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Chaucer was the first great poet writing in English, whose best-known work is 'The Canterbury Tales'.

Geoffrey Chaucer was born between 1340 and 1345, probably in London. His father was a prosperous wine merchant. We do not know any details of his early life and education.

In 1357, he was a page to Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster, wife of Edward III's third son. Chaucer was captured by the French during the Brittany expedition of 1359, but was ransomed by the king. Edward III later sent him on diplomatic missions to France, Genoa and Florence. His travels exposed him to the work of authors such as Dante, Boccaccio and Froissart.

Around 1366, Chaucer married Philippa Roet, a lady-in-waiting in the queen's household. They are thought to have had three or four children. Philippa's sister, Katherine Swynford, later became the third wife of John of Gaunt, the king's fourth son and Chaucer's patron.

In 1374, Chaucer was appointed comptroller of the lucrative London customs. In 1386, he was elected member of parliament for Kent, and he also served as a justice of the peace. In 1389, he was made clerk of the king's works, overseeing royal building projects. He held a number of other royal posts, serving both Edward III and his successor Richard II.

Chaucer's first major work was 'The Book of the Duchess', an elegy for the first wife of his patron John of Gaunt. Other works include 'Parlement of Foules', 'The Legend of Good Women' and 'Troilus and Criseyde'. In 1387, he began his most famous work, 'The Canterbury Tales', in which a diverse group of people recount stories to pass the time on a pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Chaucer disappears from the historical record in 1400, and is thought to have died soon after. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.

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Chaucer was the first great poet writing in English, whose best-known work is 'The Canterbury Tales'. Geoffrey Chaucer was born between 1340 and 1345, probably in London. His father was a prosperous wine merchant. We do not know any details of his early life and education.

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Although best known for his book The Canterbury Tales, English poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote many poems in his lifetime. Learn more on Biography.com.

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Introduction to the Skipper

The Skipper, known sometimes as the Shipman, is introduced at the beginning of The Canterbury Tales along with the other pilgrims. Chaucer paints a clear picture of the Skipper through descriptions of his clothing, horse, and skin. For example, he writes:

''He rode upon a rouncy (hack), as he couth, All in a gown of falding (coarse cloth) to the knee. A dagger hanging by a lace had he About his neck under his arm adown; The hot summer had made his hue all brown; And certainly he was a good fellaw.''

Working-class and Tough

Now, since this is Chaucer, and he is writing in Middle English, it might take a moment to realize that he is trying to get across the idea that the Skipper is a tough, working class man of limited means. His horse is described as a ''hack'' (not an impressive ride), and he is wearing ''course cloth.'' The fact that he is carrying a dagger suggests to the reader that he would not run away from a fight; perhaps he is even a little dangerous. This sets the Skipper apart from many of the other pilgrims, as several of them have associations with the Church, and many are highly educated.

A Fighter

As Chaucer's introduction to the Skipper continues, we learn that Skipper is a fighter:

''Of nice conscience took he no keep. If that he fought and had the higher hand, By water he sent them home to every land (he drowned his prisoners).''

It seems, then, that the impression we got from the dagger was correct: The Skipper is up for a fight. And not only is he prepared to fight the people who cross him, but he ends up drowning them.

Good at his Job

Chaucer concludes his introduction of the Skipper by letting the reader know that he's very good at his work. He writes:

''There was none such, from Hull unto Carthage, Hardy he was, and wise, I undertake: With many a tempest had his beard been shake. He knew well all the havens, as they were, From Scotland to the Cape of Finisterre.''

From this description, we learn that the Skipper is not only good at keeping his ship afloat in difficult conditions (''With many a tempest...''), but he knows all about the ports around Europe. Within the scope of his work, then, he is both talented and learned.

Different from Other Characters

There is no one ''type'' to Chaucer's pilgrims, but for the most part Chaucer is interested in exposing the hypocrisy in both the upper class and the religious class of his day. Throughout The Canterbury Tales we read many stories about people who work for the Church but exploit their positions for wealth. We also read about wealthy people who are fools. The Skipper stands out because he is tough, wise, and well-informed about his job, but lacks the wealth and class that other characters have.

The Skipper's Tale

''The Skipper's Tale'' elaborates on all of the ideas that the Skipper's character brings to mind: the limits of wealth and ties to the Church.

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the skipper in the canterbury tales: description & character analysis - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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The Skipper in The Canterbury Tales: Description & Character Analysis - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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The Skipper, known sometimes as the Shipman, is introduced at the beginning of The Canterbury Tales along with the other pilgrims. Chaucer paints a clear picture of the Skipper through descriptions of his clothing, horse, and skin. For example, he writes: ''He rode upon a rouncy (hack), as he couth, All in a gown of falding (coarse cloth) to the knee.

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Other collections of tales existed before Chaucer's, the most famous being Boccaccio's Decameron, in which three young lords and seven young ladies agree t

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The Canterbury Tales ( Middle English: Tales of Caunterbury) is a collection of 24 stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. In 1386, Chaucer became Controller of Customs and Justice of Peace and, in 1389, Clerk of the King's work.