Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was Chaucer's contribution to the English language?
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'?
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?
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?
How can we appreciate Chaucer's use of language?
What is an example of Chaucer's modern English?
What is an example of Chaucer's modern English?
What is The Canterbury Tales partly based on?
What is The Canterbury Tales partly based on?
Why was Chaucer's language significant?
Why was Chaucer's language significant?
What makes Chaucer's English 'modern'?
What makes Chaucer's English 'modern'?
Which of the following events MOST LIKELY had the greatest impact on Geoffrey Chaucer's writing?
Which of the following events MOST LIKELY had the greatest impact on Geoffrey Chaucer's writing?
Based on the excerpt, Chaucer's literary achievements were MOST LIKELY influenced by which of the following factors?
Based on the excerpt, Chaucer's literary achievements were MOST LIKELY influenced by which of the following factors?
Chaucer's early life was influenced by his association with the aristocracy. This connection was primarily due to his role as a(n):
Chaucer's early life was influenced by his association with the aristocracy. This connection was primarily due to his role as a(n):
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'?
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'?
Which of the following statements BEST reflects the author's perspective on Chaucer's literary significance?
Which of the following statements BEST reflects the author's perspective on Chaucer's literary significance?
Which of the following aspects of Chaucer's life LEAST contributed to his literary achievements?
Which of the following aspects of Chaucer's life LEAST contributed to his literary achievements?
The excerpt suggests that Chaucer was a(n):
The excerpt suggests that Chaucer was a(n):
What is the main idea of the excerpt?
What is the main idea of the excerpt?
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.
