John chaucer was an affluent wine merchant and deputy to the kings butler. Geoffrey chaucer was born in london sometime between 40 and 44 to john chaucer and agnes copton. Geoffrey chaucer has to go down as one of britains finest writers. We do not know any details of his early life and education. Geoffrey chaucer immortalised medieval england in the canterbury tales the stories of various people gravitating to canterbury cathedral at the end of a pilgrimage. While chaucer achieved fame during his lifetime as a poet. He was one of the first writers to write in english. Chaucer grew up in close contact with the royal family. Geoffrey chaucers year of birth is a bit of a mystery for no one knows for sure which year he was born. Chaucer was born in the early 40s to a fairly rich though not aristocratic family. Geoffrey chaucer was a londoner, born and brought up a few streets south and east of thomas trewes place of business. He was the first poet to be buried in the poets corner of westminster abbey. His grandfather john was involved in the wine trade, as was his father robert.
Geoffrey chaucer has to go down as one of britains finest. Fishers complete poetry and prose of geoffrey chaucer, 2nd edition, with some minor additions and abbreviations of my own. Apr 29, 2019 geoffrey chaucer was the son of john chaucer, a wealthy vintner winemaker and seller and his wife anne. Records of his death have been lost, but he seems to have died in 1400 in london. Widely considered the greatest english poet of the middle ages, he is best known for the canterbury tales. He also was the most significant poet to write in middle english. As the author of the canterbury tales chaucer is, next to shakespeare, perhaps the most famous english poet, and has been called the father of english poetry he was born between 40 and 43, son of john chaucer, a london vintner, and agnes copton. In 57 he became a public servant to countess elizabeth of ulster and continued in that capacity with the british court. Born to a middle class lifestyle, chaucer served the court of edward the third as a page and later a diplomat. He was also an author, astronomer, philosopher and alchemist. His contribution to the english literature is much more important than that. Geoffrey chaucer was born around 43, probably in london. Geoffrey chaucer was born in 43, to john chaucer a vintner and deputy to the king. Essay geoffrey chaucer and literary accomplishments.
The evidence suggests, however, that he was born about 45, or a year or two earlier. Geoffrey chaucer was born in london, the son of a winemerchant, in about 42, and as he spent his life in royal government service his career happens to be unusually well documented. Geoffrey chaucer was a man with an interesting life to say the least. Geoffrey chaucer biography, life, interesting facts. Beyond the canterbury tales, geoffrey chaucers life in. What was geoffrey chaucers original plan for his masterpiece. Poet, was born in london, the son of john chaucer, a vintner of thames street, who had also a small estate at ipswich, and was occasionally employed on service. Poet geoffrey chaucer was born circa 40 in london, england. When he was around fifteen years of age, he managed to gain a position as page to the countess of ulster, serving mainly as a.
Apr 29, 2009 geoffrey chaucer was born in 42 in london, england. Mar 03, 2020 geoffrey chaucer, inventor of twitter. Geoffrey chaucer biography life, death, wife, school, young. View more historical records for geoffrey chaucer people with similar attributes to geoffrey chaucer gathered from those who lived during the same time period, were born in the same place, or who have a family name in common. The father of english literature geoffrey chaucer was born sometime between 4045 in london, england. Geoffrey chaucer biography english literature famous. Geoffrey chaucer was born around 43, most probably in his parents house on thames street, adjacent to the west bank of the walbrook in london, england. The canterbury tales originalspelling middle english. John had also been deputy butler to the king in 48. Personal background geoffrey chaucer occupies a unique position in the middle ages. Before william shakespeare, geoffrey chaucer was the preeminent english poet, and he remains in the top tier of the english canon. He was born into a prosperous merchant family in london. Geoffrey chaucer born 4044, died 1400 is remembered as the author of the canterbury tales. Chaucer was descended from two generations of rich vintners who had everything however a identify and in 57 chaucer began pursuing a role at court docket.
Although very little is definitely known about the details of his life, chaucer was probably born shortly after 40. The family was originally from ipswich northeast of london but robert chaucer geoffreys grandfather moved to london in the early 0s ce. He was born a commoner, but through his intellect and astute judgments of human character, he moved freely among the aristocracy. Geoffrey chaucer was born in london sometime between 40 and 44 to the academy of american poets is the largest membershipbased nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting american poets. The evidence suggests, however, that he was born about 45, or a year or two earlier, in his fathers house located on thames street, london, england. The chaucers were not wealthy, but they were welltodo. Chaucer, his family name is derived from the french word chausseur meaning shoemaker. He was born in a welltodo family, and because he was a courtier and bureaucrat, many records exist of his activities throughout his life. Geoffrey chaucer,short biography,wiki,born,dead,father of.
