1. The Canterbury Tales

2. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400) “Father of English Poetry”
Most people in Chaucer’s time spoke in Middle English, although educated people wrote in Latin and French. English was not a language that was taken seriously. By writing poetry in English, Chaucer gave respect to the everyday language spoken by the common people.

3. Chaucer was a well-known government official who served in Parliament under three kings.
He also wrote poetry in his spare time.
Chaucer meant for “Canterbury Tales” to have a total of 120 stories.
In five years, he wrote 24 of the tales.

4. Canterbury Tales Written in iambic pentameter Lines 10 syllables long
Each meter consists of unstressed, stressed syllables

5. Canterbury
English town famous because Thomas Becket was murdered there in 1170
Becket was the archbishop of Canterbury, meaning he was the highest Catholic church official in England.
Becket criticizes King Henry II. The King’s knights then murder Beckett on the altar at the church.
Becket was declared a saint by the Catholic church.

6. Pilgrimages
Taking a pilgrimage was common in Chaucer’s day. Almost all people made one pilgrimage during their lifetime.
In one year alone, more than 100,000 traveled from all over Europe to go to Canterbury.
Reasons to go on pilgrimage:
Honoring saints, physical healing, forgiveness of sins

7. Chaucer was the first poet buried in the Poet’s Corner of Westminister Abbey.