英国文学讲稿2桥搜.pptVIP

Chapter Three Geoffrey Chaucer (1340?—1400)Father of English poetry/literature Something to know first I. Geoffrey Chaucer ( 1343 ___ 1400 ) “Father of English Poetry” II. Background Information: 1. After the 14th century, English capitalist industry and commerce developed at a rapid speed. The foundation of the feudal system began to crumble消失. England was on the brink of a great historical change. 2. The class of town citizen was rising. 3. Taking the place of French, English gradually recovered its dominant position. The people from various classes all speak English. 4. The glory of the Catholic church was on the wane. Outline: I. The Life of Chaucer II.?His literary career? III.The Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer A. Story B. Theme C. Structure D. Characterization E. Style F. The Social significance of the “ The Canterbury Tales. ⅲ. Chaucer’s contributions ⅳ. Textual Reading and the importance of the Prologue ⅴ. Exercises VI. Self-study VII Translation in English Ⅰ. Chaucer’s Life Geoffrey Chaucer, born, in1340 in London, was the son of a prosperous wine merchant who had connections with the Court. It was said that he had studied at Oxford and Cambridge. His life began as a page 小侍臣in a nobleman‘s household. Then he went to France at nineteen on one of the campaigns of the Hundred Years’ War, and was taken prisoner. On his return（1366）, he married Philippa, a maid of honor to the queen and sister of John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, who became his patron. In 1367, he entered the service of King Edward III and began to undertake various diplomatic missions to the Continent. His embassies of 1372 and 1378 to Italy were of particular significance, for they brought him into contact with Italian literature and some of its leading writers, among whom there were Boccaccio and Petrarch. In 1374, he was made Controller of Customs . In 1385 he became Justice of the Peace and Knight of the Shire (Member of