The Life of Geoffrey Chaucer

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For thousands years, England was the home to many of the world’s most notorious and skilled authors and playwrights. A short list of these celebrated British authors include William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, Francis Bacon, John Milton, Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, and Geoffrey Chaucer. People still read and are influenced by the work of these literary geniuses today. In general, people are also familiar with the lives of these trendsetting writers. However, little is known about the man behind the controversial and renowned Canterbury Tales, one of Great Britain’s most prominent literary masterpieces.
Geoffrey Chaucer had an unusual and exciting childhood which would later be his inspiration for writing The Canterbury Tales. It is believed by most historians that Geoffrey Chaucer was born in his parents’ house in London around the year 1343. He was the son of an affluent mine maker and his family was part of Great Britain’s bourgeois class. When Geoffrey Chaucer was twelve years old, his father was kidnapped by his aunt. His aunt committed the crime with the intention of forcing Geoffrey’s father into marrying his adolescent to his cousin so that she too could acquire some of her brother’s land. Fortunately, she was caught and imprisoned before the ransom was fulfilled. Soon after the incident, Geoffrey Chaucer attended the St. Paul’s Cathedral School where he was first introduced to the arts. During his years at the school, he spent most of his time studying the works of Ovid, Virgil, and Horace. Ovid, Virgil, and Horace were famous Roman poets whose philosophical poems were often centered on love and society. After attending the St. Paul’s Cathedral School, Geoffrey Chaucer became the public servant of Coun...

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...ey Chaucer was far more than just a poetic: He was a soldier, public servant, businessman, diplomat, and he was an affluent member of British society during the medieval period. Nevertheless, the most important thing that Geoffrey Chaucer should be remembered for is that he was the father of contemporary political satire.

Works Cited

“Geoffrey Chaucer.” Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 18 May 2014.
“Geoffrey Chaucer.” New World Encyclopedia. MediaWiki, 9 Dec. 2013. Web. 18 May 2014.
Moore, Thomas. “Detached Thoughts.” Life, Letters and Journals of Lord Byron. London, 1838. 263. Geoffrey Chaucer. Web. 18 May 2014.
Norcott-Mahany, Bernard. “Classic Review: The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.” The Kansas City Public Library. 23 Apr. 2012. Web. 18 May 2014.
“The Canterbury Tales.” New World Encyclopedia. MediaWiki, 1 Dec. 2008. Web. 18 May 2014.

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