Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 – 1400) was an English poet, often called the father of English literature. He wrote at a time when French and Latin were the dominant literary languages in England, and his choice to compose in Middle English helped elevate the vernacular. His poetry is known for its diverse genres, including dream visions, romances, and fabliaux. Major themes include courtly love, morality, social satire, and the individual’s place in an ordered universe. Chaucer’s style pioneered the use of iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets in English verse. His most famous work, The Canterbury Tales, frames a series of stories told by pilgrims, offering a panoramic view of 14th-century English society. Other notable poems include Troilus and Criseyde and The Book of the Duchess. Through his experimentation with form and voice, he shaped the course of English poetry for generations.