English Literature Essay: Historical Biographical Criticism of Authors

This essay delves into the historical biographical criticisms of Geoffrey Chaucer and Sir Thomas Mallory, two pivotal figures in English literature. It examines the authors' lives, their works, and the historical contexts in which they wrote, including the societal tensions of their times, such as the widespread dislike for the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, and peasant uprisings. The essay highlights the similarities in their writing styles, particularly in the introduction of allegory, rhymes, and new forms of poetry like narrative and descriptive poetry. It analyzes how their works reflected the conditions of English society, including the injustices of the Roman Catholic Church and the impact of social unrest. The essay concludes by emphasizing the significance of historical biographical criticisms in understanding the authors' contributions to English literature and the portrayal of society in their writings. The essay uses Greenblatt's (2018) "THE NORTON ANTHOLOGY, ENGLISH LITERATURE" as a reference.

Running head: HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISMS
Historical Biographical Criticisms
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISMS
When the concept of the historical biographical criticisms is referred to the audiences
themselves, the readers are of the opinion that it is a form of literary criticism in which the
criticism is generally made on the subject matter of the author’s life and of the literature
which they have written as part of their lives itself. Two of such writers are Geoffrey Chaucer
and that of Sir Thomas Mallory. Both of these authors are said to be tow of two of the
greatest authors in the field of English itself. This essay will discuss the biographical and
historical criticisms of both the authors themselves.
The purpose of this essay is to make a historical biographical essay on the lives
and the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and that of Sir Thomas Mallory.
It is worth mentioning to the students themselves that both Chaucer and Mallory are
considered to be two of the greatest authors of the field of English literature itself. The
historical and biographical essay will focus on the relationship between the authors, their
works and the historical situations in the society in which they lived themselves (Greenblatt,
2018). When the readers analyse the historical and biographical background of Geoffrey
Chaucer itself, the most important historical information which the readers get to know about
the society of his times, is the fact that there was widespread dislike for the Pope and the
Roman Catholic Church. In addition to this, there was widespread uprising of the peasants
(Greenblatt, 2018). In the midst of all this tension and confusion in the country, Chaucer was
said to write his poems and proses which dealt with the subject matter of the tensions which
he saw in the society around himself at that time. When it comes to the prose and the poetry
of Chaucer, then it can be said that the prose and the poems which were written by Chaucer
was similar to the ones written by that of Sir Thomas Mallory himself. In addition to this, the
formation of allegory and rhymes were introduced in the Middle Ages itself. In addition to
this, the English poem also developed around this time itself. New forms of poetry like that of
narrative and descriptive poetry developed during this period itself.

2HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISMS
Just like that of Geoffrey Chaucer, it can be said that Sir Thomas Mallory was also
one of the greatest writers of English literature itself. Sir Thomas Mallory was well known to
the readers about the story of King Arthur and his Knight itself. La Morte D’ Arthur was one
of the most well-known works which was written by the author himself. The text written by
the author deals with the story of Arthur and his knights who used to solve a lot of problems
in the countryside of England itself (Greenblatt, 2018). The work is said to be of similar to
those of the works by Geoffrey Chaucer. The main reasons for this is the fact both the authors
used to belong to a time when there were widespread dislike and hatred against the Roman
Catholic Church in the society.
Other comparisons which can be made between both the authors is the way their
works present and reflect the conditions of the English society during that time itself. Other
than the dislike against the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope of the Church itself, if can
be said that the uprisings by the peasants were also another important part of the society
during that time itself (Greenblatt, 2018). It is the protests against the English societies of that
time itself which had resulted in Mallory being jailed by the authorities themselves. Despite
that the author continued to write about the injustices which the Roman Catholic Church is
causing in the area itself. It is because of these reasons that it can be said that the both the
authors, their works and that of the society in which they used to belong to.
On the other hand, there were certain good sides to their prose and poetry as well.
This is because of the fact that both of their prose and poetry gave rise to that of new forms of
prose and poetry in the society of the times (Greenblatt, 2018). These included the prose
which both the authors used to write were original and meaningful itself. In addition to this, it
can be said that the poetry and the prose of the times reflected the various problems faced by
the English society itself. Hence, the prose and the poetry of both the authors can be said to
be of original and of varied content during the times of the authors themselves (Greenblatt,

3HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISMS
2018). This is why the prose style of both the authors are said to be of similar to one another
in their times itself.
When it comes to the poetry, it can be said that this was also similar styles of both the
authors themselves. This is because it was the times of Chaucer and Mallory, which gave rise
to the concept of poetry in the English literature itself. The poetry continued to develop and
flourish during the times of Chaucer and that of Mallory. In addition to this, it can also be
said that there were new forms of poetry which emerged during this period in the history of
English literature itself. These were descriptive and narrative poetry. These forms of poetry
were made popular by both these authors themselves. It is because of this that the authors
were considered to be similar to each other in their writings themselves (Greenblatt, 2018).
Thus, from the above paragraphs, it can be said the historical and the biographical
criticisms had helped to understand the criticisms which were associated with Chaucer and
Mallory through their works itself. It has helped the readers to understand the various ways in
which the society was portrayed in the writings of Chaucer and Mallory and how these
writers had contributed to the field of English through their writings itself.

4HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHICAL CRITICISMS
Reference List
Greenblatt. S (2018) THE NORTON ANTHOLOGY, ENGLISH LITERATURE, Tenth
Edition; The Major Authors. VOL. 1