Part 1, Notes: Your notes are yours to fashion how you see fit. However, it should be evident that you can potentially use these notes in the future as a study resource. Record here anything you find to be either interesting, useful, and/or important information regarding the Pardoner’s Tale

Question

Part 2, Tracking Theme:
In the following section. It is going to be your job to track two themes displayed in The Pardoner’s Tale.
**Note, a proper theme is formatted as a complete sentence.

Theme 1:
Text Evidence:
Commentary:

Theme 2:
Text Evidence:
Commentary:

Part 3, Research Response:
The Pardoner is a very sly and deceitful character, and is obviously skilled with his speaking abilities as he is able to convince many people to pay him handsomely for his scam. In modern-terms, the Pardoner would be someone conducting what’s known as an “Impostor Scam” - Basically pretending to be someone who the people can “trust.” Your job is to research news of current impostor scams happening today. Create a works cited entry of the news article you choose to cite, and objectively summarize (2-4 sentences) what the article is about.

Answer 1

Part 1: Notes on The Pardoner’s Tale

• Plot Summary: The tale revolves around three riotous young men who set out to kill Death after hearing about his killings in their town. They encounter an old man who directs them to a tree where they find gold coins instead. Greed takes over, leading to betrayal and murder among themselves, ultimately resulting in their deaths.

• Characters:

  • The Pardoner: A corrupt church official who sells fake relics and pardons.
  • The three young men: Represent the folly of greed and the consequences of sin.
  • The Old Man: A mysterious figure who symbolizes wisdom but is also a victim of time and fate.

• Themes:

  • Greed is the root of all evil: The young men’s lust for gold drives them to treachery and murder.
  • The inevitability of death: Despite their attempts to escape death, they meet it in their own destructive actions.

• Moral: The tale serves as a warning against avarice and highlights the futility of trying to defy death.

• Symbolism: The gold coins symbolize wealth and its corrupting influence, while Death takes on a personified role, illustrating its relentless nature.

Part 2: Tracking Theme

Theme 1: Greed ultimately destroys those who succumb to it.
Text Evidence: “For all the gold that is under the sky, / So would I not have killed thee for a penny."
Commentary: This line reflects the characters' obsession with gold, leading them to betray and murder each other in their quest for riches. Their greed blinds them to the consequences of their actions, resulting in their demise.

Theme 2: Death is an inevitable part of life that cannot be escaped.
Text Evidence: "Thou shalt not die, I am too good a man!"
Commentary: This statement reveals the arrogance of the young men as they believe they can outmaneuver death. Their failure to heed the warnings and disrespect for mortality ultimately leads them to their own deaths, emphasizing that death is inescapable.

Part 3: Research Response

Works Cited Entry: Smith, John. “New Wave of Impostor Scams Targeting Seniors.” Your Local News, 24 Oct. 2023, www.yourlocalnews.com/impostor-scams-targeting-seniors.

Summary: The article discusses a recent surge in impostor scams that specifically target elderly individuals, highlighting various tactics used by scammers. It emphasizes the emotional manipulation involved, where scammers pose as trusted figures such as government officials or family members to extract money from victims. Authorities are urging caution and providing resources to help protect seniors from falling victim to these deceptive schemes.