Geoffrey Chaucer, often referred to as the Father of English Literature,” experienced several artistic phases throughout his career, each influenced by different cultures and literary traditions. One of the most notable stages is the French Period, a phase that shaped his poetic development in significant ways. During this time, Chaucer was heavily inspired by French poetry, particularly the courtly love tradition and the allegorical style of French writers. His early works reflect a deep admiration for French literary models, which he encountered through both his personal travels and political associations. Understanding Chaucer’s French Period offers valuable insight into the evolution of his poetic voice and the broader influences that would later culminate in his most celebrated works, such as The Canterbury Tales.
What is the French Period of Chaucer?
The French Period of Chaucer generally refers to the early phase of his literary career, roughly between 1360 and 1372. This period coincides with Chaucer’s service to the English court and his diplomatic missions to France, during which he came into direct contact with the literature of the French aristocracy. The French literary culture at the time was dominated by themes of chivalry, courtly love, and allegory, all of which left a lasting impression on Chaucer’s early writing style.
Main Characteristics of the French Period
- Strong influence of French poets such as Guillaume de Lorris and Jean de Meun
- Emphasis on courtly love and chivalric ideals
- Use of allegory and personification
- Formal structure and polished rhyme schemes
- Frequent imitation of Roman de la Rose and similar texts
During this time, Chaucer sought to master the poetic techniques and themes he admired in French literature. This was not mere imitation but an educational and formative process that helped him develop his own voice over time.
Key Works from the French Period
Several of Chaucer’s early poems belong to this French Period. These works offer a glimpse into his evolving literary talent and his initial experimentation with style and content.
The Romaunt of the Rose
This is perhaps the most representative work of Chaucer’s French influences. The Romaunt of the Rose is a partial translation of the popular French allegorical poem Roman de la Rose, which was begun by Guillaume de Lorris and later completed by Jean de Meun. The poem presents a dream vision in which the narrator attempts to pluck a rosebud (a symbol of love) from a beautiful rose tree in a walled garden. The text is full of allegorical figures such as Lady Reason, Fair Welcome, and Jealousy.
Although scholars debate how much of the existing English version was actually translated by Chaucer himself, the work still illustrates his early fascination with French literary style and philosophical ideas about love.
Book of the Duchess
This poem is another significant example from Chaucer’s French Period. Written as an elegy for Blanche of Lancaster, the first wife of John of Gaunt (a patron of Chaucer), the Book of the Duchess contains many elements typical of French poetry. The dream-vision format, the allegorical characters, and the theme of courtly mourning are all deeply rooted in French tradition. However, this poem also reveals Chaucer’s early attempts to create a more emotional and humanized poetic expression, setting the stage for his later innovations.
Other Lesser-Known Poems
While The Romaunt of the Rose and Book of the Duchess are the best-known, Chaucer’s French Period also includes other shorter poems and fragments. These are often lyrical in nature and continue to explore themes of love, chivalry, and sorrow through highly stylized verse. Although they may not have reached the same popularity, they played a crucial role in Chaucer’s literary training.
Influence of French Literature
Chaucer’s immersion in French literature during this period was not merely the result of reading. His exposure came from his participation in courtly life and his diplomatic visits to France, which placed him in direct contact with French intellectual culture. Writers like Machaut, Froissart, and Deschamps were shaping the courtly literary world with their refined poetic forms and philosophical musings, and Chaucer absorbed these ideas eagerly.
French influence also extended to the structure and tone of his poems. He adopted the octosyllabic rhymed couplet, a common French verse form, and he began to incorporate a tone of elegance and refinement that was typical of French court poetry. The French style emphasized polish, delicacy, and rhetorical balance qualities that Chaucer embraced in his early compositions.
Criticisms and Limitations
Despite its literary value, Chaucer’s French Period has been criticized by some scholars for being overly derivative. His works from this time are often seen as imitative rather than original. While the French models allowed Chaucer to refine his craft, they also constrained him in terms of creativity and thematic range. Some critics argue that these early poems lack the vivid realism, humor, and psychological depth that would later define his mature works.
However, these limitations are also part of what makes the French Period so important. Chaucer was in the process of learning and shaping his own literary identity. The experience of working within the boundaries of French tradition gave him the tools he would later use to break free and develop a more distinctly English poetic style.
Transition to the Italian Period
By the mid-1370s, Chaucer’s poetic focus began to shift as he came under the influence of Italian literature, particularly the works of Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. This transition marks the end of his French Period and the beginning of his Italian Period, during which he would write more complex and sophisticated works like Troilus and Criseyde. Nevertheless, the stylistic discipline and thematic training Chaucer received during his French Period remained a foundation for his later innovations.
Why the French Period Matters
The French Period of Chaucer is essential for understanding the full trajectory of his literary development. It represents a time of imitation and adaptation, but also of learning and transformation. This phase laid the groundwork for his more mature poetry and contributed to the fusion of European literary traditions that Chaucer would later synthesize into a uniquely English voice. Without the French Period, Chaucer’s literary journey and English literature itself might have taken a very different path.
while the French Period of Chaucer may not showcase his most original works, it remains a formative chapter in his poetic evolution. Through engagement with French themes, forms, and ideals, Chaucer sharpened his skills and prepared himself for the richer, more inventive storytelling that would eventually secure his place as a giant of English literature.