Geoffrey Chaucer lived from 1343-1400, coincided with Middle Ages. His works were composed between 1374 and his death in 1400. He was a comptroller of wool for a living meaning writing was a pastime for him. William Shakespeare lived from 1564-1616, approximately two hundred years after Chaucer. Most of his plays and poetry were written between 1589 and 1613. He was the co-owner of acting troupe Lord Chamberlain’s Men (prezi.com). Although there is a rather large gap between the two playwrights, both men shared similar literary techniques in their most famous pieces. For comparisons sake, this essay will discuss one text by each author: ‘The Wife of Bath’ by Chaucer and ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ by Shakespeare. There are many similarities and differences between both texts which makes them somewhat unique yet quiet relatable. Certainly, the common similarity is that they are both based around the theme of courtship which of course was a major aspect in the lives of women who lived during this era. Chaucer was born into the Middle Ages, which focused on concepts of love and chivalry, thus, greatly impacting Chaucer’s works of literature which provided much entertainment for Western Europe. Chaucer used the works of other famous poets while still managing to create a unique inspiration of his own (cedarcrest.edu). The Elizabethan times focused mostly on men, and the women figure were neither appreciated nor treated well. During this time period, males showed dominance over females.
It is known that Chaucer uses repetition in a didactic way, as opposed to the conventional decorative way. This style of repetition is highly appropriate in a work such as the Canterbury tales because ideas that start in the General Prologue are continued later in their respective tales. In just the General Prologue, Chaucer uses repetition over 640 times. Chaucer’s overall view was that repetition should be reserved for instructional purposes only. In contrast to Chaucer, Shakespeare uses repetition purely for style. Mainly, he used repetition to set the mood which sharply contrasts the way Chaucer uses the technique (prezi.com). In Act 5 scene 2 of ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, “Thy husband is thy lord,thy life, thy keeper…” which is a quote that comes from the final scene of the play when Katharina is the only wife who responds to her husband’s call. The detail in the quote serves purpose as it is a way of Katharina to emphasis her point which she is attempting to get across. With each different detail, she chooses another way of expressing how important a husband is to any woman. She is claiming that any wife owes it to her husband to be obedient. This of course is an example of repeating a similar idea in a different way, which makes it persuasive as it uses the ‘rule of three’ that states ‘saying one thing in three different ways makes your speech more persuasive’.
Both writers depended on sources in their works. Chaucer’s works draw heavily from classical Greek and Roman literature. Due to Medieval convention, there was little possibility of genuine poetic application, but nonetheless, Chaucer included references in his works. Similarly to Chaucer, Shakespeare uses classic Greek and Roman literature. Shakespeare uses such works because they were taught in Grammar Schools of his time. He incorporated the sources into his works by combining the history of the classic literature with modern style, and ultimately working around the iambic pentameter. The reliance of iambic pentameter resulted in a condensed version of these sources when they appear in his play, contributing to Shakespeare’s trend of reducing poetic expression to essentials (prezi.com). In relation to both writers, they would have used women of their own age as sources to gather information and get inspiration for their work. It was known by everyone during that era that courting was common because almost everybody would have experienced it. Women would have been depicted as vulnerable and dominated by their husband. It may be presumed that Chaucer and Shakespeare wanted to by unique and create a plot twist whereby their female characters would be the dominating humans for once. Perhaps they wished to make a change and remove the horrific stereotype which people were obliged to believe. For this to happen of course, they would have had to have gotten their facts entirely correct to make their pieces work. To think in this sense means that both playwrights would have undoubtedly asked females of their time for their opinions and what they would wish to change. It is imaginable that they would tell of how they wish they could look around and choose a husband that would entirely satisfy them like the Wife of Bath did. She was not satisfied with her previous five husbands yet is hoping that her next will be the one.
