FREE ESSAY ON CHAUCER

CHAUCER

Lawrence Seitz
Mitchum
English 12 CP
April 13, 2000
Geoffrey Chaucer: The Beginning of English Literature 
Geoffrey Chaucer's world was the Europe of the fourteenth century. It was not rich or
poor, happy or sad. Rather, it was the intermingling of these, a mixture of splendor and

poverty , displaying both worldly desire and spiritual purity. Chaucer's literary works
broke away from conformity and set the stage for the beginning of English literature. His
travels through it, mostly on the King's business, or civil service, shaped his writing,
offering the readers of today 
a brief glimpse into the world in which he lived. 
Chaucer lived from approximately 1340 to 1400. The world in which he lived was not one of
peace or stability. Born the son of a London vintner, he remained a Londoner for most of
the rest of his life, leaving the city only on the King's business.1 
The city of London was thus Chaucer's environment for most of his life. Aside from brief
visits into other countries or areas of England, he remained in the city, and it's
affects on his 
writing was immense. 
London of that time was not the London of today. It was a walled city, guarded against
invasion, but long enough time had passed since such a threat had approached that the
defenses had loosened. Houses perched upon the walls, and Chaucer in fact, lived for a
time in a house built over Aldgate, (one of the gates of the city).2
London was a city less than three-quarters of a square mile in size: It ran east and west
along the Thames less than one and a half miles, and extended northwards less than half a
mile. Over 20,000 people were packed into this small area; the diversity of the
inhabitants was overwhelming. Londoners ranged from wealthy to impoverished, from small
to large, from shoemaker to blacksmith to minstrel to priest. The city was thus fairly
close. Stone building mingled with tile, wood, and thatch. While the major streets were
fairly wide, small shops and stands often spread out into the road, effectively narrowing
it by up to half its width. London Bridge, the only bridge in the city, was home to a
multitude of homes and shops, perched on top of the span to conserve space. 
Waste was disposed of simply. It was emptied out the windows into the alley or street and
slaughtering was done in he streets as well, with scraps being tossed underfoot. Hogs
were often 
used to keep the streets clean, but were assisted by wild dogs and scavenger birds. Open
sewers ran through the streets and into the Thames. 
Most of the rest of Chaucer's life was open at the courts of the king of England. Here a
startling change was apparent. The filth of the streets disappeared, to be replaced by
the splendor 
so often associated with royalty. 
The royal court of England was home to many in Chaucer's time. Courtiers, pages, knights,
nobles, princes, and of course the King and Queen. Chaucer rose through the ranks of the
king's men, experiencing all aspects of court life. He was a page, squire, court-bard,
counselor and finally courtier to various monarchs. 
Many kings rose and fell in his lifetime. Chaucer began his life in the king's service in
the reign of Edward III, and performed his service a long while. He was important enough
to Edward that he was personally ransomed after being captured by the French in the war
between Edward and Charles, an honor usually reserved for nobles. By 1378 Edward III had
died, and Chaucer was the man of Richard II. The country was caught up in a political
battle between the nobles of Gloucesterand Lancaster. The actions of these two nobles
sent Chaucer rolling, his world constantly changing about him. 
The only stable item in Chaucer's world was religion. The institution of religion, the
church, was quite prominent and visible. Cathedrals dotted the cities of the world, and
even the smallest town had a church. 
The glory of the Church may even have outshined that of the royal court. Cathedrals were
brilliant with magnificent carvings, statues of precious metals murals, holy artifacts,
and many other gleaming treasures. Even the smallest church was home to some splendor.
The glory of the church, and the power it put forth over the population made it a major
political power of the time. 
Chaucer was born in the early 1340's. Very little is known about the first stage of his
life. However, two items are fairly certain. It appears that Chaucer was the son of a
London vintner and relatively strong evidence supports that he attended one of three
grammar schools: either St.Paul's, St. Mary-le-Bow's or St. Martin-le-Grand's. 
Aside from this slim bit of information details of Chaucer's early life are few. The next
reliable bit of information places him at around the age of fourteen, a page in the
household of the wife of Prince Lionel, the second son of Edward III. He held this
position for some time. In 1359 Chaucer went to war technically as a soldier.34 Yet he
primarily as a diplomat.
Chaucer's first appearance into the king's business appeared in October of 1360, when he
carried letters from Calais to England during peace negotiations there. For this service
he held the official title of clerk of the king attached to the person of Prince Lionel.

