Geoffrey Chaucer

2 Pages 602 Words

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GEOFFREY CHAUCER
Geoffrey Chaucer is considered the greatest literary figure of medieval England and an outstanding writer of world literature. He made a huge contribution to all of English Literature by using English in a time when most poetry was written in Anglo-Norman or Latin. He is best known for his collection of stories written in the Canterbury Tales.
Chaucer’s birth date is unsure but scholars assume he was born during the 14th century in London around 1340. No information on Chaucer’s birth can be found, most likely because of his lower social class level. Geoffrey was the son of John Chaucer, a wealthy wine merchant and his wife Agnes. The name Chaucer came from a French origin that meant “Shoemaker.” Little is known about his early years and education but his works show he could read French, Latin, and Italian.
In 1356 when Chaucer came to be seventeen he became a page in the household of Prince Lionel, the third son of Kind Edward III. Then in 1359 Chaucer set off on his first military expedition to France during the Hundred Years’ War. He later got captured in war but King Edward paid his ransom.
The next six or seven years is a big gap in Chaucer’s life because there are no records to be found of his activities. Scholars think that he may have worked for the king or may have spent time studying law at the Inns of Court and then married Phillippa de Roet in 1366. They had two sons together named “Little Lewis” and Thomas. Phillippa later died in 1387.
Between 1367 and 1378 Chaucer went on several trips mainly to France and Italy. Some trips for diplomatic missions for the king and the others commercial missions. In 1374 he became a government official, serving as comptroller of customs for wool and leather at the port of London. He held this job for the next twelve years. He received most of his income by royal annuities and gifts given to him ...