The Pardoners Tale

In "The Pardoner's Tale" the three rioters are sure that they can destroy Death, and yet they fail to see that they are falling into his trap. This is an example of _____. a. irony c. hedonism b. heroism d. flattery

A

In "The Pardoner's Tale," Death is portrayed as ____________. a. both the prince of wickedness and an actual person b. both a skeletal figure and an evil angel c. an old man selling wares by the side of the road d. an archangel who kills people through natural disaster and war

A

Which best describes Chaucer's attitude toward the Nun in The Canterbury Tales? a. amused tolerance c. marked scorn b. polite detachment d. weary reproachfulness

A

Which of the following quotations from "The Prologue" is the best example of imagery? a. "Thinly they fell, like rat-tails, one by one." b. "In fifteen mortal battles he had been." c. "Just home from service, he had joined our ranks." d. "He'd seen some service with the cavalry."

A

Which of the following words best describes the Pardoner's treatment of the Host? a. angry c. uneducated b. generous d. mocking

A

Which pilgrim would most likely give absolution to a character in The Canterbury Tales? Explain your reasoning. a. Friar b. Cook c. Merchant d. Wife of Bath

A, A friar forgives people for their sins

Which phrase describes Chaucer's attitude toward the Nun? Support your answer with specific references from "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales. a. amused tolerance b. polite detachment c. marked scorn d. weary reproachfulness

Although the Nun is clearly more concerned with worldly luxuries than with the poor (she keeps pets and puts on airs); meant by Chaucer to illustrate the hypocrisy of religious life in the Middle Ages, we see that Chaucer's treatment of and tone toward the Nun is less severe than that of the Monk who shares the same profession and similar indiscretions. We sense that the Monk is clearly corrupt because of the tone Chaucer uses and the things Chaucer focuses on to depict the Monk's religious hypocrisy: "The Rule of good St. Benet or St. Maur/ As old and strict he tended to ignore;/ He let go by the things of yesterday/ And took the modern world's more spacious way." While Chaucer clearly mocks the Nun, he does not take the same judgmental tone about her as he does with the Monk. He tends to focus on the humorous elements of her look and character: "For courtliness she had a special zest,/ And she would wipe her upper lip so clean/That not a trace of grease was to be seen/." Although the Nun shares many of the same flaws as the Monk, we never get proof that she is aware of her flaws. We sense that the Monk however is conscious of his failure to behave as a Monk should.

A Pardoner is an official of the — a. king c. local government b. church d. feudal manor

B

After the rioters abandon their search for Death, they murder one another. This act is an example of — a. dramatic irony c. poetic irony b. comic irony d. verbal irony

B

In "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales,whom do the pilgrims agree to set up as judge over themselves? a. the narrator c. the Oxford Cleric b. the Host d. the Sergeant at the Law

B

The character who prevents a fight between the Pardoner and the Host is the — a. Squire c. Monk b. Knight d. Oxford Clerk

B

Which of the following statements best describes the end of the tale? a. The rioters become rich. c. Death takes the gold florins. b. The rioters meet death. d. Death takes a holiday.

B

kind; gracious

Benign

In "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales Chaucer says the Knight "was a true, a perfect gentle-knight" (line 72). The Knight's son was "a fine young Squire / a lover and cadet, a lad of fire" (lines 79-80). Compare and contrast these two noblemen. What have they accomplished? What motivates them? What do they value? Then write an essay in which you use specific examples from the poem to show the similarities and differences between the father and son.

Both Knight and Squire value military skill and share the code of chivalry. The father has gained respect through his military action, which he performs with honor, wisdom, and humility. His son is more of a courtly lover, dancing, composing poetry, and jousting in tournaments.

The Haberdasher, the Dyer, the Carpenter, the Weaver, and the Carpet-maker are all — a. members of the clergy c. skilled members of crafts guilds b. landowners d. too poor to join the pilgrimage

C

The Wife of Bath is a — a. pious churchgoer and religious teacher b. well-traveled vendor of fine silk clothing c. veteran of several pilgrimages and marriages d. widow of a prosperous doctor in Bath

C

The old man's comment to the three rioters that Death "isn't one to hide for all your prating" is an example of — a. imagery c. verbal irony b. a moral d. situational irony

C

What theme does Chaucer convey in "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales? a. the conflicts inherent in society c. the infinite variety of human nature b. the basic evil of mankind d. the pitfalls of sensual pleasure

C

What does "The Pardoner's Tale" suggest about the Pardoner? Explain your answer. a. He believes that Death is the greatest enemy. b. He admires the bravery of the three rioters. c. He believes greed is worse than dying. d. He does not hold to any absolute truths.

