from The Canterbury Tales,

Question

"The Pardoner's Tale"
Read this dialogue, between the Pardoner and the Host, from "The Pardoner's Tale":
"Come forward, Host, you shall be the first to pay, And kiss my holy relics right away..."/"No, no,' said he,
'not I, and may the curse/Of Christ descend upon me if I do...'" The Pardoner said nothing, not a word;/He was so angry that he couldn't speak./ 'Well,' said our Host,
'if you're for showing pique,/l'll joke no more, not with an angry man."
Why does Chaucer place this exchange near the conclusion of the section?
(1 point)

to explain why the
• pilgrimage has rerouted itself to Rome
to show that the
Pardoner actually cares about the salvation of others
to reveal that the Pardoner uses the money he gathers to help others
to underscore the
• extent of the Pardoner's greed

Answer 1

The correct answer is: to underscore the extent of the Pardoner's greed.

This exchange between the Pardoner and the Host highlights the Pardoner's greed and refusal to follow his own teachings. The Pardoner, who preaches against the dangers of greed and avarice, becomes angry and refuses to partake in a jest unless he is given money. This emphasizes the hypocrisy and selfishness of the Pardoner, which aligns with the theme of deception and corruption in the tale. Consequently, Chaucer places this exchange near the conclusion to emphasize the Pardoner's greed and emphasize the overall moral message of the story.