Professor Lee Patterson Chaucer

Lecture on the economic, social, and political conditions of the

fourteenth century England and Chaucers place in it.

On Chaucers Background

Born: c. 1343
Died: 25 October 1400 (age: 56-57)
Resting place: Westminster Abbey, London
Occupation: author, poet, philosopher, bureaucrat,
diplomat, alchemist, astronomer
Spouse: Phillippa Roet
Children: Elizabeth Chaucer, Thomas Chaucer, Agnes
Chaucer, Lewis Chaucer

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Chaucer was born in London, England circa 1343. His exact date of birth is unknown
Chaucer died in 1400 of unknown causes though some speculate he was murdered
Chaucer was the first poet to be buried in Poets Corner of Westminster Abbey,
London
Phillippa Roet worked for Queen Elizabeth

The Black Death

Highly infectious disease known as the bubonic plague
Caused by a bacillus carried by fleas which infest
certain types of rodents
Killed - of Europes population
Did not completely disappear until after the Great
Plague of London in 1665
Europes population did not recover until around the
17th century

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The most important event to happen in Chaucers lifetime was The Black Death of
1348-1350
Ring Around the Rosy is a childrens song about the Black Death
The Black Death had wide-reaching social, political, and economic consequences for
England

Economic and Social Consequences

Europe operated under the feudal system where the
landlords were the ruling class and the
tenants/laborers were the lower class
Before the plague, there was a large population and
labor force, but not enough land and food
After the plague, there was lots of land and food with
less people to feed and work
This change in supply/demand gave the tenants more
power and threatened the future of the landlords

Political Consequences
The ruling class passed restrictive laws against the
tenants
These laws led to a short revolt by the peasants,
known as the Rising of 1381
The Rising of 1381 was a sign of a greater struggle, the
crisis between King Richard II and his nobles
Chaucer was a royal servant of King Richard II
The Canterbury Tales can be seen as an escape from
the politics that Chaucer was involved in

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The laws included compelling the laborer to accept all work offered, restricting him
from leaving his house, forbidding higher wages, and regulating food prices

Why We Start With Chaucer

Chaucer is the most readable of medieval English poets
Chaucer focuses on the individual
Chaucer is considered the Father of English Poetry

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By most readable, I mean that Chaucer writes in an almost modern style, close to that
which books are written in today. For example, reading J.K. Rowling as opposed to
reading Shakespeare.
By this, I mean that the meaning of each tale is related to the individual it is being told
by.
Chaucer describes each pilgrim by their social role. However, he doesnt focus on
their function in society, but on the character that inhibits that role. For example, the
monk has a passion for hunting. That passion makes him a poor monk, but Chaucer
doesnt focus on the fact that he is a poor monk and the consequences of that.
Chaucer is considered the Father of English Poetry because of his originality.