... port of London (1374-86) and clerk of the king's works (1389-91). To Chaucer's final period, in which he achieved perhaps his best writing ability, belongs his masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, which was written mostly after 1387. This unfinished poem, about 17,000 lines, is considered to be one of the most brilliant works in all literature. The poem introduces a group ... of pilgrims journeying from London to the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket at Canterbury. To pass time each of the Pilgrims were to tell two stories, one on the way, and one on the way back. Together, the pilgrims re...

• Word Count: 695
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... not been written for three hundred years, very different form Anglo-Saxon. Rebirth of English literature. William Langland, priest: Piers Plowman. Geoffrey Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: group of pilgrims travelling form London to the tomb of Thomas Becket at Canterbury. Each character tells story. Understanding of human nature: young and old, knight and peasant, townsman and countryman Education developed enormously Clerks started grammar schools ... where students could learn skills of reading and writing William Caxton's first English printing press, set up in 1476 First books: Chauc...

• Word Count: 1162
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School