Prologue' impressively. He has presented the virtues and vices of religious persons in his 'Prologue'. 
Thus the 14th century is also known as the age of Chaucer. Chaucer has shown all the tendencies of the age in his poetry very well. As we all know that literature is the mirror of society. Chaucer also has represented the age in his works faithfully.


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Wordsworth Poetry.. Tintern Abbey|Summary

    

Tintern Abbey....Wordsworth Poetry

Summary

The famous poem "Tintern Abbey" was first published in Lyrical Ballad in 1798. It bore the long title, "Lines Composed A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey On Revisiting The Banks of The Wye During A Tour".The poet visited Tintern with his sister in 1793. There he found great peace and joy in the valley of Tintern Abbey. The poet again visited Tintern Abbey with his sister Dorothy in 1798. Once again the poet feels extreme joy in the lap of nature. The abbey is about ten miles away from the river Wye.
The river Wye and its surroundings inspired the poet to compose this poem. Wordsworth was a great worshiper of nature. In this poem, the poet expresses his feelings for nature. He says that he is standing on the banks of the river Wye again after five years. It was really a great moment for him to visit Tintern Abbey once again. The poet is very happy to see the sloppy and high rocks of that place. It gives calmness to his mind. The poet again can see the dark Sycamore trees and can take rest under the trees. He also sees a group of fruit trees. He sees smoke arising among the trees. 
The poet says that he feels a great peace in his mind when he sits alone in his room or at another place far from the worldly crowd. He feels there extreme peace and joy. He never felt this kind of pleasure in his life.
The poet says that the sight of a natural object calms his mental vision and gives him inner peace. The poet again expresses his feelings about nature that he gets peace whenever he becomes restless and disturbed in the problems of the world. Most of the time he has remembered the river Wye and its beautiful hills to get peace in the depressed atmosphere of the world.
Now the poet has old memories of nature which reminds him of those moments when he was standing near the river Wye. It is a great moment when again the poet is standing at the same place after five years. For the poet, nature has been the most important part always. When the poet was a boy, he loved all the objects of nature very much. He had then hunger for nature.
The poet says that he still loves nature and its objects very much as in his boyhood days. He still feels a great joy to see the various objects of nature as grasslands, woods, mountains, moving air, ocean and setting sun. Nature seems to the poet like a nurse, a guide and a guardian. The poet tells her sister that he feels a great pleasure on the bank of river Wye in the company of his sister. It is a great moment for him. Nature gives him never-ending happiness and cheerfulness always.
The poet further tells his sister about the blessings of nature. He says that his sister will feel the blessings of nature whenever she suffers from some fear, pain, grief or loneliness. Then she will surely remember the poet and the blessings of nature.
The poet further says that his sister cannot forget these moments even after his death. The poet says that the reason for his pleasure on the bank of river Wye is not only the sight of beautiful objects of nature but also the company of his sister. He likes the company of his sister very much. Thus the poem has autobiographical elements. Because it is not an imagination of the poet but the real experience of his life. The poet shares his experience of visiting Tintern Abbey in this poem. Thus the poem "Tintern Abbey" is the masterpiece of Wordsworth.

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The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock .. Summary & analysis

    

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock-Summary and analysis

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock .. Summary & analysis
The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock .. Summary & analysis
The popular poem 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' is a great literary work of T.S.Eliot. It was first published in 1915. It is in the form of an interior monologue in which a person expresses his inner thoughts and feelings. the speaker and the listener are the same people in this poem. The poet describes the love of Alfred Prufrock who loves a young beautiful lady in this poem. This poem is a love song of a man who loves a lady very much and wants to propose her for marriage but every time he becomes nervous before proposing her. Therefore for this purpose, he wants to go to a tea party on the eve of 1st October but he becomes disappointed very soon because he has not done any special work in his life.
He is not a rich person because he has wasted his time in useless works. Therefore he is very sad. He thinks that the lady may reject him. He thinks himself like Polonius who appears in a few scenes of play but at the end, he decides not to propose the young lady. The poem is full of high imagination and sensuous word pictures. Eliot has used impressive language in the poem. The poem is also a remarkable use of symbolism and imagery. Through this poem, the poet tries to express the weaknesses of the people of modern society in an impressive way. 

