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Dromo's Den
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[Up] [Dromo's Den] Geoffery Chaucer Biography CHAUCER, Geoffrey, "Father of English Poetry," born in London, England, in 1340. His history is not clear in many points, but it is certain that he studied at Cambridge and afterwards removed to Oxford. Several writers relate that he traveled extensively in his youth, and later entered as a law student in the Inner Temple. He married a sister of the subsequent wife of John of Gaunt. This alliance proved a valuable aid in entering the court of Edward III., then the most brilliant in Europe. His high poetic talent raised him to favor at the court, and in 1367 he was granted a pension equal to about $1,000 in modern money. His military achievements of 1359, in France, where he was taken prisoner, and his literary talent alike contributed towards obtaining this pension. His fortune declined when Richard II. ascended the throne, and, sympathizing with an insurrection in the streets of London, he was obliged to seek safety on the continent, but was driven back to England by poverty and privations, where he was promptly arrested and thrown into the Tower. A few years later a pension of a hundred dollars was again conferred upon him and he held several offices, but a number of misfortunes overtook him. His wife died in 1387, and he was greatly pressed for means of support, for the reason that he never possessed the requisite elements to provide for future emergencies. He died in the first year of the reign of Henry IV., in 1400, and was buried at Westminster Abbey. The writings of Chaucer are among the most excellent in the English [language]. His best work is the "Canterbury Tales," the early portion of which was written during his imprisonment. The first part is called the "Prologue," in which we learn of thirty people of various classes who gathered at Tabard Inn, Southark, some afoot, others on horseback. These people were wending their way to Canterbury to say prayers at the tomb of Thomas á Becket. Since the road was bad and infested with thieves, the company kept together, and gathered at the Inn to tell two stories going and two returning; the one telling the best should have his supper free. These stories were published in the" Prologue." They carry us back to Chaucer's time, and show his remarkable power of observing things and persons. However, he did not finish the set, as there should have been 120 stories, whereas we have only twenty-five. Besides these, Chaucer wrote "Legend of Good Women;" "House of Fame;" "Flower and Leaf;" "Testament of Love;" "Romaunt of the Rose," and "Troilus and Cresside." Chaucer wrote in verse; even the tales themselves, with two exceptions, are written in verse. The Teachers' and Pupils' Cyclopædia, Vol. I. (Kansas City: Bufton Book Co., 1909) 336. |