Final answer:
Chaucer and other contemporaries suggested that the solution to the church's problems was reform, including addressing corruption, promoting piety and austerity, and standardizing church practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Geoffrey Chaucer, through his work, hinted at reform as the solution to the problems plaguing the church. This suggestion becomes evident in various critiques of the church made during the time, such as the satirical depictions of the clergy's greed and corruption in poems like The Land of Cockaigne. Additionally, figures like Martin Luther advocated for substantial changes to church practices, tackling issues like the sale of indulgences and the overall abuse of power.
Historical reforms, including those initiated by the Cluniac movement, showcased the church's conscious efforts to correct internal corruption, such as the condemnation of simony and enforcing the rule of celibacy among the clergy. The overall message from critics and reformers alike suggests that addressing corruption, promoting piety and austerity, and standardizing church practices could lead to resolving the church's problems at the time.