Today’s article focuses on Geoffrey Chaucer, a key figure and poet of the Medieval period. We will delve into his biography and explore some of his most renowned works. The discussion will include summaries of selected poems, followed by critical analyses.
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Geoffrey Chaucer: The Father of English Literature
Geoffrey Chaucer, recognized as the “Father of English Literature,” was an extraordinary medieval figure who was brilliant as a poet, philosopher, bureaucrat, and diplomat. Born around 1343 in London. Chaucer’s life unfolded against a backdrop of profound social, political, and cultural upheaval in England. His literary masterpieces, especially “The Canterbury Tales,” have inscribed a permanent mark on English literature, cementing his place among the architects of the English language.
Early Life and Education
Geoffrey Chaucer’s early life remains largely undocumented. Information about Geoffrey Chaucer has been collected from legal records, contemporary writings, and his works. He was the son of John Chaucer, a wine merchant and deputy to the king’s butler, and Agnes Compton. Though specifics of his childhood are scant, it is believed he received a substantial education, likely at the St Paul’s Cathedral School.
Career and Bureaucratic Service
Geoffrey Chaucer’s career commenced in the royal court, where he first served Elizabeth de Burgh, the Countess of Ulster, and subsequently became a page in the household of Prince Lionel. His diplomatic missions took him across Europe, exposing him to diverse cultures that would later influence his writing. Notably, his travels to Italy introduced him to the works of Dante and Petrarch, significantly enriching his literary style.
Literary Works of Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer’s body of work showcases his command over a range of genres and styles. Some of his most renowned works incorporate:
“The Canterbury Tales” stands out for its vivid realism, humor, and depiction of a diverse medieval society.
“Troilus and Criseyde” is a narrative poem that investigates the tragic love story of Troilus.
“The Parliament of Fowls” is a dream vision poem that inspects themes of love, nature, and destiny.
“The Book of the Duchess” is an elegiac poem, likely dedicated to Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster.
Legacy and Influence
Geoffrey Chaucer’s impact on English literature is immense. By writing in Middle English, a fusion of French and Old English, he significantly contributed to the development of the evolving English language. His narrative techniques, characterizations, and sharp observations of human behavior set a standard for future writers. “The Canterbury Tales” stands out for its vivid realism, humor, and depiction of a diverse medieval society. This work has sparked numerous adaptations, translations, and extensive scholarly debates.
Death and Recognition of Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer passed away on October 25, 1400, and was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey. His burial place became a sign of literary recognition, marking him as the first poet to be buried in what would later be known as the “Poet’s Corner.” Geoffrey Chaucer’s legacy transcends his era; his contributions to English literature remain celebrated, and his talent for capturing the variation of human experience and society solidifies his lasting status as a literary pioneer.
The Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer
“The Canterbury Tales”, written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the late 1300s, emerged soon after the devastating pandemic plague swept through England and Europe, claiming millions of lives. Chaucer stands out as one of the pioneering English poets who wrote in the everyday language of Middle English, thereby popularizing the language of his era.
Structure and Themes: Geoffrey Chaucer
The poem comprises 24 stories enclosed within a frame narrative of pilgrims who were traveling to Canterbury. There were 29 pilgrims, the narrator, and the host on this journey. Geoffrey Chaucer delves into various societal issues such as gender relations, religion, and sexual immorality, offering a critical examination of English society. Through satire, he highlights the hypocrisy of the pilgrims, who came from different levels of society—nobility, clergy, and peasantry—often clashing with each other. By portraying their preoccupation with worldly matters during a religious pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral, Chaucer reveals the broad scope of human shortcomings.
Memorable Opening
“The Canterbury Tales” famously begins with the lines: “When April comes with his sweet, fragrant downpour, which pierces the dry ground of March, and soaks every root of every plant in sweet liquid… Then people desire to go on pilgrimages.”
The narrator, a persona representing Geoffrey Chaucer himself, finds himself at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, just outside London’s gates, where he encounters twenty-nine other pilgrims. By reimagining these classic tales, Geoffrey Chaucer not only chronicled the social fabric of his time but also set a timeless standard for storytelling that continues to resonate with readers today.
The Host’s Challenge and the First Tale: Geoffrey Chaucer
The inn’s owner and host, Harry Bailly, put forward an interesting challenge: each pilgrim is to tell four tales—two on the journey to the temple of Saint Thomas, à Becket at Canterbury Cathedral, and two on their going back to London. Harry Bailly moves with them to judge the best story, and the other visitors to the shrine will cover the cost of the winner’s supper upon their return. The storyteller then introduces the pilgrims, beginning with the Knight, who holds the highest rank among them.
The Knight and His Squire
The Knight is a chivalrous nobleman who has fought in numerous Crusades across different countries in defense of Christendom. He is admired for his merit and graciousness. Despite his noble status, the Knight’s ‘Fustian’ jacket, made of coarse cloth, bears rust stains from his coat of chainmail.
Accompanying the Knight is his son, the Squire. At twenty years old, the Squire is a lover and a healthy bachelor, decorated in clothes embellished with red and white flowers. He constantly sings or plays the flute and is the only pilgrim, apart from Geoffrey Chaucer himself, who has literary aspirations.
The Yeoman and the Clergy in “The Canterbury Tales”: Geoffrey Chaucer
The Yeoman, a freeborn servant, accompanies the Knight. Dressed in a green coat and hood, he carries arrows made of peacock feathers, a bracer (arm guard), a sword, a buckler, and a dagger as sharp as a spear. He proudly wears an image of St. Christopher on his chest.
