-son of a merchant, soldier, diplomat, royal clerk
-author of The Canterbury Tales which provides the best contemporary picture we have of fourteenth century England, he takes the reader on a journey through medieval society
-sent in his early teens to work as page to the wife of Lionel of Antwerp where he was introduced to the aristocratic society of England
-while serving in the army in France, he was captured and held as a prisoner; Kind Edward paid 16 pound ransom for his release
-his early poems were based on the works of European poets
-first major book was The Book of Duchess
-wrote The Canterbury Tales in his later years for reasons no one knows why
-believed he may have been influenced by his own pilgrimage to Canterbury where he observed many pilgrims who were starting their own journey
-in the story each character tells a tale on the way to Canterbury; it encompasses medieval literature- from romance to comedy, from rhyme to prose, from crude humor to religious mysteries
-he was considered the greatest English poet, a shrewd storyteller, and an influence to many
-his story begins with a prologue in which the narrator (presumably him) meets 29 other pilgrims at a Inn in a suburb in London
-to make the journey a challenge for the pilgrims, the host of the Inn suggests that each pilgrim tell two stories o the way to Canterbury and two stories on the way back
-each section of the story consists of one of the pilgrim's stories, 24 tales in the entire story
-in the prologue, Chaucer sketches a brief but vivid picture of each pilgrim, creating a sense of medieval life
-the characters are classified by their rank/orders
-each pilgrim tells a tale that is consistent with his or her character which privides the reader with the major forms of medieval literature
-traveling w/ the pilgrims may give the reader a sense that the world is a huge place
-the story begins with the narrator describing spring along with its showers and flowers
-he states that around this time of year, people like to go on pilgrimages and that he, himself is also considering going on one
-he decided to go on a pilgrimage; while on it he was accompanied by many other pilgrims
-the narrator goes into detail about the knight, as if it symbolizes the best of the pilgrims, the one that is the strongest and smartest
-the knights son, resembling the mighty characteristics of his father, is admired by the narrator
-narrator continues to introduce pilgrims he is surrounded with; Yeoman, the Nun, The Monk, Friar, the poor merchant, Oxford Cleric, the Sergeant at the Law, Franklin, a Haberdasher, Dyer, Carpenter, Weaver, Carpet-maker, the Cook, Skipper, Doctor, worthy wife of Bath, Parson, Plowman, Reeve, Manciple, Pardoner, Summoner, Miller, and the Host
-each and every character he introduced was supported by appearances, such as clothing, style, class, characteristics, personalities, etc.
-after he is finished introducing all of the pilgrims, the narrator apologizes to his reader if he has offended anyone (referring to the reader); "But first I beg of you, in courtesy, Not to condemn me as unmannerly If I speak plainly with no concealing's And give account of all their words and dealings Using their very phrases as they fell."
-after all of the pilgrim get settled, the host announces that this group of pilgrims was the best he has ever been accompanied by and that the journey will be free of cost for them all
-he declares that each of the pilgrims are required to tell two stories on the journey to Canterbury and two different stories on the journey back from Canterbury
-he then states the author of the story that is most popular, best told, and most meaningful will receive a supper paid by all of the other pilgrims on the journey
-the pilgrims settle the dispute of the price of the supper and return to enjoying their journey, sipping on wine
-the story ends by the men awaking and then each draw a straw to see when their turn will be for presenting their stories; the person who draws the shortest straw is the first to go and so on
-the host says that whoever disagrees with his ideas/requirements will have to pay for their pilgrimage
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