The World of Chaucer

The popularity of the father of the modern English language never quite seems to wane, and the majesty of the Middle Ages continues to enchant people the world over. Explore how the language of Chaucer as well as the history of the era are united in this world premiere production.

Articles

Geoffrey Chaucer
Often viewed as the “father of English literature”, Geoffrey Chaucer was an English poet, author, and civil servant best known for The Canterbury Tales. Uncover the varied life, experiences and writings of this titan of the western writing world.
Source: Poetry Foundation


The Black Death: The Plague
The Black Death left a lasting impact on the culture of Western Europe and the people that, somehow, managed to live through it. Explore the world of the Plague and just how Chaucer may have survived through this ordeal for the ages.
Source: University of Iowa


What Was Life Like for Women in the Middle Ages
While depictions of the Middle Ages often revolve around knights, dragons, and fairy tales, the stories of how real people lived during this tumultuous time are often even more fascinating—particularly the (often-untold) stories of women.
Source: Getty

Portrait of Chaucer Geoffrey Chaucer


The Evolution of Medieval Religion
The Church was a pervasive force in people’s lives in the Middle Ages. Follow the evolution of practices through the figures and events that shaped them from near and far.
Source: English Heritage


What a Woman’s Place in the Middle Ages Looks Like
From attitudes to original sin to the roles of wives, mothers and nuns, examines the role of women in medieval society through the visual art of the era.
Source: British Library

Portrait of Chaucer Inspired by the Black Death, The Dance of Death, or Danse Macabre, an allegory on the universality of death, was a common painting motif in the late medieval period. Nuremberg Chronicle, by Hartmann Schedel (1440-1514). Public Domain / Wikimedia

Videos

What Was Feudalism?
The combination of the legal, economic, military, cultural and political customs that reigned in medieval Europe between the 9th and 15th centuries, left a lasting impression. Delve into the pros, cons and complications that arose out of this long standing system.
Source: History Hub