Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer is considered "The Father of English literature". He was
the son of a merchant of London and he could spoke French and read
Latin. While he was young, he was a page in the great aristocratic
court. He was a soldier, a controller of customs and he could write
poetry. He decided to wrote in English and this was revolutionary:
the language of culture were French and Latin. His works were
influenced by Petrarch's and Boccaccio's works.

The Canterbury Tales is Chaucer's
greatest work. It was probably written in 1386. it talks about a
group of 29 pilgrims who went to the shrine of Canterbury, of the
famous English saint (Thomas à Becket). It was written in verse, but
there are parts in prose. This work was not completed. This story
represents various classes of the later Middle Ages: the military,
the clergy, the middle class, the trades and it has an economic,
social and moral dimension. The most famous character is the Wife of
Bath, she who was a successful business woman and she represents the
rising middle class.

Chaucer is the first humanist in English literature and the first realist in
portraying personal and social relations. The the masterpiece has
vivid and realistic descriptions and skilful narration and humor.