Chaucer is sometimes considered the source of the English vernacular tradition. His achievement for the language can be seen as part of a general historical trend towards the creation of a vernacular literature, after the example of Dante, in many parts of Europe.

Chaucer wrote in continental accentual-syllabic meter, a style which had developed since around the 12th century as an alternative to the alliterative Anglo-Saxon metre. Chaucer is known for metrical innovation, inventing the rhyme royal, and he was one of the first English poets to use the five-stress line, a decasyllabic cousin to the iambic pentameter.

The Canterbury Tales contrasts with other literature of the period in the naturalism of its narrative, the variety of stories the pilgrims tell and the varied characters who are engaged in the pilgrimage. Many of the stories narrated by the pilgrims seem to fit their individual characters and social standing, although some of the stories seem ill-fitting to their narrators, perhaps as a result of the incomplete state of the work. Chaucer drew on real life for his cast of pilgrims. He was able to shape their speech and satirise their manners in what was to become popular literature among people of the same types.

Geoffrey Chaucer is known as one of the greatest English poets of all time. The date of his birth is not known precisely but experts estimate that he was born somewhere around 1343. The son of a successful London wine seller, it is thought that he may have attended St Paul`s Latin Grammar School. He may have also, studied law at the Inns of Court.

Being of a high class, in 1357 when he was approximately 13 or 14 years old, he was lucky enough to have the experience of being page to the Countess of Ulster. This was a valuable experience where he learnt about the court and use of arms. He then when on further to become the  shield-bearer for King Edward the 3rd.  In 1366 he married Philippa Roet, a lady in waiting to the Queen of England. Passing away in 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer was buried in Westminster Abbey in a place that is now known as Poets Corner.

Chaucer mainly wrote for a selected audience of officials and fellow courtiers. His first original work was The Book of the Duchess. This was an elegy for the first wife of John of Gaunt. Chaucer also wrote he House of Fame, a poem of over 2000 lines, however this poem was never completed. The House of Fame  was a humorous account of the character`s dreams. 

From 1373 to approximately 1385 Chaucer interpreted and adapted a variety of Religious, Historical and Philosophical works. Along with  writing The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer`s wrote another major work entitled Troilus. Troilus was a tragic love story about the Trojan prince of the same name. After completing eight legends, Chaucer began his  masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales. This is a large collection of stories composed of over 18,000 lines of poetry. These stories represent nearly every medieval story. 

Geoffrey Chaucer expanded the reputation of English as a great literary language. William Shakespeare`s wrote many of his plays to show a sign of Geoffrey Chaucer`s comic spirit. John Dryden, a modern interpreter of The Canterbury Tales, named Chaucer as the "Father of English poetry." Chaucer will always be remembered for his wisdom, humour and humanity.

For further interest refer to:   allpoetry.com/Column/842599

(Source: poetry in Motion)