Life & Works of Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey
Chaucer (c. 1343–1400) is widely regarded as the "Father of English
Literature" and one of the greatest poets of the Middle Ages. His major
contribution to English letters is The
Canterbury Tales, but his life and works span much more, reflecting the
complexity of the 14th century and Chaucer’s own multifaceted career.
Early Life and Background
Geoffrey
Chaucer was born into a middle-class family in London around 1343. His father,
John Chaucer, was a wine merchant, and the family had connections to the royal
court, which would later play a crucial role in Chaucer’s career. His education
is largely undocumented, but it’s likely that Chaucer was fluent in French and
Latin, as was common for educated men at the time. Chaucer's early exposure to
the aristocratic and mercantile classes helped shape his understanding of the
social hierarchy, a theme that would become central to his works.
Chaucer’s
first documented role in public service came in the 1350s when he served as a
page in the household of Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster. During the 1360s, he
also saw military service, participating in the Hundred Years' War, where he was captured by the French in 1360 and
ransomed (released) with the help of King Edward III.
Career and Royal Connections
Chaucer’s
career as a civil servant and diplomat was substantial, and it placed him in
positions of responsibility throughout his life. He held various posts,
including controller of customs for
the port of London, and later, clerk of the king's works, overseeing royal
building projects. His service under three kings—Edward III, Richard II, and
Henry IV—gave him a close-up view of the workings of the court, which he often criticised
in subtle ways in his writing.
He
travelled extensively (widely) across Europe for diplomatic missions, which
influenced his literary work, exposing him to the works of Italian authors like
Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio. These writers, especially Boccaccio, influenced
The Canterbury Tales, and shaped
Chaucer’s literary voice.
Literary Works
Early Poetry
Chaucer’s
early works are often shaped by the conventions of French courtly love poetry
and classical influences. One of his earliest known works, The Book of the Duchess (c. 1368-1372), is an elegy for Blanche of
Lancaster, the first wife of John of Gaunt, a major patron of Chaucer. The
poem, written in a dream-vision format, reflects the French influence of
courtly love poetry and is a sensitive meditation on loss.
Troilus and Criseyde
One
of Chaucer’s major works before The Canterbury Tales is Troilus and Criseyde (1380s), which is considered one of
the finest long poems in the English language. It retells the tragic love story
set during the Trojan War, drawing from Boccaccio's Il Filostrato. Chaucer’s
version explores themes of fate, love, and human weakness, and it exhibits his
skill in character psychology and narrative complexity. The poem also marks a shift from his early influences
toward a more original voice.
The Canterbury Tales
Chaucer's
magnum opus (masterpiece), The Canterbury Tales, was written during the latter
part of his life, likely in the 1380s and 1390s. It is an unfinished collection
of stories, framed by the pilgrimage of 30 individuals from various social
classes to the shrine of Thomas Becket
at Canterbury Cathedral. The pilgrims decide to pass the time by telling
stories, and Chaucer’s work details these tales and the interactions among the
pilgrims.
The
tales vary in genre and style, from chivalric romances to comic and often bawdy
(humorously indecent) tales, to religious allegory and didactic stories. The
diversity of the tales and the vividness of the characters reflect Chaucer’s
deep understanding of human nature, as well as his insights into the social
hierarchy and tensions of 14th-century England.
The
Canterbury Tales is notable for its use of Middle English, helping to
legitimize English as a language of literary merit, distinct from Latin and
French, which were often considered superior in Chaucer’s time.
The Knight’s Tale is a romance that
explores themes of chivalry and fate.
The Miller’s Tale is a bawdy, humorous
story about a carpenter and his cheating wife, contrasting with the Knight’s
high-minded tale.
The Wife of Bath’s Tale presents one of Chaucer’s
most famous characters, a strong, independent woman who challenges traditional
notions of gender and marriage.
The Pardoner’s Tale is a moral fable about
the dangers of greed.
Chaucer’s work in The Canterbury
Tales reflects
a cross-section of medieval society and has been praised for its humour,
realism, and biting social commentary. Through the pilgrims, Chaucer gives a
voice to a wide range of social perspectives, from the nobility to commoners.
Other Works
Chaucer also wrote several other
notable works. The House of Fame (1379-1380)
and The Parliament of Fowls (1380-1382)
are dream-vision poems that explore themes of fame, fortune, and love. The Legend of Good Women (1380s) is a
poem that presents a series of tragic stories about women wronged by men, again
reflecting his interest in the dynamics of love and relationships. Chaucer’s
wide-ranging works reflect a profound engagement with the human condition, from
the humorous and ribald to the deeply philosophical.
Late Life and Death
Despite
the depth and breadth of his literary output, Chaucer’s final years were marked
by financial difficulty. He continued to hold various positions, but the
political upheavals of the late 14th century—including the deposition of Richard II—may have reduced his influence at court.
He died in 1400, likely in London, and was buried in Westminster Abbey, in what is now known as Poet's Corner, a
testament to his lasting impact on English literature.
Legacy
Chaucer’s
legacy is vast. He was the first major poet to write in English, at a time when
Latin and French were the dominant languages of literature. By choosing to
write in Middle English, Chaucer not only helped to elevate the status of the
language but also laid the foundation for future English poets, including
Shakespeare.
His
use of characterization, narrative complexity, and his ability to depict a wide
range of human experiences have earned him a central place in literary history.
His keen observations of social class, gender relations, and human folly are
still relevant, making him a writer whose works continue to be studied and
enjoyed centuries after his death.
