Questions and Answers
What does Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales offer that was new to literature?
What did Chaucer have to create to establish English literary traditions?
What makes Chaucer's language 'modern'?
What can be inferred about the language used in The Canterbury Tales?
Signup and view all the answers
Where did Chaucer turn to for literary inspiration?
Signup and view all the answers
What is an example of a phrase from Chaucer's works that has become part of everyday speech?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of Chaucer's view of life?
Signup and view all the answers
What can be said about The Canterbury Tales?
Signup and view all the answers
What was one effect of the Peasants' Revolt during Chaucer's time?
Signup and view all the answers
What significant event began shortly after Chaucer's birth?
Signup and view all the answers
How did Chaucer's early experiences shape his literary abilities?
Signup and view all the answers
What dialect did Chaucer use in his literary works?
Signup and view all the answers
What personal experience did Chaucer have in France?
Signup and view all the answers
What educational background did Chaucer possess?
Signup and view all the answers
Which monarch was deposed shortly before Chaucer's death?
Signup and view all the answers
What was Chaucer's primary field of achievement?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Geoffrey Chaucer's Life and Times
- Lived during the Hundred Years' War with France (already begun when he was born)
- Experienced the Black Death three times in his life
- Saw the English language established as the language of law-courts in his twenties
- Witnessed the ascension and deposition of Richard II, and the subsequent rise of Henry IV
- Lived through the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, which recognized laborers' human rights
- Died in 1400, about 40 years before the invention of printing
Chaucer's Background and Influences
- Son of a wine merchant, belonging to a growing class that produced many great writers
- Became a page to the Countess of Ulster, learning about the aristocracy
- Served as a young soldier, was taken prisoner in France, and was ransomed by the King of England
- Married into the family of John of Gaunt, observing polite manners and studying sciences, arts, and literature
- Influenced by the literature of France and Italy, which he drew upon to create the English language
Chaucer's Achievements
- Confined himself to using the East Midland dialect of English, which was lacking in richness and literary traditions
- Created the English language we know today, establishing its literary traditions
- Brought elegance from French literature to East Midland English
- Searched European tales and histories for subject matter
- Invented a new kind of literature in The Canterbury Tales, featuring observation of real life, realistic characters, and a modern view of life
Chaucer's Legacy
- Speaks to us today with a clear voice, making him a living poet
- Uses language that is recognizable as Modern English, although it may sound foreign when heard
- Introduced phrases that have become part of everyday speech, such as "Murder will out" and "Gladly would he learn and gladly teach"
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Learn about Geoffrey Chaucer's life, including the significant events that occurred during his lifetime, such as the Hundred Years' War, the Black Death, and the ascension of Richard II to the throne. Quiz yourself on this medieval English writer's experiences!
