Balti state university a. Russo chair of english philology

 
Geoffrey Chaucer 
 (1340 – 1400) 
G. Chaucer was a representative of a new class that appeared between the already existing 
aristocracy and the commons – the middle class. 
He was born in London in 1340 in the family of a wine merchant, and probably spent his boyhood 
in the atmosphere of London‟s wine merchandising area, where he mixed with common people of 
all sorts, which produced a great impact on his creation. He might have spent all his life there but in 
his early teens he was sent to serve as a page in one of the great aristocratic households of England 
and it opened a broad way for his further connections with the ruling nobility. G. Chaucer fulfilled 
many responsible and prestigious jobs during his life. He used to be a valet of Edward III, later he 
was sent to Italy to assist in arranging a trade agreement with the Genovese (1372); to France to get 
a royal bride for the young Prince Richard (1377). He worked as a Custom‟s Controller in the port 
of London (1374 – 86), he was elected Member of Parliament etc. It might seem that a man so busy 
would have little time to write poetry, but Chaucer seems to have been an assiduous versifier all his 
adult life. He had done many translations from French and Italian and wrote his own works. 
Unfortunately few of his poems can be precisely dated and some have not been preserved. 
Geoffrey Chaucer‟s literary activity can be divided into three periods: French, Italian and English. 
The French Period(1369-1372) 
In the early period of his literary activity Chaucer was greatly influenced by French 
literature. He was very fond of French poetry and he learned rhyme and rhythm from it. He was 
especially fond of the metric principle of French verse. Chaucer translated from French Le 
Roman de la Rose, which is an allegory, written by Guillaume de Lorris. It tells in the form of a 
dream the progress of a youthful love affair. Chaucer added to the original work 1770 lines and 
translated them into English. The poem is a mixture of highly diverse elements, and it is 
characteristic of Chaucer‟s love of variety which he managed to assimilate into his own work.
At the end of this decade he produced his first major work “The Book of the Duchess” which 
was completed at the beginning of 1369. 

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As it was mentioned the specific models of the 1
st
Period of Chaucer‟s literary career were 
French, but a great deal of works has been translated from Latin into English by the poet as 
well. His favourite Latin writer was Boethius, especially Consolation of Philosophy, written by 
the poet while in prison, right before his execution. It became one of the most valued books for 
the whole Middle Ages.