The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock -Poem analysis..... stanza wise

Stanza--1

The poem is a love song of Alfred Prufrock who loves a young beautiful lady and wants to propose her but he was in fear that she may reject him. He is going to a tea party to propose the lady to marry but suddenly a negative thought comes in his mind that the lady may reject him for his past useless activities. Because he has wasted his previous time in the company of prostitutes. Therefore he quits the idea of proposing her. But he is very disappointed. Through this poem, the poet throws tight on the weaknesses of modern men in an impressive way. 

Stanza--2

The poem is the masterpiece of Eliot. The poet describes the fear of Prufrock in this stanza. Prufrock is sad because he thinks that the woman whom he loves may reject his proposal because of his growing age. He is not young and strong now to impress her. So lady may reject his proposal of marriage. Then suddenly he sees that beautiful lady going to the next room. Prufrock listens to her talking carefully. She is talking about a famous man named Michelangelo. He is a famous sculptor who is very popular for his art of making nude statues of people. After it, he thinks about the mist and smoke of the evening. Both are looking golden yellow in colour. The yellow smoke is spreading slowly in the evening. After it, he thinks about the smoke of chimneys that disappears from his sight. Because this smoke of chimneys disappears in a curl. Therefore Prufrock is very sad to think that the lady may not accept his proposal in this type of atmosphere and he is not very young and strong now. 

Stanza--3

In the third stanza, the poet describes the mental condition of Prufrock. when he sees the beautiful lady going in the room, Profrock thinks that he should have patience. The decisions of this kind are not taken in a hurry. So he should wait for the right moment. He compares the act of proposing the lady to the task of murder. For him proposing a lady is not easy. He thinks that he should think about this matter may times. After all, it is a matter of proposing a beautiful young lady for marriage. As he does not take even tea without thinking then this is a more important task than tea. He says that everything happens at the right time. So he should wait. 

Stanza--4 

Here in this stanza, he describes the fear of Prufrock at the time of proposal. Prufrock is confused about it whether the lady will accept him or not. He sees the lady talking about Michelangelo who is famous for making nude statues of a human. So Prufrock thinks that the lady who is talking about this topic will be erotic. And now he is growing old and weak. His hair has also become grey and having a bald spot in the middle of his head. He looks old and weak now. Therefore the lady will not accept him because of his old age and weakness. So he leaves the idea of the proposal.

Stanza--5

In this stanza, Prufrock thinks to hide his weakness and old age with a costly and beautiful dress. For it, he put on a morning coat that covers his neck and wears a nice tie. He wants to impress the lady with his smart look. Still, he is in fear that the lady may know about his old age and weak body. He says whether he can hide his old age and weak body. It seems to him like disturbing the universe. That's why he leaves the idea of proposing the lady. 

Stanza--6

In this stanza, Prufrock says that he knows very well this kind of ladies. They change their lovers very fast. They change their lovers rapidly with a change of time like morning, afternoon, and evening. After it, Prufrock thinks that he also has spent his time in the useless activities. Therefore he is in doubt whether he should propose or not.

Stanza--7

This poem is a satire on the modern man and woman who spend their lives in useless activities. After it, Prufrock thinks that the ladies of this kind do not have true love for an aged man like him. He wants to express his love for the lady but at the same time, he is in fear whether she will accept him or not. He wants to promise his beloved to be a nice person in future and he will not do trivial activities. But he is not an expert in speaking with the ladies impressively. So he hesitates to talk with the lady.

Stanza--8

Prufrock expresses his feelings that he likes ladies covered in a shawl. He does not like those ladies who look pretty and show off their beauty wearing small dresses. In fact, he thinks himself inferior to other men.

Stanza--9

Prufrock thinks himself too weak to express his love for the lady. So he decides to take tea and snacks so that he could gather some courage to take the right decision. But again Prufrock thinks about the anger of the lady. So he does not propose her.

