Short notes on John Barbour and his epic poems

 

John Barbour and his epic poem,King Robert  the Bruce,notes on John Barbour,epic poem the bruce

Short notes on John Barbour and his epic poem

The most domineering figure in Middle English literature is definitely Chaucer. His vast and varied works constitute the bulk of its glory and quality. Yet, there are some other works by some other literary men, his contemporaries.

Chaucer's contemporaries are more or less found his imitators or followers. His majestic influence on them is evident in greater or lesser degrees. Of such contemporaries, William Langland, John Gower, and John Barbour are to be mentioned in particular.

Like Langland, John Barbour was a literary follower of Chaucer. But, unlike Langland, he was a Scottish poet. Though himself a churchman, he was no author of religious or ethical works. His principal work The Bruce is rather political and patriotic.

Barbour's The Bruce (King Robert - the Bruce), written between 1373 and 1378, is a sort of national epic for the Scottish people. The author is found to present and preserve here poetically the memorable history of the heroic struggle of the Scottish people, under Bruce's leadership and their ultimate success.

Though based on history, Barbour's The Bruce like other national epics contains a good deal of fictional matters. Lots of the material of romances are found mingled with the facts of history. All this, however, serves to add to the poetical as well as popular appeal of the work.

Barbour, of course, is not found to possess the highest gifts of an epic or narrative poet. But he possesses a style that is simple, sincere and straight-forward, with a high degree of rapidity and sonority. Barbour is supposed to have been the author of some other literary works – Lives of the Saints, a lengthy work in couplets, The Stewarties Oryginalle, containing the genealogy of the Scottish Kings, Siege of Troy, a fragmentary work, and The Bulk of Alexander, a happy popular poem.