The Clergy
The narrator then turns to the clergy, starting with the Prioress, known as ‘Madame Eglantine’ or Mrs. Sweetbriar. She sweetly performs religious services, speaks French, and displays outstanding table manners. With a tender heart, she would weep at the sight of a mouse caught in a trap, and she traveled with her small dogs. She wears a breastpin engraved with ‘Amor vincit omnia’ (‘Love defeats all’). The Prioress is accompanied by the Second Nun, who serves as her secretary, along with three priests.
Next in line is the Monk, a modern man who prefers hunting hares with his greyhounds over reading books in a walkway. He is well-fed and pot-bellied, with eyes that shine like a hearth. The Friar, named Huberd, is malicious and cheerful, licensed to beseech in certain districts. Landowners, or Franklins, as well as worthy women across town, hold him in high regard. He is known for hearing confessions, granting absolution, and being an excellent beggar.
The Merchant and Other Pilgrims: Geoffrey Chaucer
“The Merchant” rides high upon his horse, distinguished by his forked beard and multicolored attire. He delivers his opinions with solemnity and conducts his business perfectly, always staying out of debt. However, the narrator subtly hints at uncertainty regarding the Merchant’s reputation among others.
“The Clerk”, an Oxford scholar, prioritizes knowledge over material wealth, preferring twenty books by Aristotle to rich clothes or musical instruments. Consequently, he is dressed in a worn-out short coat. The little gold he possesses is spent on books and learning.
“The Man of Law”, or “sergeant of the law,” displays judiciousness and dignity, or at least appears to do so. His legal writings are flawless. Despite his esteemed position, he rides in a homely, multi-colored coat.
“The Franklin”, who moves with the Man of Law, displays a beard as white as a daisy and manifests the “positive humor” (dominated by his blood). He is passionate about culinary delights, and his house is always stocked with meat pie, fish, and more meat.
“The Five Guildsmen”—a tailor, carpenter, weaver, dyer, and tapestry—represent the emerging middle class. All are perfectly clothed in special brotherhood’s clothes, though none of them tells a tale. By presenting these characters with vivid detail, Geoffrey Chaucer paints a diverse picture of medieval society, capturing the complexities and contrasts among different social classes.
Roger the Cook and Other Pilgrims
“Roger the Cook” travels with the five tradesmen, expertly boiling chicken with marrow bones and spices for them. He also has a keen eye for perceiving good London wines and is skilled in roasting, cooking gently, boiling, frying, stewing, and baking pies. However, it is unfortunate that he suffers from an ulcer on his shin.
“The Shipman” from Dartmouth follows—a man with a brown complexion from the hot summer sun. He rides a carthorse and wears a gown of coarse woolen cloth reaching to his knees. The Shipman is known to have secretly taken whisky or wine from the merchants’ supplies while they were asleep. He has weathered many storms and is familiar with every harbor from Gotland to Cape Finistere. His ship is named ‘the Maudelayne.’
The Doctor of Medicine” is dressed in red and blue and speaks with great authority about medicine and surgery. He understands the cause of every illness, the humours that engender them, and how to cure them. Although well-read in conventional medical texts, he has not learned the Bible.
“The Wife of Bath”, named Alisoun, is slightly deaf. She excels in cloth-making, surpassing even the renowned cloth-making centers of Ypres and Ghent. She is dressed in linen coverings for her head which, the narrator takes it, must weigh ten pounds. Having married five husbands in the church, she has also been on pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Rome, and Boulogne. She is gap-toothed and well-versed in the arts of love.
The Parson, Plowman, and Other Pilgrims: Geoffrey Chaucer
The Parson of a Town is a virtuous religious man who may be poor in material wealth but is rich in holiness. He travels on foot to visit his parishioners, carrying a staff and referring to them as his “sheep.” Leading by example, he puts actions before words. The Plowman, who moves with the Parson, is an industrious and truthful man. He has spent his life hauling cartloads of dung and lives in peace and charity.
Next is the Miller, a part of the ground-level social class among the pilgrims. Known for his strength, he always wins wrestling matches and can lift doors off their hinges or break them with a head-butt. He has big, black nostrils, bears a sword and a buckler (shield), and has a mouth like a huge hearth. The Miller is notorious for stealing corn and charging for it three times over, reinforcing Geoffrey Chaucer’s implication that there are no honest millers.
Following the Miller is the Manciple, a shrewd business agent who purchases provisions for religious institutions and is skilled in financial matters despite lacking formal training. The narrator ominously suggests that the Manciple is capable of deceiving even the wisest of men.
The Reeve, Summoner, Pardoner, and Host
The Reeve is a thin, bad-tempered man, long-legged and bony. He meticulously knows the exact amount of grain in his granary and is an excellent keeper of it. As an accountant, he knows private affairs about everyone—bailiffs, herdsmen, and servants—and all live in fear of him.
The Summoner follows, with a face fire-red and pimpled, and narrow eyes. He suffers from a skin disease that affects his black brows and beard, causing hair loss. Lustful by nature, his pimples are incurable. He loves drinking wine and devouring leeks, onions, and garlic. His duty is to summon people to appear in court.
Moving with the Summoner is the Pardoner, his friend and partner, and the last pilgrim narrated by the narrator. He sings at top volume ‘Come hither, love, to me,’ with hair as yellow as wax. He bears a wallet full of fake pardons from Rome in his lap. With a skinny, boyish voice, the Pardoner’s sexuality is vague.
Finally, Harry Bailly, the straightforward and happy Host of the Tabard Inn, is introduced. He is large, brave, and has shining eyes. The narrator finishes by stating that he has narrated the estate (the class), the array (the clothing), and the number of pilgrims congregated in this company. With that, their journey begins.
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