The Pardoner's Tale
What does the Old Man symbolize?
Death.
What is Death portrayed as?
The price of wickedness and an actual person.
How do the tavern-knave and publican talk about death?
Death is personified and described as being a privy-thief who steals lives.
Who are the three young rioters looking for and Why?
Death, because they are angry about their friend who recently passed away.
What does the Pardoner's pious story reveal about himself?
His immorality.
What do the rioter's plan to do after finding the gold? (Full Detail)
The first rioter is sent away after drawing straws to buy equipment and drinks. As the first rioter is gone, the other two rioters plan to stab him when he is to return and split the gold between themselves. Meanwhile, the first rioter buys wine and visits the apothecary, where he purchases poison and puts it in two of the wine bottles. His plan is to return and have the men toast, allowing the men to drink the poisoned wine so he can have all the gold for himself. When he returns he is stabbed to death, and the men take the poisoned wine to celebrate their success. The two men die from the poison.
What is the setting of The Pardoner's Tale?
an old tavern in England.
Where does the Old Man tell the rioters to look for Death? How do they treat the Old Man?
Beneath an Oak Tree. They treat the old man disrespectfully.
What system is the Pardoner part of; feudal, church, or townspeople?
Church
What do the rioters find under the oak tree?
Gold.
What describe's the Pardoner?
Greedy, a bit of a con-artist.
After the rioters abandon their search for Death, they murder one another. (this is an example of?)
Situational Irony
What is ironic about the Pardoner's Tale?
The Pardoner explains that the moral is that greed causes death. Yet, the Pardoner is the greediest pilgrim.
What is ironic about the rioters finding gold?
The expect money to solve their problems but instead it brings them death.
"Death isn't one to hide from all your prating." -the Old Man (this is an example of?)
Verbal Irony
