Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer-Born between 1340-1343 in -Born between 1340-1343 in LondonLondon

-Father was a middle-class wine -Father was a middle-class wine merchantmerchant

-Geoffrey became a page in the -Geoffrey became a page in the royal household while still a royal household while still a teenagerteenager

-The position exposed him to the -The position exposed him to the speech, manners, and speech, manners, and shortcomings of high-born people shortcomings of high-born people of the dayof the day

Geoffrey ChaucerGeoffrey Chaucer

Voracious reader; Chaucer read in Voracious reader; Chaucer read in four different languagesfour different languages EnglishEnglish LatinLatin FrenchFrench ItalianItalian

Young AdulthoodYoung Adulthood

In his twenties, Chaucer became a In his twenties, Chaucer became a court officialcourt official

Traveled on diplomatic missions—Traveled on diplomatic missions—became knowledgeable of both became knowledgeable of both French and Italian literature and French and Italian literature and cultureculture

Life as a WriterLife as a Writer

Early poetry includes the Early poetry includes the Book of the Book of the DuchessDuchess and the and the Romaunt of the RoseRomaunt of the Rose..

The last two decades of Chaucer’s life The last two decades of Chaucer’s life saw his finest literary achievementssaw his finest literary achievements

Chaucer started writing/planning Chaucer started writing/planning The The Canterbury TalesCanterbury Tales in 1387 in 1387

He never fully completed it at his He never fully completed it at his death in 1400death in 1400

Uncommon HonorUncommon Honor

Chaucer received an honor rare for a Chaucer received an honor rare for a commonercommoner

He was buried in London’s He was buried in London’s Westminster AbbeyWestminster Abbey

This was the beginning of This was the beginning of Westminster Abbey’s famous Poets’ Westminster Abbey’s famous Poets’ Corner, where many other great Corner, where many other great English writers have since been English writers have since been buriedburied

The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales

This is considered Chaucer’s This is considered Chaucer’s masterpiece for several reasons:masterpiece for several reasons: It marks the beginning of a new tradition: It marks the beginning of a new tradition:

Chaucer was the first writer to use Chaucer was the first writer to use English in a major literary workEnglish in a major literary work

It gives a picture of a cross-section of It gives a picture of a cross-section of society during the 1300s. society during the 1300s.

It is a detailed, lifelike, and engaging It is a detailed, lifelike, and engaging picture of Medieval Lifepicture of Medieval Life

Chaucer creates a realistic portrait of the Chaucer creates a realistic portrait of the way particular people spoke and actedway particular people spoke and acted

I rehearse. . .I rehearse. . .

Their tales as told, for better or for Their tales as told, for better or for worse, worse,

For else I should be false to what For else I should be false to what occurred.occurred.

So if this tale had better not be heard,So if this tale had better not be heard,

Just turn the page and choose another Just turn the page and choose another sort;sort;

Medieval LifeMedieval Life

For safety and for defense, people in For safety and for defense, people in the Middle Ages formed small the Middle Ages formed small communities around a central lord or communities around a central lord or master. Most people lived on a master. Most people lived on a manor, which consisted of the castle, manor, which consisted of the castle, the church, the village, and the the church, the village, and the surrounding farm land. surrounding farm land.

Feudal SystemFeudal System

The king awarded land grants or The king awarded land grants or "fiefs""fiefs" to his most important nobles, to his most important nobles, his barons, and his bishops, in return his barons, and his bishops, in return for their contribution of soldiers for for their contribution of soldiers for the king's armies the king's armies

At the lowest echelon of society were At the lowest echelon of society were the peasants, also called "serfs" or the peasants, also called "serfs" or "villeins." "villeins."

Peasant LifePeasant Life

Peasant LifePeasant Life

Peasants worked the land and produced the Peasants worked the land and produced the goods that the lord and his manor needed. goods that the lord and his manor needed.

They were heavily taxed and were required They were heavily taxed and were required to relinquish much of what they harvested. to relinquish much of what they harvested.

The peasants did not even "belong to" The peasants did not even "belong to" themselves, according to medieval law. The themselves, according to medieval law. The lords, in close association with the church, lords, in close association with the church, assumed the roles of judges in carrying out assumed the roles of judges in carrying out the laws of the manor. the laws of the manor.

ReligionReligion

ReligionReligion

··The Catholic Church was the only church The Catholic Church was the only church in Europe during the Middle Agesin Europe during the Middle Ages

Church leaders such as bishops and Church leaders such as bishops and archbishops sat on the king's council archbishops sat on the king's council and played leading roles in government. and played leading roles in government.

Bishops, who were often wealthy and Bishops, who were often wealthy and came from noble families, ruled over came from noble families, ruled over groups of parishes called "diocese." groups of parishes called "diocese."

Parish priests, on the other hand, came Parish priests, on the other hand, came from humbler backgrounds and often from humbler backgrounds and often had little education. had little education.

PilgrimagePilgrimage

PilgrimagesPilgrimages

Pilgrimages were an important part of Pilgrimages were an important part of religious life in the Middle Ages. religious life in the Middle Ages.

Many people took journeys to visit holy Many people took journeys to visit holy shrines such as the Church of St. shrines such as the Church of St. James at Santiago de Compostela in James at Santiago de Compostela in Spain, the Canterbury cathedral in Spain, the Canterbury cathedral in England, and sites in Jerusalem and England, and sites in Jerusalem and Rome. Rome.

Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is a series Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is a series of stories told by 30 pilgrims as they of stories told by 30 pilgrims as they traveled to Canterbury. traveled to Canterbury.