In this way, Chaucer began his life of service to his king. In 1368, Chaucer was awarded
a royal reward for a long and valued service to his job. His actual duties during this
period were apparently fairly hazy. He served as a sort of jack of all trades. The only
thing we know about Chaucer's life between 1358 and 1367 is that he was imprisoned in
France, during the hundred year's war, and was ransomed in March of 1360, for a rather
large sum. In this time Chaucer also married Philippa Roet, lady in waiting to the Queen.
She bore at least two children, Thomas and Lyte Lowys, a child who was delighted in
arithmetic. 
Between 1368 and 1387, Chaucer undertook nearly a dozen diplomatic missions to Flanders,
France, and Italy. Most were important, many were so secret that they were not mentioned
in the histories of the time at all. In 1381, Chaucer was sent to deal with marriage
negotiations between Richard II and the daughter of the French King. While Chaucer was
not on diplomatic missions, he was performing his duties in the position for which he is
best known, the Kings Custom Service. From 1374 to 1386, he was the comptroller of
London. When he was removed from the post in 1386 he was instead granted the title Knight
of the Shire, an important Parliament post, and later was placed as the Clerk of the
King's works at Westminster, the Tower, and other royal property in South England.
Chaucer's final post in the King's service was that of the keeper of the small royal
forest of North Pertherton. He held this post twice, from 1390 to 1391, and from 1397 to
1398. 
In 1399, he settled in Westminster. On Christmas Eve he leased, for fifty-three years,
the garden of the monks of Westminster, to live in. However, he did not live long to
enjoy his retirement. Geoffrey Chaucer died in October 25, 1400. 
In a time when literacy was a luxury affordable only by the very wealthy and powerful,
Chaucer's writings stand out as unique. The main language of literature of the time was
Latin. Literacy and fluency in Latin were taught as early as literacy in English. In
fact, many people could read Latin yet had treat difficulty figuring out the simplest
English sentences. 
What little literature was not written in Latin was written in French. Latin and French
poetry was widely recognized as being the only real literature of any worth. This of
course, makes Chaucer's works even more unusual. Unlike most of the other writers of the
time, Chaucer wrote his works in English. It was read in English to the Royal Court upon
completion. 
Chaucer's writing career was not completely original or free of influences. His first
works borrowed heavily form French and Latin poems, and it was only later that some of
his works became more original. For example, Chaucer's first recorded poem (the Book of
the Duchess) the opening lines are simply translations of the openings of Froissarts
Paradys d'Amour. While this is the most obvious use of the French poem, other instances
reminiscent of the work appear throughout Chaucer's poem. In the first part of Chaucer's
career as a writer, it can be seen that his writing is restricted by a style made popular
at the time by French poetry. 
As in the prominent French poetry of the time, the Book demonstrates a love for detail
and description. Chaucer never quite escapes the French influences in his writing but
escapes 
some areas of French style. It was not until Chaucer began writing his most well-known
work 
The Canterbury Tales, that he did this. Until this work, his writings were simply
translations of old myths, or barely original poems written to fit the standards of
French style. Chaucer wished to write something more ambitious, original, and memorable.
The Canterbury Tales was the result. Chaucer's style of writing in The Canterbury Tales
is quite different from his earlier works. Hidden within the stories of the Pilgrims are
sermons about the world he knew, and the evils he saw within it.5 The Canterbury Tales
have no single style throughout, to which each shorter story is fit. Rather, Chaucer
gives each section of the poem it's own style. In fact, the over ruling style of
Chaucer's last work seems to be no style at all, each work is written to fit the subject.

Chaucer worked throughout his life to break away from the molds which society had set
about poetry in general , and his work in specific. Instead of forging beautifully
crafted lies and tales about society, his poetry held up a mirror to reflect reality as
he saw it.6 Chaucer's growth out of the mold imposed by tradition is illustrated by the
steady departure of it in his writings. And his final works, escaping at last form the
accepted style, set the stage for the beginnings of English literature.
Lawrence Seitz
Mitchum
English 12 CP
April 13, 2000
Geoffrey Chaucer: The Beginning of English Literature 
Geoffrey Chaucer's world was the Europe of the fourteenth century. It was not rich or
poor, happy or sad. Rather, it was the intermingling of these, a mixture of splendor and

