Geoffrey Chaucer - Classic Literature Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer was born circa 1343 in London and died on October 25, 1400. He was buried at Westminster Abbey and in 1556, his remains were shifted to what is known as the poet’s corner in Westminster Abbey. In 1555, a monument was raised for him.
Chaucer was born in a family of upper-middle-class vintners. His father was also the deputy to the king’s butler and was therefore close to the court. There is not much information on his education but it can be deduced from his writings that he could read French and Latin.
Chaucer was a part of the army of Edward III during the Hundred Years war. In 1359-1360, he saw action in France and became a prisoner of war at the Ardennes. Chaucer was considerably close to the king as evidenced by the fact that he was ransomed by the king for £16, which was a fair amount in those days.
In 1360, he produced his first major literary work. It was a translation of the French work "Romaunt of the Rose" written by Guillaume de Loris. He also translated "The Consolation of Philosophy" by Boethius. His life from 1361 to 1366 is not very clearly documented; it is thought that during this period, he married Phillipa Roet, who was an attendant to Queen Phillipa.
It is thought that the couple had three children. It is known that one of his sons, Thomas had a very successful career as a public servant. Chaucer mentions another son of his in "A Treatise on the Astrolabe", whom he refers to as "little Lewis. " Chaucer’s wife Phillipa died in 1387. Shortly after his wife’s death, Chaucer was sued for being unable to clear his debts.
Chaucer held various positions in the king’s service. He became the Comptroller of customs at the port of London, in 1374. During the period 1367-1378, he also visited several countries including Italy and Spain. He used these visits to acquaint himself with the writing styles practiced in these places. He probably met Boccaccio and Petrarch in Italy, during 1372-73.
Chaucer was unemployed for a brief period in 1385; he found work as justice of the peace in Kent. This was the most creative phase in Chaucer’s life. He penned "Troilus and Cressida" c. 1385. Chaucer was made the Clerk of the King’s Works by Richard II in 1389, and his responsibilities entailed overseeing the maintenance and repairs of the Government buildings, within and outside London.
During the period 1395-1396, Chaucer served Henry Bolingbroke, the son of his first patron John of Gaunt. Henry Bolingbroke overthrew Richard II in 1399 and took on the name Henry IV. By the 1390’s, Chaucer was already receiving an annuity, and Henry IV increased it.
Chaucer drew heavily from the tales that he heard. Storytelling was a popular form of entertainment and news too spread orally. Chaucer lived in the times of internal revolts, foreign wars and the Black Death. He also read other authors especially during his foreign travels. Their styles influenced him but gradually over a period, he evolved his own style and introduced new techniques in poetry writing.
Chaucer had started writing poetry when he was working as a Comptroller. He wrote "The Book of the Duchess" in 1369. It was written with reference to the Duchess of Lancaster, wife of John of Gaunt. In 1374, Chaucer began writing "The House of Fame." He was influenced by Ovid’s "Metamorphoses." The book was finally completed in 1385. Chaucer wrote the poem "Parliament of Fowles" in 1382 and followed it with the poem "Parliament of Birds."
The poem "The Complaint of Mars" written during this period is considered important because it reveals the transitions in Chaucer’s writing style. Chaucer experimented with the form and meter of poetry as well as the theme of the poems. The theme of unrequited love that is evident in "The Complaint of Mars" has recurred in the works of the 16th century poets as well as modern day poets.
Chaucer began writing "Canterbury Tales", which is considered to be one of the epics of English Literature, when he was in his forties. He was unable to complete the book in his lifetime. The story revolves around thirty pilgrims on their way to the cathedral at Canterbury to pay homage to St Thomas Becket. The story is set in the month of April. The pilgrims pass the time by telling stories and through them, Chaucer makes the reader aware of the frailty of human nature.
The characters in "Canterbury Tales" include a monk, a knight, a miller, a prioress etc. Thus, people from every walk of life found representation in "Canterbury Tales." Chaucer used an innovative technique of using more than one narrator for his story and interspersing the narration with conversations between the characters. "Canterbury Tales" also serve as an accurate record of the times they depict.
The treatise on an astrolabe that Chaucer wrote details the construction and use of an astrolabe and indicates that Chaucer had an understanding of scientific matters too. Chaucer spent the last years of his life in Greenwich, and he was not very happy living there. He has referred to the place as "an inne of shrews". Chaucer did not leave behind a will and it is thought that he was assassinated.
Chaucer was the first writer who chose to write in the vernacular English of the day and not in French or Latin, which were the languages that the authors of the day wrote in. Thus, he pioneered the use of English as a literary language. His style can be seen to have evolved from showing influences of French works, in the 1360’s to his own distinct style later on. Chaucer wrote in Middle English and through his works he helped to create a uniform accent of Middle English in the areas around London. His techniques of writing have influenced latter day writers such as Alexander Pope and Shakespeare.
