Gower:English Poetry

Abstract

John Gower (c. 1330–1408) wrote two poems in English, the massive Confessio Amantis , and the short In Praise of Peace . Confessio Amantis is structured as the confession of a lover, Amans, to Genius, the priest of Venus. Through that confession, it puts amorous poetry (drawn especially from French literature) into dialogue with clerical discourses (drawn mostly from Latinate political and moral literature). In Praise of Peace draws upon political and moral literature to urge Henry IV to rule peacefully. Most scholarship on Gower's English poetry deals with the Confessio Amantis , and the coherence of its moral, political, and poetic program. Scholarship on In Praise of Peace attends to problems of Gower's political ideology and considers it in the context of the beginning of Lancastrian rule in England.

The Standardization of English in Gower’s Confessio Amantis

“…Nowlin (2012) explains, "his various dedications of the Confessio-to Richard II, Henry Derby, and England itself-indicate an effort to position his English work within both political and literary history" (184), which potentially contributes to establishing the prestigious status of English. A similar perspective is adopted by Matthew W. Irvin (2017) who states, "The book is directed toward the 'grete' (powerful; CA Pr. 78) of England" at the level of politics, power, language, history, and culture.…”

“…It may easily be supposed that Richard himself suggested love as the subject, being a matter in which, as we know from Froissart, he was apt to take delight" (xi). Similarly, Matthew W. Irvin (2017) emphasizes that the Confessio is directed towards the greatness of England represented by its royal figures. He writes, "The book is directed toward the 'grete' (powerful; CA Pr.…”