Chaucer Contribution

Geoffrey Chaucer is regarded as the first great English poet. He lived during a time of war, plague and social revolt. Despite these terrible things, society was very vibrant, creative, and increasingly literate (“Chaucer and His Works”). There is not a lot of information about Chaucer`s early life. He was probably born in London, sometime between 1340 and 1345. His father was a successful wine merchant, but there is no further information about his childhood or education. In 1357, he served as a page to Elizabeth, countess of Ulster, wife of Edward III`s third son. A page is the equivalent of a butler today. During a British expedition in 1359, he was captured by the French, but he was ransomed by the king. He was later sent by Edward III …show more content…
It is a very characteristic document of his individual style in his early career, even though a modern reader might find it less relatable at first than for instance The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer wrote The Book of Duchess after the sudden death of the Duchess Blanche, John of Gaunt`s wife, who died of plague. It is not known whether John Gaunt commissioned the poem or whether it was an unsolicited tribute. There is no solid evidence to support the idea that it was used in an official commendation ceremony, and emphasizing its private and personal nature does little to enhance the poem …show more content…
Chaucer sets up the perfect framework for a series of narratives told in many different genres by having each character tell their own story. The Canterbury Tales has been universally celebrated for its dramatic qualities and one of a kind humor. Sadly, Chaucer died before he could finish or edit it. As a result, it survives in ten fragments and there is no clear connection between them or indication in the order in which he intended them to be told. That is the reason modern editions differ in the order in which the tales are presented (“Chaucer and His Works”). Chaucer created the fragments to be coherent units as part of an uncompleted whole (Mandel). One of the many characters, in the Canterbury Tales, is the Franklin. Chaucer`s characterization of him is very complex and at times seems to contradict itself. In the General Prologue, the Franklin is presented as a loveable character, but during the interlude between his tale and the squire`s, he is presented in a negative way. The contradiction would appear to be a result of the tale being left unfinished; however, when focusing on subtle details there are no