Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales

Biography of Geoffrey Chaucer

Geoffrey Chaucer's birthday is unknown, but it is believed to be around 1345. He was born in London, England. Chaucer is often referred to as “the father of English poetry” and is marked “as one of the greatest poets of the late Middle Ages”. Chaucer was a page for the Countess of Ulster. Chaucer married Philippa, the daughter of Sir Payne Roet. In 1368, Chaucer was promoted from page to squire. He wrote a poem for the Duke of Lancaster titled The Book of the Duchess. Chaucer's most famous works include Troilus and Criseyde and The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer retired in 1399 and passed away in October of 1400.

http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ch-Co/Chaucer-Geoffrey.html

"The Canterbury Tales"

The Canterbury Tales is about a group of people going on a pilgrimage to see the remains of Thomas Becket. Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales as a frame narrative. A frame narrative means a story lies within another story. He used this approach so the work could tell each tale separately from the next. The Pardoner's Tale is a “frame” of The Canterbury Tales. The Pardoner sold pardons to the public people to “free them of their sins”. The Pardoner's character is quite ironic. He preaches to people all day about how “money is the root of all evil”, but he is selling these illegitimate merchandise to make a living. He would not care if he took the last cent from a woman who had starving children waiting at home. The Pardoner was corrupted. Chaucer used The Pardoner's Tale to visualize the theme of The Canterbury Tales which is corruption.