Geoffrey Chaucer Research Paper

Geoffrey Chaucer is renowned as one of the most prominent and innovative writers in the history of the English language. He was born in London to a thriving merchant family, gaining an opportunity for education in elite schools. Chaucer learned French, the language of wine trade, while working for his father; whom served him to explore and pursue his love of poetry from a young age (Bleiberg). Over the course of his maturity, he developed remarkable skills to write his own first poems in French. With his family connections within the royal court, Chaucer served under the royal service, while obtaining valuable knowledge by relentlessly reading and analyzing Italian literature and by immersing himself into French poetry (Hacht 2). Geoffrey Chaucer

In earlier periods, literature functioned as tool to paint one’s fantasy. Contrarily, Chaucer utilized literature to expose his contemporary society and its values with specific detail. The Canterbury Tales depicts the lifestyles of men and women during Chaucer’s lifetime. It is not only a poetic piece, but contains truthful historical evidence. For example, a pilgrimage is often a common activity practiced by many during the fourteen century (Moss and Wilson). The author tries to give a close illusion to real life to his audience which was lacking in English writing. Furthermore, the themes the writer uses in The Canterbury Tales are ones that many can relate to; such as jealousy, revenge, anger, love and happiness. For instance, in the Knight’s Tale, two knights battle for the same women’s hand in marriage (Moss and Wilson). Most of the audience can relate to this story because many people do crazy things for love. Chaucer’s capacity of including relatable themes in his compositions provides realism in his

With his skills and knowledge, Chaucer has constructed the English language from the ground up. His first step consisted of increasing the value of the English language in the fourteen century. After studying French poems and Italian novels for years, he managed to incorporate certain aspects of those languages to improve upon the English language. Moreover, he contributed to versification by choosing the East Midland dialect for the English language. With a great determination and persistence; he caught the attentions of many, with his newly enhanced Middle English. By focusing on realism in his poems, he was one of the first poets who created an opportunity for the audience to connect with his characters. This technique is a powerful tool that took precedent for future poets and authors. Lastly, Chaucer’s humor and personality brought his writings to life in the eyes of his readers. It inspired future writes to include a sense of freshness in their compositions. For all these reasons, Geoffrey Chaucer is vital to both the English Language and its Literature. Without him English wouldn’t be the dominant language it is in today’s society. He is now considered one of the founding father of the English