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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
General Principles in the History of Language-Change from Saxon to English-Metrical Compositions previous to Chaucer -Earliest original English Poets-The Vision of William-
The Confessio Amantis of Gower-Character of Chaucer's
earlier Poems-The Age of Chaucer compared with the Homeric
Age-Taste for English Literature not confirmed in the Reign
of Edward the Third-General literary Character of this
Period
PAGE
1
CHAPTER II.
Opinion entertained of Chaucer's poetical Character during his
Lifetime By the immediately succeeding Poets-By the Poets
and Critics of the Reign of Henry the Eighth-By those of the
Elizabethan Period-Controversy with regard to his Language
-Estimation in which he was held by Spenser-By Shakspeare
-Difference between the Fairy Mythology of Chaucer and
Shakspeare-Versions of Dryden and Pope- Chaucer and
Froissart contrasted as regards the Portraiture of Manners-
General View of the poetical Character of Chaucer
41
CHAPTER III.
Authentic Sources of Materials for a Life of Chaucer-Date of
his Birth-His Parentage and Education uncertain-His prin-
cipal State Appointments-Chronology of his Works-Literary
Pursuits and Attainments of Chaucer-Date of his Death
81
CHAPTER IV.
Chaucer a Descriptive rather than a Dramatic Poet-The Ro-
maunt of the Rose-The chief Interest to be derived from it
rather Historical than Poetical-The Satire on the Mendicants
examined-The Floure and the Leafe-Digression on the
different Senses which the term Picturesque bears when applied
to Poetry-The Troilus and Cresseide-Brief Extracts from
this Poem-Characteristic Qualities of the House of Fame-
Analysis of the Prologue to the Legende of Good Women
CHAPTER V.
Historical Value of the Canterbury Pilgrimage, whether to be
regarded as Comedy or Descriptive Satire-Characters of the
Pilgrims To what Class of Fictions the Tales belong-Com-
parison of Chaucer and Bocaccio as Novelists
140
CHAPTER VI.
Review of the History of Prose Compositions and Books of
Travels-Mandeville's Travels-Trevisa-Wickliffe-Prose
Works of Chaucer
. 184
CHAPTER VII.
English Poetry in the Fifteenth Century-Hawes, Skelton, and
Barclay-Prose Compositions during the same Period-Bishop
Pecock-Tiptoft, Rivers, and Fortescue-The Paston Letters
-Caxton-His Opinion of the Value of Romances compared
with that of Ascham-Influence of the Reformation, the
revival of Classical Literature, and the Art of Printing, in
revolutionising the national Taste-Prose Writers in the Reign
of Henry the Eighth-Sidney and Spenser as Prose Authors—
English Poetry between the Age of Hawes and that of Spenser
-The Fairy Queene and the Orlando of Ariosto compared-
General Characteristics of the Fairy Queene.
. 215
CHAPTER VIII.-PART I.
Origin and Progress of the British Drama previous to Shakspeare
-General View of the Genius of Shakspeare-His comic and
national Characters-National Characters of Chaucer, Shak-
speare, and Jonson compared-Playhouses and Players in the
Age of Shakspeare . 268
PART II.
General View of English Literature in the Age of Shakspeare-
Satire-Marston and Hall-Poetry of Warner, Daniel, and
Drayton-Characteristics of the Literature of this Age as com-
pared with preceding Periods-Conclusion.
302
APPENDIX.
. 321
Specimens of Chaucer's Poetry