Life & Works of Geoffrey Chaucer

 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.