Chaucer's The Pardoner's Tale

Questions and Answers

What does the Pardoner do in his prologue?

Tells all the pilgrims that he is a con artist and an expert at it

What does the Pardoner preach against?

Avarice

What does the Pardoner preach?

Greed (money) is the root of all evil

What does 'Radix malorum est cupiditas' mean?

Greed (money) is the root of all evil Signup and view all the answers

Does the Pardoner care what happens to people?

False Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the Pardoner preaches against avarice?

People open their pockets Signup and view all the answers

What does the Pardoner do?

Makes people feel guilty to get money (preaches for money) Signup and view all the answers

What does the Pardoner do in every town?

Keeps girls Signup and view all the answers

Who does the Pardoner preach to?

Everyone but picks on the poorest (the most ignorant) because they are the easiest prey Signup and view all the answers

What is the Pardoner going to tell?

One of the best tales that he uses to get money Signup and view all the answers

Why is the Pardoner very blunt?

Probably drunk Signup and view all the answers

Who are the three rioters?

3 troublemakers who have been drinking all night Signup and view all the answers

What do the troublemakers leave the bar looking for and why?

Looking for death to 'kill him' Signup and view all the answers

What does the guy at the tavern tell the troublemakers?

To be careful because there is a lot of death going around Signup and view all the answers

Who do the troublemakers meet on their way to find 'death'?

An old man Signup and view all the answers

How does the old man treat the troublemakers?

Very nice Signup and view all the answers

How do the troublemakers treat the old man?

Terrible Signup and view all the answers

Why does the old man say he's old?

Because he is (he has lived a life) Signup and view all the answers

Why hasn't the old man died?

Because he hasn't Signup and view all the answers

Is the old man ready for death?

True Signup and view all the answers

What has he been asking Mother Earth to do?

To take him Signup and view all the answers

What does the old man say that the troublemakers have done?

Dishonored themselves for speaking to him so rudely Signup and view all the answers

What does the old man mention about the Bible?

Mentions that the Bible says to respect the elderly Signup and view all the answers

What do the troublemakers accuse the old man of?

Of being death's spy Signup and view all the answers

What does the old man call the troublemakers and where does he say they will find death?

Crooked and under a tree Signup and view all the answers

What do the troublemakers find under the tree?

Money Signup and view all the answers

What do the troublemakers forget about when they find the money?

Death Signup and view all the answers

How do the troublemakers feel when they find the money?

Lucky Signup and view all the answers

What do they decide to do when they see the money?

They claim it Signup and view all the answers

What problem do the troublemakers encounter with the money?

How to get the money into town without getting in trouble Signup and view all the answers

What solution do the troublemakers think of to fix their problem?

The youngest will go into town to get bread and wine while the other two remain with the money Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the plan for the solution takes place?

The two that remain with the money want to split the money evenly between them two only and make a plan to stab the youngest on in the back when he arrives. The youngest one wants to keep the money for himself so poisons the wine he gets to kill the other two. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the youngest troublemaker returns?

The two that remained stab him in the back and kill him. They decide to drink the wine (that is poisoned already) and so they die as well Signup and view all the answers

Did the troublemakers find death under a tree?

True Signup and view all the answers

What does the Pardoner do when he is done telling his tale?

Does the same thing he does to people to the pilgrims even AFTER he just told them what he actually does Signup and view all the answers

Who does the Pardoner single out to sell pardons to and why?

The host because he looks like the one with the most sins Signup and view all the answers

Why may the Pardoner be tricking the pilgrims after his tale?

He can't help himself. So conceited that he thinks he can get away with it. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Pardoner's Character

The Pardoner openly admits to being a con artist, capitalizing on people's guilt for profit.
His preaching focuses on avarice, repeatedly claiming that "greed is the root of all evil."
He does not genuinely care about the well-being of individuals and exploits their vulnerabilities for financial gain.

Tale of the Three Rioters

Three drunken troublemakers seek to confront "death" after hearing of its prevalence.
They meet an old man who, despite their rude attitude, treats them kindly.
The old man reveals that they have dishonored themselves by their disrespect and refers them to death's location.

Discovery and Betrayal

The rioters discover a fortune of gold coins under a tree, leading them to forget their quest for death.
They feel lucky and claim the treasure, but soon face a dilemma about transporting it safely to town.
A plan is devised where the youngest will fetch supplies while the other two remain with the gold. The two plot to kill him, aiming to keep the treasure for themselves.

Fatal Consequences

Upon returning, the youngest is stabbed by the two who were left behind, while they unknowingly drink the poisoned wine he had brought back.
Consequently, all three rioters meet their demise under the tree, with death being the bitter outcome of their greed.

Pardoner's Conclusion

After sharing his tale, the Pardoner attempts to sell pardons to the pilgrims, demonstrating his unchanging nature.
He targets the host for forgiveness, identifying him as potentially the most sinful, showcasing his manipulative tendencies.

Themes and Irony

The story highlights the hypocrisy of preaching against greed while embodying it.
The ironic twist of the rioters seeking death and ultimately finding it emphasizes the moral of the tale regarding the destructive nature of greed.

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Description

Explore the intriguing characters and moral lessons in Chaucer's 'The Pardoner's Tale'. This quiz delves into the themes of greed, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions through the stories of the Pardoner and the three rioters. Test your understanding of these timeless narratives.