Geoffrey Chaucer
Explore the life and legacy of Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343–1400), the “Father of English Literature.” From courtier and diplomat to poet of The Canterbury Tales, learn about his biography, writings, influence, and enduring wisdom.
Introduction
Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the most celebrated poets in English literary history. Living in the 14th century, he played a pivotal role in legitimizing the use of Middle English for literary expression, at a time when Latin and French dominated scholarly and courtly writings.
His signature work, The Canterbury Tales, is a vibrant and varied collection of stories framed within a pilgrimage, showcasing a wide cross-section of medieval society. It remains a cornerstone of English literature.
Beyond poetry, Chaucer served as a bureaucrat, diplomat, courtier, and public official—roles that shaped his worldview, his language, and his ability to observe human character.
Early Life and Family
The precise date and place of Geoffrey Chaucer’s birth are uncertain, but scholars generally place it around 1342–1343, likely in London.
He was born into a family of rising social standing. His father, John Chaucer, was a vintner (wine merchant) in London, and his mother (often recorded as Agnes) came from property-holding families.
While details about Chaucer’s childhood education are sparse, it is probable that he received schooling in London and was exposed to French, Latin, and English literary traditions.
Youth, Career Beginnings & Public Service
Court Service & Early Roles
Chaucer’s first appearance in historical records dates to 1357, when he was in the service of Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster—likely as a page or attendant. He gradually rose in royal favor and held various courtly and diplomatic roles. By 1367, he was listed as a valet de chambre (a personal attendant) in the court of King Edward III—a role that situated him close to the centers of power.
Diplomatic Missions & Travels
Chaucer undertook diplomatic and military missions abroad. For example, in 1372–73 he traveled to Italy (including Florence and Genoa) in a diplomatic capacity. These experiences likely exposed him to Continental literary and philosophical currents (e.g., Dante, Petrarch), which influenced his poetic sensibilities.
Administrative & Financial Office
In 1374, Chaucer became Comptroller of the Customs for the Port of London, a position he held for many years. This office involved oversight of trade, taxes, and regulation—work that required bureaucratic skill and placed him in daily contact with merchants and civic life. Later, in 1389 he was appointed Clerk of the King’s Works, overseeing building and maintenance of royal properties.
He also served as a Member of Parliament (knight of the shire for Kent) in 1386.
Major Works & Literary Achievements
Early Poems & Translations
One of Chaucer’s earliest major poems was The Book of the Duchess, an elegy composed in memory of Blanche of Lancaster.
Other early works include Anelida and Arcite and The House of Fame.
He also undertook translations and adaptations—from Latin and French—such as The Romance of the Rose and Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy.
Maturity: Dream Visions & Narrative Poetics
In his mature phase, Chaucer wrote Parlement of Foules (a dream vision about a parliament of birds), and The Legend of Good Women (though this remained unfinished) He also penned Troilus and Criseyde, a long narrative romance rooted in both classical and medieval sources.
The Canterbury Tales
Chaucer’s magnum opus is The Canterbury Tales, begun in the 1380s and left incomplete at his death. The work frames a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury, during which several characters tell stories. Through this structure, Chaucer presents a rich panorama of medieval life: clergy, merchants, artisans, wives, and more.
In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer demonstrates wit, satire, psychological insight, and a command of multiple registers of speech (from high to colloquial).
He also included a “Retraction” at the end, in which he asked forgiveness for anything in his works that might offend and offered that anything good be attributed to divine inspiration.
Historical Context & Literary Significance
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During Chaucer’s time, English culture was still heavily influenced by French (due to Norman heritage) and Latin as the language of law, learning, and religion. Chaucer’s choice to write in English was bold and transformative.
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He is often called the “first finder of our language” (i.e. the first to discover English’s poetic potential).
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Chaucer introduced metrical innovations. He helped popularize rhymed couplets and used a five-stress (iambic?like) line.
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His vocabulary is notable: nearly two thousand English words are first attested in Chaucerian manuscripts.
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He influenced successors in English poetry, from John Gower and John Lydgate to, centuries later, the English Renaissance poets.
Personality, Themes & Style
Chaucer’s writings reflect a keen observer of human nature: he mixes seriousness and humor, the noble and the lowly, satire and compassion.
He often critiques corrupt clergy or social hypocrisy, but he also includes virtuous figures, thereby capturing a balanced vision.
His style is marked by narrative variety, a move toward realism, flexible use of dialect, and an ear for everyday speech.
Though he inhabited political and royal circles, Chaucer seems to have kept a human-centered sensibility—his pilgrim characters speak directly with flaws and aspirations.
Famous Quotes
Because Chaucer lived in the 14th century, quotations are sometimes drawn from translations or extracts in Middle English. Here are a few often cited:
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“Truth is the highest thing that man may keep.” (often attributed in The Canterbury Tales context)
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From the “Retraction,” in modern paraphrase: “If anything in this little treatise or in my writings please the reader, let them thank God; and if anything displeases them, let them attribute it to my lack of knowledge, not my will.”
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“And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche.” (“And he would gladly learn and gladly teach”) — about the Clerk in The Canterbury Tales (Middle English)
These quotes reflect Chaucer’s self-awareness, humility, and regard for truth and learning.
Lessons & Legacy
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Elevating the vernacular
Chaucer’s use of English for serious literature set a precedent: language of the people could also carry high art. -
Balance of voice and character
He demonstrated that a single author can adopt many voices and perspectives, treating each with dignity. -
Humility in authorship
His Retraction shows an author aware of limitations—and willing to acknowledge them. -
Literature as social mirror
Through pilgrims, tales, and humor, Chaucer used storytelling to reflect and critique society. -
Interdisciplinary breadth
Chaucer combined administrative, diplomatic, and literary careers—reminding us that art need not be isolated from other spheres of life. -
Influence across ages
His role in shaping English literary tradition shows how a singular poet can have ripple effects through centuries.
Conclusion
Geoffrey Chaucer remains a luminous figure in the history of English letters. He bridged the medieval and the modern, gave voice to vernacular English, and crafted a mosaic of humanity in The Canterbury Tales.
Though centuries have passed, his legacy endures—in the language we speak, the stories we tell, and the sense that literature can capture the full range of human experience.