In 1330, the early stages of the Black Death began in Asia, with the disease spreading through trade routes towards Europe. This pandemic would eventually devastate populations and alter societal structures across the continent. The impact of the plague was profound, leading to significant changes in demographics, labor, and cultural expressions in the years that followed.

The Black Death profoundly influenced literature, inspiring works that grappled with themes of mortality, loss, and existential reflection. Poets like Geoffrey Chaucer, writing in the aftermath, incorporated these themes into their works, reflecting societal anxieties and the human condition. The plague's impact on society and culture would resonate in poetry for generations, shaping the narrative of life and death.