The Life and Success of Geoffrey Chaucer Essay - 893 Words

Geoffrey Chaucer was a man with an interesting life to say the least. From imprisonment and royal service to being renowned as one of the greatest poets and writers of the 1300s. Chaucers life had many mysteries to it as well such as what intrigued him to write The Canterbury Tales, one of his most famous works. Geoffrey Chaucers year of birth is a bit of a mystery for no one knows for sure which year he was born. What is known is he was born around 1340 – 1345. He was believed to be the child of Agnes, niece of Hamo de Compton, and his father John Chaucer. Records show that around 1357, Chaucer was in service to Elizabeth, countess of Ulster, and wife of Lionel, Duke of Clarence. Her record shows that she paid for Chaucers†¦show more content†¦Although in 1385, he took temporary leave and lived in Kent for 4 years, but still participated in the political system as a Justice of Peace and later on as a Parliament member. His writing was still being left neglected. Phil ippa passed away during this time in 1387 and Chaucer stopped partaking in her royal affairs causing him to suffer financial hardship. Chaucer was already in major debt. Many historians and theorists of Geoffrey Chaucer believe that because of his lack of continuing to be in Philippa’s affairs, choosing financial issues instead, and his lack of writing about or toward his wife that his marriage with Philippa was more than likely arranged. Chaucers works rarely complimented the idealogy of marriage. This could be lack of fondness of his marriage or that he was a man with points he would rather focus on over the topic. Geoffrey Chaucers most famous work was The Canterbury Tales, as previously stated, the collection of stories were written in the late 1300s using Middle English, which was rare at this time because Latin and Italian were more prominent. Some say his greatest contribution was more so popularizing the use of Middle English over Latin and Italian rather than the tal es themself. The tales are comprised of telling about a travel from one place to another where pilgrims are trying tell a better story than the other pilgrims, to put it simply. Even though Chaucer clearly points outShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Vox Clamantis1265 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Gower Born on 1330, Kent, United Kingdom, John Gower was an English poet who was friends with Chaucer and the connection between him influence his writings during his era. John Gower writings during the 16th century began to diminished ever since he is interest was picking up, but in the 20th century many people see how insight his poems are. The language that Gower expresses is seen as a Kentish Origin, his family who raised him came from a place called Yorkshire. And that it has beenRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer Essay1115 Words   |  5 Pages The Canterbury Tales is a set of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the fourteenth century. The stories were told by a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral, in hopes to see a shrine of Saint Thomas Becket. To make time go by the host recommended each pilgrim tell a tale. The tale that each character gives, reveals that person’s background and life. Some pilgrims matched their stereotype of that time b ut most do not. The Prioress, Madame Eglentyne, and Wife of Bath, Allison, areRead More Debatable Decisions by the Wife of Bath Essay1120 Words   |  5 PagesCanterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer creates a wonderfully complex character in the Wife of Bath. She exhibits many traits easily identifiable as virtuous--honesty, cheerfulness, and the desire to follow the teachings of the Bible. At other times she reveals traits easily perceived as negative--greed, cruelty, and promiscuity. By the end of her tale to the other pilgrims, more light is shed on her character when it becomes apparent that her tale parallels certain aspects of her own life. UnderstandingRead MoreAnalysis Of John Chaucer s The Canterbury Tales 1594 Words   |  7 Pageshonest, that’s the one thing people want the most.) People in today’s society always want more than what they have. Geoffrey Chaucer shows us this in The Canterbury Tales, especially in The Pardoner’s Tale. In order to achieve a better understanding of the story and the meaning behind The Pardoner’s Tale and The Canterbury Tales, the history of the author must be known. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales; he sadly didn’t get to finish them. The exact date of birth is not known but the mostRead MoreDouble Standards and Stereotypes in The Wife of Bath Essay1151 Words   |  5 PagesIn the 14th century Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, which included a progressive view of womens concerns in The Wife of Bath. During a time when women were still considered chattel existing almost exclusively to produce heirs, Chaucer takes a stand on issues affecting women that were not commonly given consideration. Writing in the first person, Chaucer is able to describe life from the viewpoint of a woman. Through this style, Chaucer addresses subject matter that would have beenRead More Ambiguity and Understanding of Chaucers Troilus and Criseyde1721 Words   |  7 P agesof Chaucers Troilus and Criseyde      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the aspects of Chaucers Troilus and Criseyde that seemed most confusing at first was the apparent ambiguity or complete lack of motivation that the author provides for the main characters. Chaucer provides little explanation for why his major characters act the way that they do; when he does, his explanations are often ambiguous or contradictory. Pandarus is an excellent example of a character whose motives are ambiguous. The only motives clearlyRead MoreThe Inconsistancies of Life in In The Canterbury Tales and The Knights Tale, by Geoffrey Chaucer1707 Words   |  7 Pagescomposed by Geoffrey Chaucer, the fundamental topic of the tales is the inconsistency of human life — satisfaction and suffering are never far separated from one another, and no one is truly safe from experiencing a tragedy. When an individuals fortunes are up, other individuals are down. This issue is expressed by the pattern of the narrative, in which depictions of favorable l uck are immediately followed by disasters, and characters are subject to memorable inversions of fortune. Geoffrey Chaucer is knownRead MoreThe Middle Ages Gain So Much Fame And Admiration From Others1916 Words   |  8 Pages How did authors in the Middle Ages gain so much fame and admiration from others? Their works had to reflect what ordinary people were going through. They had to use their stories as a form of identity for many. Geoffrey Chaucer had this in mind when writing his most important piece of work, ‘The Canterbury Tales’ and his other pieces of work that gained him the title as the father of English literature . Chaucer’s wrote the tales in the fourteenth century to dwell upon medieval society and to retellRead MoreTheme Of Chivalry In The Knights Tale884 Words   |  4 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer’s romantic poem â€Å"The Knight’s Tale† chronicles the adventures of two ancient Greek knights and their quest to win the affection of Emily, a beautiful noblewoman. Bound to uphold the chivalric code of loyalty and honor of the time, Palamon and Arcite discover themselves at odds with their noble ideals as they battle one another in pursuit of love. Unable to reconcile the knight’s oath of honor with their obsessive and selfish desires, the actions of Chaucer’s main characters failRead MoreThe Role Of Women In The Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1035 Words   |  5 Pagesyears ago. Geoffrey Chaucer first explores this in his famous collection of stories The Canterbury Tales. In Chaucer’s tales, he explores the situations of multiple individuals of varying backgrounds in the medieval time period. Each character tells a story that reveals some aspect of their morality and personality. Quite often, their tale also reveals their opinion of a certain overlying subject; such is the case with many character’s opinions of women and their place in society. Chaucer has commonly