Geoffrey Chaucer
English poet whose Canterbury Tales is the masterpiece of Middle English literature, showing a remarkable range of voices and styles. He introduced Italian and French forms to English poetry and helped establish the London dialect as literary standard.
Works
- The Canterbury TalesFrame narrative of pilgrims telling stories during journey to Canterbury shrine
- Troilus and CriseydeEpic poem of doomed love between Trojan prince and fickle Criseyde during war
- The Book of the DuchessDream vision poem mourning the death of the poet's patroness or beloved lady
- The House of FameDream vision poem about a narrator's visit to the house of the goddess Fame
- The Legend of Good WomenLegends of virtuous women wronged or betrayed by unfaithful men
- Canterbury TalesFrame narrative of pilgrims telling stories during journey to Canterbury shrine
- The Parliament of FowlsDream vision where birds debate marriage and courtly love on saint's feast day