John Skelton: The Neglected Poet of 15th Century England

Chaucer's Life and Times

• Chaucer lived in the 14th century, during the Hundred Years' War with France and the plague known as the Black Death.
• He was born around 1340 and died in 1400, just before the invention of printing, which revolutionized literary history.
• Chaucer came from a growing class of people that produced many great writers, and was the son of a wine merchant.

Chaucer's Language and Impact

• Chaucer's language is recognizable as modern English, making him a great poet speaking to us today.
• He uses phrases that have become part of everyday speech, such as "Murder will out" and "Gladly would he learn and gladly teach".
• Chaucer's English is a milestone in the history of English literature, marking the beginning of "Modern English".

The Canterbury Tales

• The Canterbury Tales is a long work, unfinished at Chaucer's death, and is a collection of stories, many of which are not original.
• The work is reminiscent of the Arabian Nights, with each tale told by a different pilgrim.

John Skelton and the 15th Century

• John Skelton is the only considerable poet England produced in the 15th century.
• Skelton's poetry is unique and doesn't owe anything to Chaucer or others; it's characterized by short lines, loose rhymes, and simple words.
• Skelton's work was rediscovered in the 20th century and influenced poets like Robert Graves.

Ballads

• Ballads are a type of popular verse that flourished mainly on the border between England and Scotland.
• These poems are often oral, anonymous, and tell simple stories about war, love, or the supernatural.
• Some of the best ballads date back to the 15th century and later.

Prose in the 15th Century

• Prose had not yet developed as a major literary form in the 15th century, still lagging behind verse in terms of artistic recognition.