preview

How Did Chaucer Influence His Age

Decent Essays
Open Document

There is an age called the age of Chaucer. At that time, there was a social and intellectual movement, and then there was the terrible epidemic called the “Black Death” which brought poverty, unrest and revolt among the peasants, and the growing spirit of inquiry, which would cause people to be critical of the ways of the church. In those era, there was a very famous poet. His name is Geoffrey Chaucer with his masterpiece entitled "The Canterbury Tales". Chaucer was a great writer in a well-developed period and had close connections with the rulers of his era, so it was not surprising that the age was given the same name as his name. Based on that, in this essay will discuss about his life, his work, until his death.
Geoffrey Chaucer is a …show more content…

It has a good opening, and in characterization, showing Chaucer's true comic spirit. Chaucer and his work began to be influenced by Italian culture. Chaucer as messenger of the king often visits Italy in the framework of diplomatic missions. In this country he studied Italian art, culture, and literature. He wrote Troilus and Criseyde which is Chaucer's best narrative work. Then he wrote The Hous of Fame (a poem in octosyllabic couplets, is of the dream allegory type) and The Legend of Good …show more content…

He is considered the first writer to show the power of the English-language to write literature and not to use French or Latin. Canterbury Tales (1378-1400) is a framed story about a pilgrimage to Thomas á Becket temple in Canterbury, Kent. Thirty pilgrims gathered at the Tabard Inn, Southwark. They agreed to hold their wandering contest, and Harry Bailly, the innkeeper, acted as the host of the contest. Most of the pilgrims were introduced with a short sketch called "General Prologue." In total there are 24 stories interspersed with short scenes containing the conversation, and usually between the host and the pilgrim. Chaucer did not complete this story fully, because only 24 pilgrims told of his wandering. The 24 stories are The Knight's Tale, The Miller's Tale, The Reeve's Tale, The Cook's Tale, The Man of Law's Tale, The Wife of Bath's Tale, The Friar Tale's, The Summoner's Tale, The Clerk's Tale, The Merchant's Tale, The Squire's Tale, The Franklin's Tale, The Canon's Yeoman's Tale, The Physiscian's Tale, The Paleon's Tale, The Shipman's Tale, The Priestess's Tale, The Tale of Sir Thopas, The Tale of Melibeus (in prose), The Monk's Tale, The Manciple's Tale, and The Parson's Tale (in prose), and end with "Chaucer's Retraction." Not all pilgrim stories are complete, some of which contain only prologues and

Get Access