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Introducing Geoffrey Chaucer

Introducing Geoffrey Chaucer. “the worshipful father and first founder and embellisher of ornate eloquence in our English” - Caxton. Chaucer’s childhood. Lived 1340 – 1400 1348 first incidence of The Black Death The earliest great poet in English Literature London/ wine-merchants/ vintners

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Introducing Geoffrey Chaucer

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  1. Introducing Geoffrey Chaucer “the worshipful father and first founder and embellisher of ornate eloquence in our English” - Caxton

  2. Chaucer’s childhood • Lived 1340 – 1400 • 1348 first incidence of The Black Death • The earliest great poet in English Literature • London/ wine-merchants/ vintners • Lived near docks of River Thames • Learned Latin, French, Italian (?), religion and arithmetic

  3. Early adult life • 1357 – page to the Countess of Ulster • Met Edward III, ambassadors, artists, musicians, craftsmen. • Later promoted to squire • 1359 went abroad as a soldier to fight the French in the Hundred Years War • He was captured, held as a prisoner of war, and ransomed by the King in 1360.

  4. Love • 1366 married Philippa de Roet, a lady-in- waiting to the Queen • An arranged marriage • Was his a happy match?

  5. Travel and Return • 1373 sent as ambassador to Italy • Saw the finest art and literature in the world • Returned to London 1374; became Controller of Customs on wool, skin and hides until 1386 • Job was undemanding and came with a pleasant house; had plenty of time to write

  6. The writing of The Canterbury Tales • In 1386 Chaucer lost his public offices • Fortunate for literary history – why? • 1389 – 1391 Clerk of the Works • Lost job and spent reat of life in financial insecurity • Completed the Tales, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, the first writer in ‘Poets’ Corner’.

  7. Language in Chaucer’s time • English/ French/ Church Latin • He spoke ‘late Middle English’ but also was proficient in French, Italian and Latin • His choice to write in English established it as a prestigious language fir to match the more fashionable French

  8. The Frame Story • Popular structural device • Springtime pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral • Thomas a Becket’s shrine – but other reasons to make pilgrimages • Each pilgrim tells a story: drama and narration • Brings together people from all levels of society (feudal, ecclesiastical, urban)

  9. His legacy • Contribution to the English language • Best picture of life in 14th century England – a gift to historians • Comments on the most critical social problems of the day • The work of a poet at the height of his powers

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