Angol nyelvkönyv IV. [antikvár]

FIRST Lt^^SUN THE CANTERBURY TALES by GEOFFREY CHAUCER (1340-1400) Chaucer, the Father of English Poetry, was the first great realist of English literature. While he lived and worked England declared war m France. This war was the Hundred Years' War. Peasants had to 3ay heavy taxes during this time and it led to the Peasants' Rising in 1381. Though the peasants did not win it was important in English listory for it was the first time that peasants had demanded their •ights. A few years before the rising broke out Chaucer was sent to [taly as a diplomat. There he was able to study the Italian Renaissance. yVe can see the influence of the Italian Renaissance and that of Boccaccio in The Canterbury Tales, too. Chaucer was the first poet to be buried in the famous Poets' Corner 3f Westminster Abbey. In his works Chaucer gives a very good picture of the daily life of lis age. He knows how to tell a good story and behind every tale the -eader can discover real persons. For one hundred and fifty years ifter his death English literature produced no poet who was as great IS Chaucer. In his most famous work, The Canterbury Tales, he describes the company of twenty-nine pilgrims^ he met at an inn in the south of London. They had come from all over England and were on their way to Canterbury. A lot of people were fond of going to Canterbury Cathedral. Chaucer made friends with these people who came from all classes of society. By describing them the poet gives a realistic picture of 14th century society. ^ pilgrim — zarándok