The Canterbury Tales 26

Geoffrey Chaucer, often referred to as the "Father of English Literature," wrote The Canterbury Tales during a period of significant social change in England. The country was recovering from the Black Death, a catastrophic pandemic that decimated the population. This event led to a shift in the social structure, as labor became more valuable, and the rigid hierarchies of feudalism began to weaken. Chaucer, who held various positions in the English court and administration, had firsthand experience of the diverse layers of society, from the aristocracy to common folk. His work reflects this broad social perspective.