Geoffrey Chaucer’s Major Works

By: Emily Choi, Danielle Hermino, Vishaal Kanitkar and Aayush Verma

Parliament of FowlsBackground● Composed in the late 1370’s or early

1380’s● Considered one of his most

successful works● Written to honor the engagement of

Richard II of England and Anne of Bohemia

Parliament of FowlsSummary● “Parliament of Fowls” is a poem

about two lovers on St. Valentine’s day

Style● It is a “dream vision” poem

o The story is actually the content of the narrator’s dream

Troilus and CriseydeBackground● Date of composition is unknown

o Believed to be written in the 1380s (but before 1388)

● Chaucer’s longest single poemo Divided into 5 “books”

● Survives in 16 manuscripts and different fragments

Troilus and CriseydeSummary● About “the love affair of a Trojan

prince, Troilus, and a young widow, Criseyde, during the Trojan War”Style● Iambic pentameter in rhyme royal

The Legend of Good Women

Background● Subtitled The Saints’ Legend of

Cupid● Last of his “dream vision” poems● Prologue exists in two distinct forms● Poem is easily comprehended even

without having previous knowledge

The Legend of Good Women

Summary● Story of ten “good women” ● Written by the narrator after being

summoned by the God of Love Style● Couplets of iambic

pentameter

The Canterbury TalesBackground● An ensemble of about 20 stories ● Written in the late 1300’s (most likely between 1380 and 1400)● “The Canterbury Tales” is Chaucer’s

longest work, at over 17,000 lines● Widely regarded as Chaucer’s most

famous work

A Treatise on the AstrolabeBackground ● Written circa 1391● Explains the construction and use of the

astrolabe (astronomer’s tool)o His only scientific text

● Dedicated to his young son Lewis o Therefore, written in very plain English

● Only two of five parts have survived in manuscripts

A Treatise on the AstrolabeSummary● Part I: description of the instrument

and its parts● Part II: teaches Lewis how to use the

instrument● Part III: tables of information from the

work of old astrologers ● Part IV/V: astronomical and

astrological theory

Works CitedRossignol, Rosalyn. "Troilus and Criseyde." Critical Companion to Chaucer: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion.

New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 2 Dec. 2014 <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=17319&SID=5&iPin=CCGC2234&SingleRecord=True>.

Rossignol, Rosalyn. "Troilus and Criseyde." Critical Companion to Chaucer: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 2 Dec. 2014 <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=17319&SID=5&iPin=CCGC3980&SingleRecord=True>.

Regula Meyer Evitt"Troilus and Criseyde." In Sauer, Michelle M. The Facts On File Companion to British Poetry before 1600. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 2 Dec. 2014 <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=17319&SID=5&iPin=CBP0601&SingleRecord=True>.

Rossignol, Rosalyn. "The Canterbury Tales." Critical Companion to Chaucer: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 4 Dec. 2014 <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=17319&SID=5&iPin=CCGC1998&SingleRecord=True>.

Ruud, Jay. "The Parliament of Fowls." Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 4 Dec. 2014 <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=17319&SID=5&iPin=EML0450&SingleRecord=True>.

Ruud, Jay. "dream vision." Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 4 Dec. 2014. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE34&SID=&iPin=GEML0178&SingleRecord=True>.

Rossignol, Rosalyn. "A Treatise on the Astrolabe." Critical Companion to Chaucer: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 4 Dec. 2014 <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=17319&SID=5&iPin=CCGC2233&SingleRecord=True>.

Racon, Kimberly A. "The Legend of Good Women." In Sauer, Michelle M. The Facts On File Companion to British Poetry before 1600. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 4 Dec. 2014 http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=17319&SID=5&iPin=CBP0346&SingleRecord=True.

Rossignol, Rosalyn. "The Legend of Good Women." Critical Companion to Chaucer: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2007. Bloom's Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 4 Dec. 2014 http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&WID=17319&SID=5&iPin=CCGC2092&SingleRecord=True>.