poverty , displaying both worldly desire and spiritual purity. Chaucer's literary works
broke away from conformity and set the stage for the beginning of English literature. His
travels through it, mostly on the King's business, or civil service, shaped his writing,
offering the readers of today 
a brief glimpse into the world in which he lived. 
Chaucer lived from approximately 1340 to 1400. The world in which he lived was not one of
peace or stability. Born the son of a London vintner, he remained a Londoner for most of
the rest of his life, leaving the city only on the King's business.1 
The city of London was thus Chaucer's environment for most of his life. Aside from brief
visits into other countries or areas of England, he remained in the city, and it's
affects on his 
writing was immense. 
London of that time was not the London of today. It was a walled city, guarded against
invasion, but long enough time had passed since such a threat had approached that the
defenses had loosened. Houses perched upon the walls, and Chaucer in fact, lived for a
time in a house built over Aldgate, (one of the gates of the city).2
London was a city less than three-quarters of a square mile in size: It ran east and west
along the Thames less than one and a half miles, and extended northwards less than half a
mile. Over 20,000 people were packed into this small area; the diversity of the
inhabitants was overwhelming. Londoners ranged from wealthy to impoverished, from small
to large, from shoemaker to blacksmith to minstrel to priest. The city was thus fairly
close. Stone building mingled with tile, wood, and thatch. While the major streets were
fairly wide, small shops and stands often spread out into the road, effectively narrowing
it by up to half its width. London Bridge, the only bridge in the city, was home to a
multitude of homes and shops, perched on top of the span to conserve space. 
Waste was disposed of simply. It was emptied out the windows into the alley or street and
slaughtering was done in he streets as well, with scraps being tossed underfoot. Hogs
were often 
used to keep the streets clean, but were assisted by wild dogs and scavenger birds. Open
sewers ran through the streets and into the Thames. 
Most of the rest of Chaucer's life was open at the courts of the king of England. Here a
startling change was apparent. The filth of the streets disappeared, to be replaced by
the splendor 
so often associated with royalty. 
The royal court of England was home to many in Chaucer's time. Courtiers, pages, knights,
nobles, princes, and of course the King and Queen. Chaucer rose through the ranks of the
king's men, experiencing all aspects of court life. He was a page, squire, court-bard,
counselor and finally courtier to various monarchs. 
Many kings rose and fell in his lifetime. Chaucer began his life in the king's service in
the reign of Edward III, and performed his service a long while. He was important enough
to Edward that he was personally ransomed after being captured by the French in the war
between Edward and Charles, an honor usually reserved for nobles. By 1378 Edward III had
died, and Chaucer was the man of Richard II. The country was caught up in a political
battle between the nobles of Gloucesterand Lancaster. The actions of these two nobles
sent Chaucer rolling, his world constantly changing about him. 
The only stable item in Chaucer's world was religion. The institution of religion, the
church, was quite prominent and visible. Cathedrals dotted the cities of the world, and
even the smallest town had a church. 
The glory of the Church may even have outshined that of the royal court. Cathedrals were
brilliant with magnificent carvings, statues of precious metals murals, holy artifacts,
and many other gleaming treasures. Even the smallest church was home to some splendor.
The glory of the church, and the power it put forth over the population made it a major
political power of the time. 
Chaucer was born in the early 1340's. Very little is known about the first stage of his
life. However, two items are fairly certain. It appears that Chaucer was the son of a
London vintner and relatively strong evidence supports that he attended one of three
grammar schools: either St.Paul's, St. Mary-le-Bow's or St. Martin-le-Grand's. 
Aside from this slim bit of information details of Chaucer's early life are few. The next
reliable bit of information places him at around the age of fourteen, a page in the
household of the wife of Prince Lionel, the second son of Edward III. He held this
position for some time. In 1359 Chaucer went to war technically as a soldier.34 Yet he
primarily as a diplomat.
Chaucer's first appearance into the king's business appeared in October of 1360, when he
carried letters from Calais to England during peace negotiations there. For this service
he held the official title of clerk of the king attached to the person of Prince Lionel.

