Geoffrey Chaucer
1343 – 1400 English poet
The father of English literature, author of the Canterbury Tales.
- Religion
- Catholic, in an England still before the Reformation; gently satirical toward the church.
- Affiliations
- Royal courtier and civil servant. No secret society.
Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales, a vivid gallery of medieval English society told by pilgrims on the road. By writing great poetry in English rather than French or Latin, he helped make it a literary language. He is the founding figure of English literature.
Connections
- influenced Giovanni Boccaccio — Chaucer borrowed stories and structure from Boccaccio.