Commentary on Fame; The House of Fame, Geoffroy Chaucer

 Why you might read The House of Fame?

Chaucer is seen as the father of modern literature. While the Canterbury Tales are more famous going back to the start of a career has its advantages. As we move through his works we have the chance to see how he grows as a writer and how his approach changes over time. 

In my Self Education project, this fills the role of getting a rounded view of Chaucer. Rather than just focusing on the Canterbury Tale I like to take Authors as a whole.

The Story of The House of Fame

The House of Fame is written in three parts. The third part is incomplete. It starts with a discussion on the quality of dreams and general theory on how they come about. Then there is an invocation to the god of dreams. Starting with an invocation is repeated in the following two parts, though to different gods.

Part one then goes into a dream. Here the narrator spends time in a temple to Venus Vulcan and Cupid. In that temple, he finds a brass tablet of the Aeneid. He then goes on to recount that story. He then prays for a vision and an eagle appears.

Part two starts with an invocation and then moves on to a dream. Here the eagle takes him up in his claws and flies off with him. He passes out and is revived by the eagle talking to him. The eagle explains how sound breaks the air and thus rises. The eagle then takes him to the House of Fame in the sky. 

Part three, after the invocation, has them arriving at the House of Fame. Here the Narrator meets the goddess of fame. He watches as groups of people approach fame and she gives fame to some and not to others. From there he moves on to an unnamed place where he finds a large crowd telling rumours and truths. The crowd falls silent when a man enters. Here is where the text ends.

Reflections on The House of Fame

The House of Fame is interestingly not about the titular House until the third part. Even then it drifts off into other areas as well. The idea that fame is sought by many but given to few who ask for it speaks through time to how fleeting fame can be. As well as how fickle who gets famous can be.

Religiously it is interesting that Chaucer focuses on the Roman gods. That being said he also references specific saints one many occasions. I found this a little jarring as they do not belong in the same belief system. It shows that there was some religious blending in Chaucer's time.

It is unclear to me why the dream is presented in three parts being that they are all part of the same dream. And that they almost don't finish but blend into the following part.

What others have to say about The House of Fame

"The House of Fame is among the best known and relished of Chaucer's minor poems." From Every poet

Comparisons with other texts

The topic is quite different from the Book of Duchess. Here Chaucer is making social commentary on Fame. By contrast, the Book of Duchess is an exploration of the pain of losing someone. The House of Fame is also a much longer poem. It is approximately twice the length of The Book of Duchess.

It is of a similar age and English as the Medieval Miracle Plays. Unlike the plays, it is not for the common people in the town square. Instead, it is written to be read and thus more aimed at the educated.

Conclusion

The House of Fame is a poem in three parts. It takes until the third part for the House to actually be introduced. I am unsure why it is split into parts as they are all parts of the same dream.  It is longer than our first foray into Chaucer's work. It is written as a commentary on Fame, its fickleness and its randomness.

Have you read The House of Fame? If so what did you think of it? 

 
Want to read The House of Fame but haven't? Please leave me a comment and let me know why you want to read it.

Hopefully, this post inspires you to take the time to look into it on your own journey of Self Education.

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