Reading the Classics #72: Geoffrey Chaucer
Hello there, and welcome back to Reading the Classics. Today, we’ll be taking a look at Geoffrey Chaucer, who is called the “Father of English Literature” for his contributions to both Literature and the English language. As it was the 1300s not everyone’s life was documented, but as Chaucer was a public servant, many records testify to his existence and his accomplishments. Chaucer was born somewhere in London in the early 1340s, and took part in the Hundred Years War against France; he was even captured once, but ransomed by the Duke of Clarence. In 1366 he married Philippa Roet, and they had 4 children together. Chaucer then went on to study law, attain a position in Edward III’s royal court, and even meet Petrarch (An Italian author who I may write about sometime). A little fun fact is that for something that Chaucer did for Edward III (It’s not recorded what his action was), and as a reward Edward granted him a free gallon of wine every day for the rest of his life. Starting from the year 1399 Chaucer disappears almost entirely from any records, and Chaucer himself died on October 25, 1400. He was buried in Westminster Abbey, and became the first inhabitant of the Poet’s Corner.
You have to admit that Chaucer sounds like a cool guy, but every author is only as good as what they write (RIP me). I actually don’t agree with that, but it was a smooth transition, so whatever. Chaucer wrote several things, the most famous being The Canterbury Tales. You’ve probably heard of it, it’s a pretty important part of English Literature. I’m also pretty sure that in American highschools you have to read it, but I’m homeschooled, what do I know XD. Anyway, here’s my review of The Canterbury Tales.
1. The Canterbury Tales
Written between 1387 and 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer’s masterpiece is a collection of stories told by different people. The plot follows a group of people from many different backgrounds, going together on a pilgrimage to visit a particular shrine. As the journey is long, one of the travelers suggests that they each tell a story on the way there, and a story on the way back. Thus The Canterbury Tales begins. There’s like 25 travelers or something like that, which makes for a lot of unique stories. I’m not gonna go into detail, because I want you all to discover the tales for yourselves. However, keep in mind that the culture was a lot different in the 1300s. A couple of the tales (I forget which ones) were blatantly sexual; it came as a surprise to me, so I’m giving you fair warning. Other than that, the rest of the stories were fine. Chaucer didn’t live to complete the work, so it ends very abruptly. I would highly recommend this to you to read, not necessarily because of the stories themselves, but because of its importance in Literature. You know how Shakespeare kinda revolutionized the English language with his plays? Chaucer did the same, but about 200 years earlier. This is kinda why he’s called the Father of English Literature. So yeah, read his stuff.
Will I ever read more of Geoffrey Chaucer in the future? Probably, yeah. He wrote a poem entitled Troilus and Criseyde that I’m interested in reading, if I ever get the chance to. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post. If you’re happy with it, then I’m happy. If there’s a certain author you’d like me to review or a suggestion for how to do this series, contact me however you want and let me know, I’m always open to ideas. Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you next time!
1387-1400- The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
1589-1593- The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare
1590-1592- The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
1591- Henry VI Part 1 by William Shakespeare
Henry VI Part 2 by William Shakespeare
Henry VI Part 3 by William Shakespeare
1592-1594- The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
1593- Richard III by William Shakespeare
Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare
Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare
1594- The Rape of Lucrece by William Shakespeare
1595- A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare
Richard II by William Shakespeare
1595-1596- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
1596-1599- The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
1597- The Merry Wives of Windsor by William Shakespeare
1598- Henry IV Part I by William Shakespeare
Love’s Labor’s Lost by William Shakespeare
1598-1599- Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
1599- As You Like It by William Shakespeare
Henry IV Part 2 by William Shakespeare
Henry V by William Shakespeare
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
Early 17th Century- Hamlet by William Shakespeare
1600- Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
1601- The Phoenix and the Turtle by William Shakespeare
1602- Troilus and Cressida by William Shakespeare
Othello by William Shakespeare
1603- King Lear by William Shakespeare
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
1603-1604- Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare
1605-1606- Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
1605-1608- Coriolanus by William Shakespeare
1607- Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
1607-1608- Pericles by William Shakespeare
1609- A Lover’s Complaint by William Shakespeare
1610-1611- The Tempest by William Shakespeare
1611- Cymbeline by William Shakespeare
1623- All’s Well that Ends Well by William Shakespeare
Henry VIII by William Shakespeare
King John by William Shakespeare
The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare
1667- Paradise Lost by John Milton
1671- Paradise Regained by John Milton
Samson Agonistes by John Milton
1704- The Battle of the Books by Jonathan Swift
A Tale of a Tub by Jonathan Swift
1726- Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
1729- A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
1811- Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
1813- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
1814- Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
1815- Emma by Jane Austen
1817- Sanditon by Jane Austen
1818- Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Persuasion by Jane Austen
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
1836- Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens
1836-1837- The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
1837- Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
1839- Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens
1840-1841- Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens
The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
1843- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
1844- The Chimes by Charles Dickens
1845- The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens
1847- Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
1848- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
1849- Shirley by Charlotte Bronte
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
1853- Bleak House by Charles Dickens
1854- Hard Times by Charles Dickens
1855- Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
1859- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
1861- Silas Marner by George Eliot
1864- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
1870- The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens
1871-1872- Middlemarch by George Eliot
1874- Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
1876- Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
1878- The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
1885- King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard
1886- The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
1887- A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle
1890- The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
1891- The White Company by Arthur Conan Doyle
Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
1892- The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Arthur Conan Doyle
1895- Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
1898- Youth by Joseph Conrad
1899- Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
1900- Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
1902- The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
1905- The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy
1906- Sir Nigel by Arthur Conan Doyle
1907- The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
1920- Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence
1923- Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
1924- The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie
1926- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie
1927- The Big Four by Agatha Christie
1928- The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence
1930- The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
1934- Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
1936- The A.B.C. Murders by Agatha Christie
1937- Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
1938- Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie
Out of the Silent Planet by Agatha Christie
1939- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
1940- The Patriotic Murders by Agatha Christie
1941- N or M? by Agatha Christie
1942- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
1943- The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis
Perelandra by C.S. Lewis
1945- That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
Animal Farm by George Orwell
1949- Crooked House by Agatha Christie
1984 by George Orwell
1950- The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
1951- Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
1952- The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
1953- The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
1954- The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff
1954-1955- The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
1955- The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis
1956- The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff
1959- The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff
1961- The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie
1970- Passenger to Frankfurt by Agatha Christie
1975- Curtain by Agatha Christie
1977- The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
