This is a ppt we prepared for an English Literature class. It relates to the life of GEOFFREY CHAUCER. He was a lawyer, too!

1. GEOFFREY CHAUCER,
POLITICIAN AND WRITER.

2. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION.
 1343- 1400
 FATHER AND GRANDFATHER: VINTNERS (wine
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makers)
CHAUCER: from CHAUSSEUR: SHOEMAKER.
When 16: Page to the COUNTESS OF ULSTER. She
was the daughter –in-law of Edward III.
COURT CIRCLE.
EDWARD III invaded FRANCE: Chaucer travelled
there (1359.)

3. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
 1360: CAPTURED IN FRANCE.
 EDWARD III paid 16 pounds as ransom.
 1366: CHAUCER marries PHILIPPA DE ROET.
 PHILIPPA:
 A) “LADY-IN-WAITING” TO Edward III´s queen ;
 B) JOHN DE GAUNT ´s wife sister.
 They had 3 or 4 children.
 Philippa received a pension for COURT
EMPLOYMENT.. She died 1387.

4. CHAUCER´S TRAVELS AND ACTIVITIES:
 He studied LAW in the INNER TEMPLE, an INN OF
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


COURT.
VALET DE CHAMBRE of EDWARD III (member of
the Court) in 1367 (he was 24).
1368 he TRAVELLED TO MILAN and met other
important writers, such as: JEAN FROSSART and
PETRARCH.
1373: TRAVELLED TO PICARDY, GENOA AND
FLORENCE. He met BOCACCIO.
1378 he was SENT AS ENVOY (espy) to MILAN.

5. CHAUCER´S ACTIVITIES
 1374: COMPTROLLER OF THE CUSTOMS for the
PORT OF LONDON.
 1380: COMMISSIONER OF PEACE SENT TO
KENT. (French invasion was a possibility).
 1389: CLERK OF THE KING´S WORKS (foreman
organising the buildings projects. He conducted
repairs on Westminster Palace, and continue
building the wharf at the Tower of London). 2
shillings a day, a good salary.
 1390: KEEPER OF THE LODGE at the KING´S
PARK in FECKENHAM, honorary appointment.

6. CHAUCER´S ACTIVITIES.
 1390: DEPUTY FORESTER in the royal forest of
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North Petherton, Somerset.
1394: He is granted an annual pension of 20 pounds by
Richard II
1399: The new king renews his pension.
1399: He takes a lease on a residence within the close
of WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
Believed to have died of unknown causes October
1400.
Buried in Westminster Abbey in London, now in the
area known as POET´S CORNER.

7. CHAUCER´S MAJOR WORKS:
 FIRST MAJOR WORK: THE BOOK OF THE


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DUCHESS: ELEGY for BLANCHE OF
LANCASTER, commissioned by her husband JOHN
TDE GAUNT. 1374.
THE HOUSE OF FAME.
ANELIDA AND ARCITE.
PROLIFIC PERIOD: When he held the job of
COMPTROLLER of CUSTOMS for LONDON. (13741386)
PARLEMENT OF FOULES/ THE LEGEND OF
GOOD WOMEN.

8. MAJOR WORKS:
 TRANSLATIONS:
 TRANSLATION OF ROMAN DE LA ROSE (THE
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




ROMAUNT OF THE ROSE).
ASTRONOMY WORKS:
TREATISE ON THE ASTROLABE.
THE EQUATORIE OF THE PLANETS (although
some authors state it does not come from Chaucer).
SHORT POEMS AND BALADS:
An ABC.
Against Women Unconstant.

9. SPURIOUS WORKS:
 PEOPLE CREATED A MYTH: THE PROTESTANT


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

CHAUCER, THE LOLLARD CHAUCER.
BUT PROTESTANTISM DID NOT EXIST AT THAT
TIME.
SPURIOUS: THE PILGRIM´S TALE. (XVI CENT).
THE PLOUGHMAN´S TALE (a Lollard satire).
The testament of Love.
REFRAIMED MANUSCRIPTS: Many
manuscripts belonged to other poets and they made
“additions” to the original works.

10. CHAUCER´S INFLUENCE
LINGUISTIC
INFLUENCE
LITERARY
INFLUENCE
• RHYME ROYAL/
IAMBIC PENTAMETER
• STANDARDISE
LONDON DIALECt
POETS: IMITATION.
• SOURCE OF THE
ENGLISH
ENGLISH VERNACULAR
TRADITION.