Which major literary genres did Geoffrey Chaucer use in his writing?

Geoffrey Chaucer, often celebrated as one of the first great English poets, demonstrated a masterful command of a wide variety of literary genres throughout his career. His work is characterized by its diversity in subject matter, style, and tone, reflecting his keen observation of the human condition.12

In his major narrative works, particularly The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer explored and utilized numerous genres, including:

• Romance: Both chivalric and popular forms.34
• Fabliau: Racy, humorous stories.34
• Beast Fable: Allegorical tales featuring animals.34
• Pious Legend and Saint’s Life: Religious narratives.34
• Dream-Vision: A form he notably employed in early works like the Book of the Duchess.5
• Elegy: Used to mourn and console.5
• Moral and Religious Writing: Including sermons and philosophical prose, such as his translation of Boethius.34

By employing a framing device like a pilgrimage, Chaucer was able to blend these disparate genres into a complex, unified narrative that captured the "frailties and follies" as well as the nobility of humankind.24