乔叟在中世纪后期的经典化

The Canonization of Chaucer in the Late Middle Ages

乔叟在英国历史变革时期创作了大量传世佳作,深刻触及时代精神,体现和弘扬了发展中的英格兰民族意识,极大地推动了英语语言的发展,基本奠定了英语文学传统。中世纪后期英国文学家和学者在英格兰民族形成和民族意识高涨时高度颂扬乔叟的杰出贡献,广泛借鉴和模仿其诗歌艺术,确立了他经典作家和"英诗之父"的地位。他们对乔叟及其作品的经典化不仅继承和发扬了乔叟奠定的英语文学传统,确定了英语文学发展的方向,还为伊丽莎白时代英语文学的繁荣奠定了基础。

In a period when England was undergoing profound changes, Chaucer refined the English language and laid down the basic tradition for English literature. At the time when the English nation was taking shape and national consciousness was on the rise, late medieval English poets and scholars canonized Chaucer. They praised him for his literary achievement and contribution to the English language, and established him as “the father of English poetry.” The canonization of Chaucer was essential to establish his influence on the future of English literature, and thus paved the way for the literary greatness of the Elizabethan age.