Chaucer Father of English Literature

Life Born 1343? Died 25 October 1400 Solid Family 1349 – Plague wiped out most of Chaucer’s extended family, so mother and father inherited a lot Chaucer raised in comfortable surroundings

Work Page in Countess of Ulster’s house 1360’s-1400 – held a variety of official and diplomatic positions Captured during a stage of the 100 Years War and held for ransom 1356 – Married a woman from the Queen’s court

Literary education Had a prodigious familiarity with literary works and conventions 1066 – 1351 – French was the language spoken by most upper class, Chaucer would have spoken it 1451 – First time Parliament was ever opened in English

Father of English Literature Tried to eliminate competition Never mentioned Anglo-Saxon poems Pushed back from the French tradition – wrote in English Sir Gawain poet at court of Richard II 1380’s Langland’s Piers Plowman becomes a best seller.

Time World of war Popes – English saw as being on French side – since they were in France Time of criticism Powerful religious movement called for reform Politically – Edward II executed, Richard II Black Death ravaged Europe

Canterbury Tales Mocked religious figures but never religion Used irony as a tool of social commentary – went after everyone Never sketched out alternatives Criticized people but never said what they ought to be

More Entertainment/Reflection 29 pilgrims/ 1 narrator Gather at Inn in Red light district in London Set out for shrine of St Thomas Beckett in Canterbury – Common scenario 23 tales – 2 incomplete Never finished – we will never know the final shape

Diversity of pilgrims Romance – The Wife of Bath’s tale Fortune – Pardoner Eccentricity in line up of characters Menagerie of societal representations Pilgrimage throws all together entering into a social contract to complete a competition