What is the Great Chain of Being?

Great Chain of Being was an important part of medieval and Renaissance thought. It is a framework that assigns a place in a hierarchy based on perceived importance or perfection. It's important to have a basic understanding of the Great Chain of Being for it has influenced the poetic expressions of the Renaissance and the centuries that follow. What's cool about the Great Chain of being is that is provides a repository of metaphors, personification, and allegorical references. In this video we will provide examples of the influence of the Great Chain of Being on poetry. Specifically, Chaucer and Shakespeare.