. For example, Chaucers first recorded poem The Book of Duchess, which was an elegy in the form of a dream vision commemorating John of Guants first wife, the young Duchess of Lancaster, the opening lines are simply translations of the openings of Froissarts Paradys d Amour. (77) While this is the most obvious use of the French poem, there are a few other lines or phrases that appear through out Chaucers poem. In the first part of Chaucers career as a writer, it can be seen that his writing is restricted by a style made popular at the time by French poetry. As in the prominent French Poetry of the time, the book demonstrates a love for detail and description. Chaucer never quite escapes the French influences in his writing, but escapes some areas of the so called French style. It was not until Chaucer began writing his most well known work The Canterbury Tales, that he did this. Until this work, his writings were simply translations of old myths, or barely original poems written to fit the standards of the French style. Chaucer wished to write something more ambitious, original, and memorable. The Canterbury Tales was the result of that single wish. Chaucers style of writing in The Canterbury Tales is quite different from his earlier works. Hidden with in the stories of the pilgrims are sermons about the world he knew, and the evils he saw with in it.The Canterbury Tales have no single style throughout to which each shorter story is fit. Rather, Chaucer gives each section of the poem its own style, to add originality to his masterpiece. Chaucer worked through out his life to break away from the molds which society had set about poetry in general, and his work in specific. (origin 236) Instead of forging beautifully crafted lies and tales about society, his poetry held up a mirror to reflect reality as he saw it. Chaucers main influence was without a doubt French literature. Although he copied the style for some time, he still is the mos...
