Geoffrey Chaucer: The Father of English Literature and the Impact of His Works

05.15.2023 // By Tome Tailor

Geoffrey Chaucer is often referred to as the “Father of English Literature,” a title bestowed upon him due to his profound impact on the development of the English language and literary tradition. Born around 1343, Chaucer lived through the middle of the 14th century to the very end of the 14th century. Throughout his life, Chaucer played a significant role in shaping the future of the English language through his works of poetry, tales, and philosophical discourse.

Chaucer’s Life and Early Works

Chaucer was born in London to a middle-class family, and his early years were spent working in various roles, including as a page for the Countess of Ulster, an esquire to King Edward III, and a diplomat. His training in these roles enabled him to gain exposure to the political and cultural life of the time, which in turn influenced his work as a poet and author. While Chaucer is most famous for his work, The Canterbury Tales (which we will discuss later in this post), his other poems and texts, such as Troilus and Criseyde and The Book of the Duchess, are also essential in understanding his impact on English literature.

In many of his early works, Chaucer experimented with language and form, often drawing on contemporary French and Italian literary styles. In Troilus and Criseyde, for example, Chaucer adopts the Italian ‘Petrarchan’ sonnet form to convey the tragic Trojan love story of Troilus and Criseyde. At the time, this was a significant literary choice, as it began to establish English as a viable language for serious literary expression outside of the French and Italian poetics.

You can read Troilus and Criseyde by purchasing it on Amazon here.

The Canterbury Tales and Its Influence

Despite his earlier contributions to English literature, Chaucer’s most enduring and influential work is undoubtedly The Canterbury Tales. This collection of 24 stories is framed as a narrative contest among a diverse group of individuals who have agreed to tell these tales as they journey together from London to the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket in Canterbury.

By choosing to portray such a diverse group of individuals, Chaucer was able to explore a wide range of themes and issues relevant to his contemporary society. As a result, The Canterbury Tales is often considered one of the first works of English literature to offer a representation of English society and its various social classes.

Some of the more famous tales from this collection include:

  • The Knight’s Tale
  • The Miller’s Tale
  • The Wife of Bath’s Tale
  • The Pardoner’s Tale
  • The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

Perhaps one of the most significant impacts of The Canterbury Tales on English literature and language was Chaucer’s use of the vernacular, or everyday language, instead of the more traditional Latin or French. By writing in the vernacular, Chaucer helped to establish English as a language suitable for literary expression and contributed to its elevation as the standard written language in England.

You can read or listen to The Canterbury Tales by purchasing it on Amazon here.

Chaucer’s Legacy and Continued Impact

Geoffrey Chaucer’s impact on the English language and literature did not end with his death in 1400. His works continued to inspire and influence generations of writers and poets long after his death. For example, it was Chaucer’s pioneering use of the vernacular that paved the way for the works of William Shakespeare and the King James Bible.

Moreover, his realistic characterizations and focus on the lived experiences of everyday individuals helped shape the English novel’s development, with writers such as Daniel Defoe, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens continuing this tradition of storytelling.

Chaucer’s works also continue to be studied and enjoyed by readers today, with many modern adaptations and translations available for contemporary audiences. Some of these adaptations include:

  • The Riverside Chaucer (a modern edition of Chaucer’s complete works) View on Amazon
  • A Knight’s Tale (a 2001 film adaptation of The Knight’s Tale from The Canterbury Tales) View on Amazon

As the “Father of English Literature,” Geoffrey Chaucer’s impact on the development of the English language and literary tradition is unparalleled. Through his innovative use of language, form, and characterization, Chaucer helped to shape the future of English literature and establish its importance in our cultural heritage.

Ready to experience Geoffrey Chaucer’s influence on English literature for yourself? Start by reading or listening to The Canterbury Tales, which you can purchase here.

Recommended Articles:

Looking for Something Else?