C, The pardoner thinks living in greed is worse than death itself

Consider the many characterizations in "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales of the men and women associated with the church. From these portraits, what conclusion might you draw about Chaucer's attitude toward the church and/or religious practitioners? Write an essay in which you present your conclusion and support it with evidence from "The Prologue."

Chaucer has a fairly cynical attitude toward the church and religious practitioners, viewing most of them as corrupt and as given to self-serving and so-called "sinful" behavior as the people for whom they supposedly set an example. To illustrate this, students might point to his characterizations of the Nun, the Monk, the Friar, the Summoner, and/or the Pardoner—and, in particular, what these characters say about how they spend their time and what they're willing to overlook or pardon in exchange for gifts.

The Pardoner earns money from all of the following activities except — a. preaching against greed c. selling relics and papal pardons b. begging from church to church d. making and selling baskets

D

The Pardoner's pious story reveals his — a. honesty c. sensitivity b. ignorance d. immorality

D

Using the who, what, where, when, why, and how questioning strategy to understand the following passage from "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales, write the letter of the phrase that best summarizes its meaning. Whatever money from his friends he took / He spent on learning or another book / And prayed for them most earnestly, returning / Thanks to them thus for paying for his learning. a. He stole his friends' money, spent it on books, and then prayed his friends would return. b. Whatever money he borrowed from his friends he spent on his studies and books, prayed for more books, and then sent his friends thank-you notes for paying for his learning. c. Whatever money he could get from his friends he spent on his studies and books, prayed for his books, and then returned thanks to his friends for paying for his learning. d. Whatever money he borrowed from his friends he spent on his studies and books and then prayed earnestly for his friends as a way of giving them thanks.

D

Using the who, what, where, when, why, and how questioning strategy, write the letter of the phrase that best summarizes the meaning of the following passage from "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales. He was an easy man in penance-giving / Where he could hope to make a decent living; / It's a sure sign whenever gifts are given / To a poor Order that a man's well shriven, / And should he give enough he knew in verity / The penitent repented in sincerity. a. He gave out easy penances and absolution in exchange for gifts. b. He gave out easy penances in exchange for gifts wherever he thought he could get gifts out of the confessors. c. He gave out easy penances and absolution in exchange for gifts wherever he thought he could get gifts out of the confessors. He knew that if he exacted a large enough price for the sin that the penitent person would truly feel sorry for what he'd done. d. He gave out easy penances and absolution in exchange for gifts wherever he thought he could get gifts out of the confessors. He knew that if he exacted a large enough price for the sin that the penitent person would truly feel sorry for what he'd done. In fact, whenever a poor group of friars receives gifts you can be sure that someone has just received absolution for his sins.

D

Review Chaucer's description of the Oxford Cleric in "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales. Cite one example of direct characterization and one of indirect characterization that suggest the Cleric is a serious student.

Direct Characterization: "Whatever money from his friends he took / He spent on learning or another book" (lines 309-310). Indirect characterization: "The thread upon his overcoat was bare" (line 300).

In Chaucer's day, the science of medicine was taught quite differently from the way it is taught today. Chaucer tells us the Doctor "was a very good practitioner" (line 424). If this is true, how did doctors treat their patients in the 1400s? Write a detailed paragraph describing the physician's art, using examples and quotations from "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales for support.

Doctors used astrology to diagnose and treat patients. They made charms and magic effigies to balance the four humors.

In "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales, we learn that the Miller is "a great stout fellow big in brawn and bone" (line 548). Provide two images or quotations from the narrator's description that suggest the Miller is large and strong.

Miller wins the prize ram at wrestling contests, and he can tear a door off its hinges.

Both the Nun and Parson serve their church and its people, but they have two very different personalities. Based on Chaucer's direct and indirect characterizations, which of the two does he most likely consider the more devout Christian? What evidence from "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales supports your opinion? Respond to these questions in a thoughtful, well-organized essay.

Parson is the more devoted Christian because he is holy, virtuous, and compassionate. He does not take from the poor but lives among them, serving as a model for Christian service. The Nun's courtly manner suggests she is more concerned with appearances and impressing people with her position in higher society.

The Pardoner concludes his tale in lines by saying that each of the men received his due. Do you agree that the men should have died because of their greed? Support your opinion with evidence from the text.

Students may agree that the men received their due and support it by giving evidence of the men's selfishness and greed in their betrayal of each other. Others may disagree that the men received their due and argue that Death is the greater traitor.

