The Heaven of Fourteenth-Century English Poets: An Examination of the Paradisaical References in the English Works of Chaucer, Gower, Langland, and the "Pearl" Poet.
- Author/Editor
- Lawes, Rochie Whittington.
- Title
- The Heaven of Fourteenth-Century English Poets: An Examination of the Paradisaical References in the English Works of Chaucer, Gower, Langland, and the "Pearl" Poet.
- Published
- Lawes, Rochie Whittington. "The Heaven of Fourteenth-Century English Poets: An Examination of the Paradisaical References in the English Works of Chaucer, Gower, Langland, and the 'Pearl' Poet." Ph.D. Diss. University of Mississippi 1984. DAI 45(4): 1111A.
- Review
- "Heaven has always fascinated man. Expressions of the heavenly ideal are so varied that no examination would be possible were it not for an unusual occurrence in England of the fourteenth century. Four poets of extraordinary ability and similar backgrounds wrote extensively of heaven. Chaucer, Gower, Langland, and the 'Pearl' poet were deeply concerned about the state of the Church, aware of the nature of man, and steadfast in their hope of heaven. Inspired by their environment, in which virtually every influence reflected a preoccupation with the heavenly motif, the four poets consistently declare the reality of heaven's existence. Basing their accounts primarily on Biblical evidence, they depict heaven as a remote kingdom, inaccessible to man, yet infinitely desirable. The four poets agree, moreover, that heaven influences earth. They relate accounts of heavenly beings' visitations to warn, punish, rescue, or comfort earthly inhabitants. They describe the astrological and elemental forces of heaven that influence the world of men. Indeed, the very language of the poets reflects the prevalence of the heavenly theme. In benedictions and invocations, the poets themselves address heaven. In their narratives, saints implore heaven's blessings and sinners swear by its might. To lovely creatures, locales, and circumstances, the poets ascribe the heavenly attributes of beauty, joy, and perdurability. Comparing the poets' views with the voices of the Church in the fourteenth century reveals that the poets are entirely orthodox. Their writings agree that the ultimate goal of human endeavor is the attainment of heaven. They accept the traditional notions that one enters the heavenly kingdom through obedience to God's laws, virtuous behavior, the sacraments of the Church, or the grace of God. To see heresy in their writings or deny the poets their rightful calling by portraying them as reformers is both inappropriate and misleading. For they wrote, not to motivate man, but to understand him. Realizing the importance of the direction and intensity of one's aspirations, they offer a consistent vision: the goal of life is infinite perfection." [eJGN 39.1]
- Date
- 1984
- Gower Subjects
- Confessio Amantis