Chaucer’s Art of Delineating Social Landscaping

Abstract

This paper scrutinizes Geoffrey Chaucer’s remarkable status as a painter in the history of English literature. This research throws light on several critics in order to delve into the exceptional art of characterization of Chaucer. The study claims that Chaucer has portrayed his narratives with sheer objectivity. No biasness can be traced out in his marvelous art of painting. Theory of New historicism formulated by Stephen Greenblatt (1982) has been applied and a textual analytical model proposed by Geoffrey Rockwell (2003) has been adopted by the researcher to investigate Chaucer’s works. For this purpose, an evaluation has been conducted on Chaucer’s eminent works such as The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, The Canterbury Tales and Troilus and Criseyde. Several portrayals of the pilgrims, especially those with controversial statuses have been inspected. Chaucer’s powerful techniques such as narrative power, keen observation and vivacious characters have been analyzed in light of the history of the author and the text. Conclusively, this investigation provides grounds for Chaucer’s deemed position as a painter in English literature through his impressive observation, astounding characterization and marvelous narration.