the pardoners prologue and tale

apostrophe

"betray me not, o water, with thy sound" A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.

magna carta

(1215) a charter of liberties (freedoms) that King John "Lackland" of Englad was forced to sign; it made the king obey the same laws as the citizens of his kingdom

geoffrey chaucer

-wrote the Canterbury Tales: a rhyming epic written in English, tale of 30 pilgrims who tell stories on their way to visit the shrine of a martyr

fable

A brief story that leads to a moral, often using animals as characters

exemplum

A brief story used to make a point in an argument or to illustrate a moral truth.

allegory

A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions

feudalism

A political and social system that developed during the Middle Ages; nobles offered protection and land in return for service

crusades

A series of holy wars from 1096-1270 AD undertaken by European Christians to free the Holy Land from Muslim rule.

end rhyme

A word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line

internal rhyme

A word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line

canterbury cathedral

Big pilgrimage spot where people would touch the grave of Thomas Becket

chivalry

Code of conduct for knights during the Middle Ages

pilgrimage

Journey to a sacred shrine by Christians seeking to show their piety, fulfill vows, or gain absolution for sins. Other religions also have pilgrimage traditions, such as the Muslim journey to Mecca.

what did they hear going through the street?

a bell by a person's coffin

ballad

a narrative poem that tells a story and has a regular pattern of rhyme and rhythm

moral tale

a narrative that illustrates a moral lesson such as a fable or exemplum

frame story

a story within a story

medieval romance

an adventure tale with extravagant characters, exotic places, heroic events, passionate love, and supernatural forces

to which category does the gambler seem to belong

bad because they treat the old man badly

medieval narrative

ballad, medieval romance, allegory, moral tale

what details tell you that greed is the subject of this moral story

because all 3 characters are focused on it

how does the rioters' end support the lesson that the desire for money is the root of all evil

because at the end, all the rioters die because of greed

why does the pardoner admit his own corruption

because he proves that corruption can reach anyone, even a man of "the church". this makes indulgences seem more necessary

in what way is the pardoner's choice of the topic of avarice for his tale a sign of his corruption

because he understands his wrongdoings and continues to do so

why do you think chaucer decided to have a corrupt narrator, the pardoner, relate this tale

because it makes it more believable when they hear a story, rather than just hearing about what might happen

a parley is generally a discussion or a conference between opponents. in what way is this conversation a parley

because it's two men against one

why might people be vulnerable to the tricks of the pardoner and other unscrupulous clergymen?

because they lived in fear of the black death, they wanted to ensure their passage to heaven

verbal irony

buying rat poison, pardoner tells people to trust him, rioter telling other rioter to trust him

what is a pardoner

clergy member who had authority from pope to grant indulgences

in what way is the discovery the rioters make ironic

death has a negative connotation, while money has a positive connotation

many characters in moral stories are allegorical -- that is, they stand for abstract ideas, such as virtue and beauty. identify the allegorical character presented in the story. who fears him? why?

death. people of europe, specifically the three rioters. they fear him because they are afraid of going to hell

what do they find there? what is it worth

gold coins. 8 bushels

define avarice

greed

how is irony essential to the meaning of the story

highlights the theme by proof

situational irony

instead of killing death, they kill themselves. they say they will defend each other but end up killing each other. old man tells them where to find death but they find gold.

define situational irony

is a contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens

how does the youngest rioter's level of corruption compare to that of his friends?

just as bad because he wants to kill them too

allusion

midas. A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

what theme or central message about corruption do you think chaucer conveys in this story? how does it still hold true today?

money is the root of all evil. this holds true because even today the desire for money distorts peoples' priorities and also changes them.

is the rioter's corruption surprising

no because the moral of the story is that the love of money is the root of all evil

were all pardoners ethical? explain.

no, take money for the church or themselves

define verbal irony

occurs when someone state one thing and means another

dramatic irony

pardoner selling indulgences for greed, out of greed. 3 men plotting against each other. wine is poisoned.

who do the men meet along the road? how do they treat the person that they meet? what does this reveal about the men?

poor old man. rudely. they are not very good people

what does the young rioter buy from the apothecary

rat poison

thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honor it. what does this mean

respect your elders

where are the three men? what are they doing?

rioters in the tavern, early in the morning

in what way does the pardoner reveal his corruption in the end

sells them indulgences for greed, out of greed

is the pardoner being serious or facetious

serious about money. facetious about actually caring about these people

to what plague does the story refer? how many people in europe were killed by the plague during the mid-14th century

the black plague. 1/3 of the population

translate "radix malorum est cupiditas"

the love of money is the root of all evil

define dramatic irony

the readers know more than the characters do

what qualities of the three men does chaucer emphasize. what do you think may happen to them as a result of these qualities?

they are drunk, angry, and loyal to each other

what happens to the young man after he returns from town? what happens to the two remaining rioters

they kill him, they are poisoned

how do you think the 3 men will react to the challenge of sharing their treasure

they'll get greedy

define castigate

to criticize

what do the rioters decide to do

to find death

why does the pardoner tell his moral stories? explain how his motive is ironic

to make money. because he is immorally selling indulgences to people

why do they draw lots

to see who will go get bread and wine

what plan do the two remaining rioters make

to split the money between the two of them when the kill the other

what purposes do the story of his life and his views about death serve

treat others how you want to be treated

where does the old man tell them to find death

under an oak tree

explain the irony of the rioter telling the other rioter to trust him

verbal irony. he is telling him to trust him, while deceiving the other

in what way does the old man serve as a foil to the three rioters

wise, humble, old, doesn't fear death

do the rioters get what they deserve

yes

moral stories are usually straightforward. does this fit the pattern

yes because immediately after finding gold, the men begin to plot against each other