The Age of Chaucer: The Birth of English Literature
When we think of the foundations of English literature, one name stands above the rest: Geoffrey Chaucer. Often called the “Father of English Poetry,” Chaucer transformed Middle English from a rough vernacular into a literary language. His greatest work, The Canterbury Tales, captures the voices, humor, and struggles of medieval life like no other text of its time.
Chaucer and the Changing World
The 14th century was a time of upheaval—plague, war, and shifting social structures. The Black Death wiped out a third of Europe’s population, creating a labor shortage that empowered the working class. Meanwhile, the English language was rising in status. For centuries, Latin and French dominated literature, but Chaucer’s decision to write in Middle English was revolutionary.
In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer showcases the diversity of medieval society through a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury, each telling a story. These tales range from the deeply philosophical to the outright bawdy. Consider the words of the Wife of Bath, one of literature’s first strong, independent female voices:
“Experience, though noon auctoritee
Were in this world, is right ynough for me
To speke of wo that is in mariage.”
(Translation: “Experience, though no written authority were in this world, is enough for me to speak of the sorrow of marriage.”)
Her voice is bold, unapologetic, and refreshingly modern. Chaucer’s characters feel real because he observed people closely, painting them with humor and depth.
A Lasting Influence
Though Chaucer died in 1400 before finishing The Canterbury Tales, his impact was lasting. He proved that English could be poetic, expressive, and worthy of literary greatness. Later writers like Shakespeare and Milton built on his foundation, refining and expanding English literature.
Chaucer’s work still speaks to us today. His tales of love, ambition, betrayal, and humor remind us that human nature hasn’t changed much in 600 years. And that’s what makes literature timeless.