Eustache Deschamps
Template:French literature (small) Eustache Deschamps (1346–1406) was a Medieval French poet. Born at Vertus, in Champagne, France, he received lessons in versification from Guillaume de Machaut and later studied law at Orleans University. He then traveled through Europe as a diplomatic messenger for Charles V. His estate was pillaged by the English and his revenge was to continuously abuse them in his many poems. Deschamps not only railed against the English but was very concerned about poverty and the problems with the French government. He composed each ballade and satirical chant to awaken the conscience in each reader, singer and listener to prepare for their personal transformation and to give to the well-being of others.
Deschamps wrote as many as 1,175 ballades, and he is sometimes credited with inventing the form. All but one of his poems are short, and they are mostly satirical, attacking the English, whom he regards as the plunderers of his country, and against the wealthy oppressors of the poor. His satires were also directed at corrupt officials and clergy but his sharp wit may have cost him his job as Bailli of Senlis. He also wrote a treatise in 1392 on French verse entitled L'Art de dictier.
His one long poetic work, Le Miroir de Mariage, is a 13,000 line satirical poem on the subject of women. This work influenced Geoffrey Chaucer who used themes from the poem in his own work. Chaucer seems to be one of the few Englishmen Deschamps liked, as he composed a ballade in his honour praising Chaucer as a great translator and poet.
External links
- A few of his poems Retrieved May 13, 2007.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Deschamps, Eustache, "Folio - Five Poems", Paris; NY: Paris Review, 2006. OCLC 102103626
- Sinnreich-Levi, Deborah M.; Laurie, Ian S., "Literature of the French and Occitan Middle Ages: 11th to 15th centuries", Detroit: Gale Group, 1999. ISBN 0-787-63102-7
- Wimsatt, James I, "Chaucer and his French contemporaries: natural music in the 14th century", Toronto; Buffalo: University of Toronto Press, 1991. ISBN 0-802-02742-3
Credits
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:
Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.