He also contributed importantly in the second half of the 14th century to the management of public affairs as courtier, diplomat, and. Geoffrey chaucer was the greatest poet of the middle ages, and is regarded as the father of english literature. Geoffrey chaucer was born about 43, the son of a rich wine merchant in london. Geoffrey chaucer is buried in the south transept or south cross of westminster abbey, now known as poets corner. No information exists concerning his early education. Geoffrey chaucer biography life, death, wife, school, young, book. The great english poet, geoffrey chaucer, was born in 42. Chaucer was descended from two generations of wealthy vintners who had everything but a title and in 57 chaucer began pursuing a position at court. The exact date and place of geoffrey chaucers birth are not known. When he was around fifteen years of age, he managed to gain a position as page to the countess of ulster, serving mainly as a servant.
Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile. Geoffrey chaucer 43 births 1400 deaths 14thcentury english writers burials at westminster abbey. A brief biography of geoffrey chaucer local histories. Geoffrey chaucer simple english wikipedia, the free. Geoffrey chaucer, the outstanding english poet before shakespeare. Poems by geoffrey chaucer academy of american poets. Geoffrey chaucer occupies a unique position in the middle ages. Chaucer was born sometime around 40 or 42, to a respected middle class family in the st martins in the vintry area of london. Geoffrey chaucer, the author of canterbury tales made so great a contribution to the development of english that the people and the language itself should be forever indebted toward the father of english poetry. He served under three kings edward iii, richard ii, and henry iv and had the trust of all three. He was born a commoner, but through his intellect and astute judgments. Records of plague outbreaks are taken from singman and mcleans daily life in chaucers england. The greatest english poet of the middle ages, he is best known for the canterbury tales, and is considered the father of english literature.
Chaucer was born in london most likely in the early 40s, though the precise date and location remain unknown. By 57 chaucer was a page to the wife of prince lionel, second son of edward iii, and it was while in the princes service that chaucer. He also contributed in the second half of the 14th century to the management of public affairs as courtier, diplomat, and civil servant. Geoffrey chaucer biography life, death, wife, school. Early years and marriage the exact date and place of geoffrey chaucers birth are not known. He is also known as the father of english literature.
Geoffrey chaucer is the most famous writer of medieval england. In 57 he became a public servant to countess elizabeth of ulster and continued in that capacity with the british court throughout his lifetime. Geoffrey followed ha seguito edward iiis son to il figlio di edward iiis nella war in france where he was taken fu preso prisoner and ransomed riscattato by the king himself in persona in 60. Geoffrey chaucer biography english literature famous authors. As chaucer was a public servant his life is well known with five hundred of his writings as a witness to his remarkable career. Chaucer, geoffrey geoffrey chaucer was born about 43, the son of a rich wine merchant in london.
Chaucer was born between 40 and 43 but we dont know the exact date. Geoffrey chaucer was born sometime between 41 and 44, most likely in london. Modern study of the setting of his art has made clear that in his work there is a range of subtlety surpassing that of all other medieval writers, with the exception of dante. Geoffrey chaucer was born between 40 and 45, probably in london. Geoffrey chaucer,known as the father of english literature is widely considered as the greatest english poet of the middle ages,he occupies a unique position in the middle ages. Geoffrey chaucer was a great english writer of the 14th century. A short biography of geoffrey chaucer local histories. Through his fathers connections, geoffrey held several positions early in his life, serving as a noblewomans page, a. Geoffrey had many jobs such as a member of parliament. Interesting facts about geoffrey chaucer you want to know. Under the first two, he was head of diplomatic missions sent to france, flanders, genoa, and milan to negotiate confidential agreements with. Like many details of chaucers life, its impossible to verify either of these facts.
Pauls cathedral school where it is believed he discovered the writing of ovid and virgil, which would serve as influence for his own writing in later. Agnes chaucer taken prisoner of war france 60 ransomed 60 died intestate. Chaucer was born in the year 40, london and served as public servant through his life. Geoffrey chaucer, born around 40, spent most of his life in what we would now call the civil service. From imprisonment and royal service to being renowned as one of the greatest poets and writers of the 0s. His the canterbury tales ranks as one of the greatest poetic works in english. Geoffrey chaucer, inventor of twitter the daily dot. In 57 he became a public servant to countess elizabeth of ulster and continued in.
He came from a bourgeoisie family, who descended from an affluent family who made their wealth in the london wine trade market. Oct 11, 2017 the great english poet, geoffrey chaucer, was born in 42. The canterbury tales originalspelling middle english edition penguin classics chaucer, geoffrey, mann, jill, mann, jill on. Geoffrey chaucer biography facts, childhood, family life. The following summary is based largely on a chaucer chronology in john h. Geoffrey chaucer biography list of works, study guides.
The life and success of geoffrey chaucer essay 893 words. Poet geoffrey chaucer was born circa 40, most likely at his parents house on thames street in london, england. They had two sons including thomas, and one daughter. The life of geoffrey chaucer and literary accomplishments geoffrey chaucer was born in 42 or 43 in london, england he died october 25, 1400 in london. Geoffrey chaucer was born in 42 in london, england.
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