Burial of Geoffrey Chaucer?
Poets involved
What happened
In 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, the most influential English poet of the Middle Ages, dies and is buried in Westminster Abbey. His burial in Poets' Corner marks the beginning of a tradition of honoring literary figures in that space. Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales' are a landmark of English literature, establishing the vernacular as a medium for serious poetry.
Literary impact
Chaucer's death and burial in Westminster Abbey is a foundational event for English literary history, establishing the Abbey as a national pantheon of poets. His works, which blend French and Italian influences with English subject matter, shaped the development of English poetry, influencing later poets such as John Gower, William Langland, and the Elizabethans. Chaucer's vernacular style made English a legitimate language for high art.
Source: Wikipedia