Stanza--10

In this stanza, Prufrock decides not to propose the lady. He thinks it useless work. Now he does not want to waste his time for the lady. It seems him as difficult as squeezing the universe into a ball. So he quit the idea of proposing the lady. 

Stanza--11

Now Prufrock has changed his mind. He is not interested in useless things like love. He thinks that he should not waste his time in useless activities. Besides it, he can use his time in reading a book, going in the parties and other important works. 

Stanza--12

He thinks himself a coward man who has not the courage to propose a lady. He thinks himself inferior to Prince Hamlet who is the hero of the play of Shakespeare.

Stanza--13

Now Prufrock thinks that he is not too young to propose the beautiful lady. He has grown old now and can not hide his signs of old age like weak body and baldness. But he wants to look younger. He says that he wants to wear nice dresses not to impress ladies but for his satisfaction. He wants to enjoy his life without any worry of proposing the lady. Still, he may enjoy his life to look at other beautiful girls and feel happy.
Thus the poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock " is the love song of a lover who does not propose the lady at the end. This poem is a remarkable work of T.S.Eliot in the field of English Literature.
                                                                                                                  

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The second coming......Summary

    

The Second Coming by W.B.Yeats... Summary

Summary

The Second Coming by W.B.Yeats... Summary
The Second Coming by W.B.Yeats... Summary
The poem 'The Second Coming' is composed by William Butler Yeats, an Irish poet. It was written in 1919 and published in 1920. The poet presents the theory of cycling of incarnation in this poem. According to Yeats, the present age will end after two thousand years and the new age would begin. As Jesus Christ is considered the first human incarnation of God on the earth. Like that the second incarnation would come on the earth as a combination of man and animal. The second incarnation would not appear like a man but as a combination of man and animal. 
The poem 'The Second Coming' is based on the philosophy of cycling of incarnation. In this poem, the poet tells us about the state of complete disorder in Ireland in 1916. It was the time when there was a state of murder and bloodshed in Ireland. Therefore it was the state of complete disorder of law and rules. 

The Second Coming....Poem analysis: Stanza wise

Stanza--1

It is a poem of twenty-two lines expressed the opinion of the second incarnation. In the first stanza of the poem, the poet explains the state of complete disorder in Ireland. 
The poet says that the time passes very fast and the wheel of time also moves very fast. It changes rapidly. the poet further says that the falcon does not hear the falconer. Here falcon is a small bird of prey and Falconer is a trainer of the bird who trains the falcon in the art of preying. Or who gives the training of preying to the falcon. But now the falcon is not in the control of his trainer. 
Here poet wants to say that the situation is out of control in Ireland. There is a state of anarchy everywhere in the country. Thus it is a state of complete disorder. People do not respect law and rules. The innocent and weak people are destroyed and killed while evil or wicked are worshipped. The good people are losing their faith and confidence while bad people are growing very fast. The poet says that evil people are being stronger and virtuous people are being weaker in the state of disorder in the country. Here the poet tries to show the time of the twentieth century in Ireland. Thus the poet presents the age here in an impressive way. 

Stanza--2

The poem 'The Second Coming' is a poem of high Imagination. in the first stanza, the poet tells us about the state of anarchy spread in Ireland. Now he imagines the second incarnation. The poet has a strong belief that the second incarnation of God can save this Earth from sin. The poet says that when sins are on its top then God comes on the earth to save mankind. The violence has crossed its limit and it is intolerable for people. So now it is the correct time for the coming of God on the earth. He says that God would appear on the Earth very soon. The poet has a firm belief that a special miracle is about to happen very soon. The second incarnation of God surely would appear on the earth. the poet imagines that the second incarnation of God would have a strange shape. It would have the head of man and body of a lion who would appear first in the desert. His shine would be unbearable like the shine of the sun.
It is a huge shape having an angry and scornful sight. It is like an angry bird of desert who sleeps. The poet gives the name Sphinx to the huge body of the combination of man and beast. According to the poet, the Sphinx remained asleep during the twenty centuries of Christian civilization. The poet says that now there is the state of anarchy everywhere and sin has reached its top and the sphinx now awoke after the sleep of twenty centuries. he is very angry now. Therefore the right time for the coming of the second incarnation of God on earth has come. It seems as the poet is influenced by Hindu philosophy because the incarnation of God Narsimha resembles with the imagination of the poet. It is also in the shape of a huge body with the combination of man and beast. Thus the poet has a firm belief that the second coming of God on earth is very near. As Jesus Christ took birth on the earth to save mankind. Like that the second incarnation of God also would appear on the earth to save mankind. 
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Samuel Johnson London.... Summary