Chaucer leaves the interpretation of imagery up to his audience. In sharp contrast tp Shakespeare, Chaucer does not provide the reader with details to reconstruct scenes. These are most often landscapes, and their descriptions are often buried deep within the text. Most of Shakespeare’s imagery is focused on common objectives that appear in everyday life. Like Chaucer, Shakespeare uses descriptions of objects people of the time would recognise, although Shakespeare provided more detail. In contrast to Chaucer’s primarily visual imagery, Shakespeare uses a lot of kinetic imagery in his descriptions. Shakespeare love of movement is a clue to one of the secrets of his magical style, most of his memorable and unapproachable lines are charged with this quality, often conveyed in a single word (prezi.com). ‘The Taming of the Shrew has’ two dominant animal images – that of the shrew and the falcon. The image of the shrew was used from Medieval times onwards as a byword for an unpleasantly dominant female. Much of the animal imagery is sustained as Petruchio woos Katherina by engaging her in a battle of wits: ‘O slow-winged turtle, shall a buzzard take thee?…’ (Petruchio, Act 2 Scene 1). Petruchio’s soliloquy at the end of Act 4 Scene 1 coveys how he is applying the methods of a falconer to tame Katherina. Modern readers are often disturbed as they see how Katherina is described as a hawk which needs to be tamed, a grown woman subjected to the same taming process as a wild bird. ‘Thus have I politicly begun my reign,
And ’tis my hope to end successfully…’ (Petruchio, Act 4 Scene 1) (www.crossref-it)
Chaucer’s use of figurative language and devices is consistent with other fourteen century writers. His poetic development is characterised by the gradual replacement of formal rhetorical devices by method of composition based on close observation of life. Shakespeare uses figurative language to expand his characters and compare them and their actions to natural events. Shakespeare employs variations of this technique in his plays therefore making use the figurative language to create humour and depict villainy and low life. He made metaphor to nature quiet often, which points to his knowledge of nature (prezi.com). Figurative language is suggestive and shapes the reader’s reaction in specific ways, to which they should be alert. Meaning may be controlled, limited or expanded through metaphor. For example, when the Wife suggests that her aggressive behaviour is like that of a vicious horse, Chaucer is giving us a vivid idea about his narrator’s forceful animality. (www.crossref-it) This alerts the readers and gives them a great description of the Wife, one in which Chaucer wishes for his readers to see. He is deciding the readers opinion of the Wife for them. A desire which ever writer has is for his work to be understood in the way he wishes it to be. This is an effective approach and literary technique to ensure that his wish is granted.
In contrast, Shakespeare is more secretive with his messages of his works. When Shakespeare makes a point, he seldom makes it in a straightforward manner. Instead, with carefully chosen words, he presents multiple layers of meaning that invite several possible interpretations. This is purposeful and politically expedient. As a playwright, who depends on a full theatre to provide his living wages, he cannot afford to alienate his audience; however, despite the risk, Shakespeare chooses controversial themes. The average couple, who lived during the Renaissance, incorporated bits and pieces of all the popular ideals, but the strong influence of the church and the embedded traditions of society supported a patriarchal position. Men exerted strong control over the women in their lives, and if these women resisted or complained, men labeled them shrews. Physically subdued, often a woman’s voice was her only weapon of defence, but her cries for help seldom reached sympathetic ears. The men supported each other to protect their own dominant power, and the women were helpless to give assistance to one another. Satire has always been a writer’s tool for pointing out flaws in society, and Shakespeare cleverly uses this comedy to demonstrate the positive qualities of a respectful and affectionate relationship over one dominated by either a shrewish wife or an abusive husband. (hsu.edu)
To conclude, Chaucer and Shakespeare adapt the literary and generic conventions they inherit by the use of repetition, sources, imagery and figurative language. Both playwrights are admirable and will never be forgotten the main factor being because of their use of common techniques which can only be described as outstanding. Their techniques are not difficult to comprehend yet they are able to turn simplicity into something rather magnificent.