The Canterbury Tales Background Information on Chaucer Miss

The Canterbury Tales Background Information on Chaucer Miss Bogner

Geoffrey Chaucer • HUGE influence on language and literature of England. • French was widely spoken amongst the educated people • His work is considered a cornerstone of English literature.

Early Life • Born sometime between 1340 -1343, most likely in London. • Middle Ages were coming to a close • Family was not noble, but well off. They made $ in the wine and leather trades. • Chaucer = French for shoemaker • Parents sent him to Edward III’s son house, able to learn upper-class life & meet important people

Teenage Chaucer • At age 14, he joined the king’s army to fight the French in 100 Years War • Captured by the French • Later he served as a royal messenger • Given more important diplomatic missions. • Met his wife Philippa, married in 1374

Early Inspirations • He traveled to France and Italy so he was exposed to the latest in literature • His first work with literature was his translation of a part of The Romance of a Rose, a Medieval poem. • Shortly after he wrote his first original work, The Book of the Duchess was a long poem. • Then wrote The House of Fame

Turbulent Times • He was in to writing, but primary career was diplomatic affairs. • Earned royal favor • Richard II was king (a boy when he became king) • Chaucer writes The Parliament of Fowls in 1382 • 1386 - appointed to a knight, became a member of Parliament

Continued… • 1390 s- enjoyed royal appointments • Richard II reign was marked by conflict. He had to go off and tend to the peasants’ revolt • Richard’s cousin becomes King Henry IV

Fruitful Years • The Canterbury Tales- a collection of verse & prose tales of many kinds. • Chaucer decided to pretend that the tales are told by members of a group of travelers journeying to London to Canterbury. • Began working on these in 1387

Death of Chaucer • When Chaucer died in 1400 he had written nearly 20, 000 lines • Many more were planned

Uncommon Honor Rare honor for a common man to be buried in Westminster Abbey • 1566 - admirer builds a marble tomb for his remains. This is the beginning of the famous “Poet’s Corner” at Westminster Abbey

Poet’s Corner

St. Thomas à Becket • Characters in The Canterbury Tales gather to go to Canterbury to see the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket. • Homework: Find out who St. Thomas à Becket is!

Video Time! • http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=uxq. Aw. T 5 I p. L 8