"The Pardoner's Tale"
Things to Consider:
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Use of Figurative Language
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Biblical/Religious References
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Divine/Poetic Justice
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Death
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Hypocrisy vs. Honesty
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Allegory ?
** Homework Questions **
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What is poetic justice? Does this tale employ it? Explain.
607:
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What is a Pardoner? What is this one like?
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Is he a hypocrite or is he honest about his contradictions? Both?
Neither?
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What four major sins does he address in this tale?
Prologue (page #s refer to on-line version):
193:
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What does "Radix malorum est cupiditas" mean? How is it
an ironic subject for his sermon?
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Why is he admitting so much about his sins and deception?
Tale Proper (page #s refer to Textbook):
608:
-
Explain: "Our Blessed Saviour's Body did they tear; / They thought
the Jews had not rent Him enough" (12-13).
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Why is gluttony considered the "Beginning of damnation and our fall"
(38)? Was Adam's and Eve's a sin of gluttony? Explain.
613:
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To what is the old beggar referring when he mentions "my mother's gate"
(267)? Explain.
616-17:
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How does the tale proper complement the commentary that precedes and
follows it?
Other Discussion Questions:
194:
What is a "bull" in this context (it's not an animal)?
608:
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How did Lot sin against nature?
609:
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What is the difference between substance and accident?
611:
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How does gaming lead to blasphemy, according to the Pardoner?
612:
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Who is the "unseen thief"? Why is "he" called that?
613:
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Why are the three drunk men suspicious of the old man?
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Has the old man really left Death in the woods? Explain.
616:
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Do the three men get what they deserve? Explain.
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How does the Host respond to the Pardoner's offer of absolution?
Why?
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What is "your old breeches" (486)?
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