    

Samuel Johnson London.... Summary

The popular poem "London' was composed by Samuel Johnson in 1738. It is a poem of 263 lines. it has twenty-seven stanzas. It was published anonymously in 1738. This poem got an appreciation of the great poet Alexander Pope. It is written in heroic couplet. This poem was based on Juvenal's Third Satire'. Juvenal wrote many satirical poems in the early 2nd century A.D. Johnson was a great lover of Roman poets and Augustan poets. This poem is an imitation of Juvenal's Third Satires. As Juvenal describes Umbricius leaving Rome to escape from the problems of the city. Like that Johnson also describes Thales's journey to Wales in order to escape from the problems of London.
Thus Samuel Johnson describes the social problems of London during his time. He describes the problems of London city like crime, and corruption. The condition of the poor was also very bad at that time. Here the poet describes a man who is disturbed with the problems of the city London. He wants to leave London for solitude and peace. 

Analysis: The poem London

The poem London starts with the description of a man named Thales. He wants to go to Wales in order to escape from the problem of London city. Therefore he is standing on the banks of the river the Thames and waiting for the boat to take him to Wales. The Thames is a river that flows through London. Thus Thales is ready for leave to some rural place in wales to get peace and solitude. 
Here the narrator expresses his view of the problems of London. The name of the narrator is not mentioned here. The narrator also came to give farewell to his friend Thales who is going to Wales to escape from the dangers of the city London. The poet shows here the bad condition of London through this poem. He points out the vices of the city London like selfishness, greed, violence, murder and the scene of bloodshed. He wants to give a message to the readers about the vices of the city. This poem also has a political point of view of his time. 
The narrator was both happy and sad for his friend. The narrator praises his friend as a hermit but he is also sad because his close friend is going away from him. He says that his friend is now going far from the problems of the city and he will get peace and solitude there. Now he can live his life with purity in Wales. He further says that now he will live in Cambria forever. Cambria is named for wales here. That place is full of peace and solitude. He says that one more British also going to settle there in the place near S.t David who also left Hibernia's land for peace. There nobody is thrown away by the sudden fate. But hunger can torture them as they grow old. 
But here is spread hatred, robbery, accidents, conspiracy in the country. Here the scenes of angry crowd and sufferings are common now. People have changed in an angry crowd. They are merciless. Young people have become now a villain and rogue. and representatives also have become corrupted. They do not protect people from robbery and other problems. There is a state of anarchy in the country.
When Thales was waiting for the Wherry on the bank of the Thames who had some remaining things with her, that time it was seeming as Greenwich is smiling upon the silver flood. Here poet indicates the birth of Elizabeth, the queen of Britain. the poet says that with the birth of Elizabeth a new hope arose in his heart as his dream had come true and a blissful Age was about to start. 
The poet describes the problems of London in this poem. He says that people have become selfish and bad persons were rewarded while virtuous people were punished. Laziness was rewarded while hard work was not appreciated. Still, the poet has hope for a new world of peace but sometimes he becomes disappointed to see these types of problems in the country. He wants to find a good place to live where honesty is rewarded in place of corruption. The poet says that he is searching for a place where the poor are not tortured. There is everywhere the scenes of murder, robbery and hustle. So he is very disappointed to see it all. Therefore his friend wants to go to Wales for peace.

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