Who is the old man in "The Pardoner's Tale"? Is he a spy for Death? Is he an innocent bystander? Is he Death itself? Write an essay in which you assert your position. Use examples from the text to support your position.

Students may have varying opinions about the old man in the story, although most will recognize him as either an ally of Death's, or Death itself. They should use examples from the text to show how the old man ultimately pointed the three rioters to their deaths. Students also may make the argument that since Death was everywhere, the rioters could not avoid it.

The narrator of "The Pardoner's Tale" says that the three rioters "... made their bargain, swore with appetite, / These three, to live and die for one another / As brother-born might swear to his born brother." Briefly describe their vow and explain what causes them to abandon their promise to one other.

Students may note that the men vowed to live for one another when their only motivation was to seek out Death and kill him. When the gold is introduced into the story, they were divided by their greed and the vow was abandoned. Though all three men died, they did not die for the others but because of the others.

Chaucer's characters represent every level of medieval society, from the nobility to the lower class. Provide evidence for this on the following chart. List three pilgrims from different social classes in The Canterbury Tales. Briefly describe each character. Describe the level of society from which each comes. Describe the effect this broad presentation of life in the Middle Ages has on the reader.

Students should list three characters representative of various social classes, from the noble Knight to the lowly Plowman. They may say that the reader receives a more realistic and intriguing look at medieval life with Chaucer's depiction.

Dialogue can play an important part in any story. In an essay, analyze the dialogue between the young rioters and the other characters. What does the dialogue show about the rioters? The other characters?

Students should use details to show that the dialogue reveals the characteristics of the three men and the others characters. For example, the bragging comments of the three men show that they may be easily deceived through their pride and greed. The old man's milder words show that he may be more thoughtful and clever.

What is the most valid moral that you find in "The Pardoner's Tale"—in other words, what message or idea in it still applies best to life today? Discuss how this message is delivered in the tale. Analyze any way in which the message is ironic, such as a discrepancy between the tale and the teller; between what is expected and what happens; or between what is said and what is meant.

The moral I find in "The Pardoner's Tale" that is most applicable today is that even sinners desire forgiveness and wish to lead better lives. This lesson is shown in the ironic contrast between the tale the Pardoner tells and the way he lives his life. His tale condemns greed; his life exemplifies greed. But it should not be inferred from this contradiction that the Pardoner disdains the moral lesson he is telling. He may accept it as a matter of religious doctrine and psychological truth, yet knows that he is unable to live up to it. He hides his despair behind a pose of worldly disrespect for goodness. The ultimate irony is that the Pardoner would secretly wish to be sincere—to live up to the moral of the tale that he seems to be mocking.

In "The Pardoner's Tale," the old man tells the three rioters that they can find Death beyond the grove. What is the old man's purpose? Explain. a. He is running from Death himself and needs their protection. b. The man hopes to get the gold for himself. c. He hopes that the men will kill Death. d. He plans that the men will die.

The old man knows that the gold will lead the men to their own deaths, but he pretends to be helping them by pointing them toward Death.

Read the following excerpt from "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales. Then fill in the chart, using the who, what, where, when, why, and how questioning strategy. It happened in that season that one day / In Southwark, at The Tabard, as I lay / Ready to go on pilgrimage and start / For Canterbury, most devout of heart, / At night there came into that hostelry / Some nine and twenty in a company / Of sundry folk happening then to fall / In fellowship, and they were pilgrims all / That towards Canterbury meant to ride (lines 19-27).

Who: Narrator and pilgrims What: Spending the night Where: Hostelry When: One night Why: On pilgrimage How: by horse

Death is the of all living things.

adversary

, or greed, is one of the seven deadly sins.

avarice

In "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales, the narrator provides many details about the other pilgrims going to Canterbury, but he says little about himself. The reader is left to infer the narrator's character from what most impresses the narrator as worthy of reporting, what the narrator accepts as true—that is, how discerning he is—and from what little he says directly to the reader about himself and his manner of storytelling. Write an essay in which you explain the nature of the narrator's personality, supporting your ideas with evidence from the text.

narrator has a naive, simpleminded personality. To illustrate this, students might point to the fact that he seems to be impressed by people's titles, clothes, and other possessions and tends to take what they say about themselves as being true. They might further support this impression with the narrator's direct statement about himself, made in an apology in line 766, "I'm short of wit as you will understand."

unreasonably stubborn

obstinate

It is not considered to go out looking for Death.

prudent