Geoffrey Chaucer's Life and Times
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Questions and Answers

What was Chaucer's contribution to the English language?

  • He brought elegance and literary traditions from European literature (correct)
  • He introduced French literature to East Midland English
  • He created a new form of poetry in English literature
  • He made the language more complex and harder to understand

    • What makes Chaucer's poetry 'living'?

  • Its ability to speak to us today with a clear voice (correct)
  • Its complexity and use of Latin phrases
  • Its focus on the nobility
  • Its use of abstract concepts

    • What was new about Chaucer's approach to literature?

  • He wrote about people who were real, not just abstractions (correct)
  • He wrote about abstract concepts
  • He wrote only about the nobility
  • He wrote only about European history

    • How can we appreciate Chaucer's use of language?

    <p>By looking at it and listening to it at the same time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of Chaucer's modern English?

    <p>The passage from the Pardoner's Tale</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is The Canterbury Tales partly based on?

    <p>A new idea, partly an old one</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was Chaucer's language significant?

    <p>Because it became part of everyday speech</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What makes Chaucer's English 'modern'?

    <p>Its similarity to the language of our time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following events MOST LIKELY had the greatest impact on Geoffrey Chaucer's writing?

    <p>The Black Death</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Based on the excerpt, Chaucer's literary achievements were MOST LIKELY influenced by which of the following factors?

    <p>His education and exposure to diverse cultures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Chaucer's early life was influenced by his association with the aristocracy. This connection was primarily due to his role as a(n):

    <p>Page to the Countess of Ulster</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary implication of the statement that Chaucer 'found it not at all rich in words, and completely lacking in an important literature from which he could learn'?

    <p>Chaucer was critical of the East Midland dialect's limited vocabulary and lack of literary traditions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements BEST reflects the author's perspective on Chaucer's literary significance?

    <p>Chaucer was a product of his time and contributed significantly to the development of English literature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following aspects of Chaucer's life LEAST contributed to his literary achievements?

    <p>His involvement in the Peasants' Revolt.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The excerpt suggests that Chaucer was a(n):

    <p>Product of a changing society who embraced new literary possibilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main idea of the excerpt?

    <p>To explain the historical context that influenced Chaucer's writing and life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Geoffrey Chaucer's Life

    • Lived during the Hundred Years' War with France
    • Experienced the Black Death three times during his life
    • Witnessed the establishment of English as the language of law-courts in his twenties
    • Saw Richard II ascend to the throne and later get deposed and murdered by Bolingbroke (Henry IV)
    • Lived during the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, which recognized laborers' human rights
    • Died in 1400, about 40 years before the invention of printing

    Chaucer's Background

    • 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
    • Participated in foreign service as a young soldier, getting taken prisoner in France and ransomed by the King of England
    • Married into the family of John of Gaunt
    • Observed polite manners, studied sciences, arts, and literature of France and Italy

    Chaucer's Contributions to English Literature

    • Confined himself to using the East Midland dialect of English spoken in London
    • Had to create English language and literary traditions, using French literature for influence
    • Searched European tales and histories for subject matter
    • Created a new literary style with The Canterbury Tales, observing life as it is lived, with real people and a modern view of life

    Chaucer's Legacy

    • A living poet, speaking to us today with a clear voice
    • The first to use modern English in literature, making him a great poet
    • Many phrases from his works have become part of everyday speech (e.g., "Murder will out", "the smiler with the knife beneath his cloak", etc.)
    • The Canterbury Tales is a masterpiece, showcasing Chaucer's innovative style and modernity

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    Description

    Explore the life and era of Geoffrey Chaucer, a famous English poet. Learn about the significant events he witnessed, including the Hundred Years' War, the Black Death, and the Peasants' Revolt. Discover how these events influenced his life and work.

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