In this way, Chaucer began his life of service to his king. In 1368, Chaucer was awarded
a royal reward for a long and valued service to his job. His actual duties during this
period were apparently fairly hazy. He served as a sort of jack of all trades. The only
thing we know about Chaucer's life between 1358 and 1367 is that he was imprisoned in
France, during the hundred year's war, and was ransomed in March of 1360, for a rather
large sum. In this time Chaucer also married Philippa Roet, lady in waiting to the Queen.
She bore at least two children, Thomas and Lyte Lowys, a child who was delighted in
arithmetic. 
Between 1368 and 1387, Chaucer undertook nearly a dozen diplomatic missions to Flanders,
France, and Italy. Most were important, many were so secret that they were not mentioned
in the histories of the time at all. In 1381, Chaucer was sent to deal with marriage
negotiations between Richard II and the daughter of the French King. While Chaucer was
not on diplomatic missions, he was performing his duties in the position for which he is
best known, the Kings Custom Service. From 1374 to 1386, he was the comptroller of
London. When he was removed from the post in 1386 he was instead granted the title Knight
of the Shire, an important Parliament post, and later was placed as the Clerk of the
King's works at Westminster, the Tower, and other royal property in South England.
Chaucer's final post in the King's service was that of the keeper of the small royal
forest of North Pertherton. He held this post twice, from 1390 to 1391, and from 1397 to
1398. 
In 1399, he settled in Westminster. On Christmas Eve he leased, for fifty-three years,
the garden of the monks of Westminster, to live in. However, he did not live long to
enjoy his retirement. Geoffrey Chaucer died in October 25, 1400. 
In a time when literacy was a luxury affordable only by the very wealthy and powerful,
Chaucer's writings stand out as unique. The main language of literature of the time was
Latin. Literacy and fluency in Latin were taught as early as literacy in English. In
fact, many people could read Latin yet had treat difficulty figuring out the simplest
English sentences. 
What little literature was not written in Latin was written in French. Latin and French
poetry was widely recognized as being the only real literature of any worth. This of
course, makes Chaucer's works even more unusual. Unlike most of the other writers of the
time, Chaucer wrote his works in English. It was read in English to the Royal Court upon
completion. 
Chaucer's writing career was not completely original or free of influences. His first
works borrowed heavily form French and Latin poems, and it was only later that some of
his works became more original. For example, Chaucer's first recorded poem (the Book of
the Duchess) the opening lines are simply translations of the openings of Froissarts
Paradys d'Amour. While this is the most obvious use of the French poem, other instances
reminiscent of the work appear throughout Chaucer's poem. In the first part of Chaucer's
career as a writer, it can be seen that his writing is restricted by a style made popular
at the time by French poetry. 
As in the prominent French poetry of the time, the Book demonstrates a love for detail
and description. Chaucer never quite escapes the French influences in his writing but
escapes 
some areas of French style. It was not until Chaucer began writing his most well-known
work 
The Canterbury Tales, that he did this. Until this work, his writings were simply
translations of old myths, or barely original poems written to fit the standards of
French style. Chaucer wished to write something more ambitious, original, and memorable.
The Canterbury Tales was the result. Chaucer's style of writing in The Canterbury Tales
is quite different from his earlier works. Hidden within the stories of the Pilgrims are
sermons about the world he knew, and the evils he saw within it.5 The Canterbury Tales
have no single style throughout, to which each shorter story is fit. Rather, Chaucer
gives each section of the poem it's own style. In fact, the over ruling style of
Chaucer's last work seems to be no style at all, each work is written to fit the subject.

Chaucer worked throughout his life to break away from the molds which society had set
about poetry in general , and his work in specific. Instead of forging beautifully
crafted lies and tales about society, his poetry held up a mirror to reflect reality as
he saw it.6 Chaucer's growth out of the mold imposed by tradition is illustrated by the
steady departure of it in his writings. And his final works, escaping at last form the
accepted style, set the stage for the beginnings of English literature.
Bibliography
Lawrence Seitz
Mitchum
Engllish 12 CP
April 13, 2000
Chauer's literary works broke away from conformity and set the stage for the beginning of
English Literature.
I. Background Information
A. Chaucer lived from 1340 to 1400.
1. Father was a wealthy vinter
2. City of London was Chaucer's enviroment 
B. London of that time was different from london today
1. Londoners ranged from wealthy to impoverish
2. London bridge was home to many people to conserve space.
II. The Royal Court
A. The Royal court was home to many in Chaucer's time
1. Rest of Chaucer's life was spent in the royal court of England
2. Chaucer began his service when Edward III was reigning
B. Many Kings rose and feel in his lifetime
1. He was important enough to Edward...
2. 1378 Edward III died , Chaucer became a man of Richard II 
III. Religion
A. The only stable item in Chaucer's life was Relgion
1. The institution of relgion, the church, was quite visible
2. Cathedrals dotted cities of the world, even small towns had a church 
B. The glory of the Church outshined royal court
1. The power of the Church gave it politcal power.
2. The Church could even over see the royal court( in some cases)