using the Canterbury tales, take 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 in the Canterbury tales

Answer 1

Notes on "The Pardoner's Tale" from "The Canterbury Tales"

Overview

• Author: Geoffrey Chaucer
• Part of: The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories told by a group of pilgrims.
• Genre: Narrative poem; exemplum (a moral tale).
• Setting: A tavern in Flanders; storytelling during a pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Main Characters

• The Pardoner: A church official who sells indulgences and has a fraudulent approach to his ministry.
• Three Rioters: Characters representing greed and foolishness who set out to kill Death, personified in their pilgrimage.

Themes

1. Greed: Central theme; the Rioters' desire for gold leads to their demise.
2. Death: Personified as an adversary; the Rioters ignore the inevitability of death.
3. Hypocrisy and Corruption of the Church: The Pardoner represents the moral decay of religious figures, using his position for personal gain.
4. Morality and Consequences: The tale serves as a moral lesson regarding the consequences of vice and greed.

Plot Summary

• Three rioters hear of Death and set off to find and kill him.
• They meet an old man who directs them to a tree where they find a heap of gold coins.
• Temptation leads them to plot against one another to keep all the gold.
• Ultimately, greed drives each of them to kill another, and they all die tragically.

Symbolism

• The Gold Coins: Symbolize temptation, greed, and moral corruption.
• Death: Represents the inevitable fate that awaits everyone and the folly of attempting to escape it.

Critical Quotes

• "Radix malorum est Cupiditas": "The root of evil is desire." This phrase encapsulates the moral of the tale.
• The Pardoner’s closing remarks reveal his true character as he offers to sell relics and indulgences, showing his greed.

Literary Techniques

• Irony: The Pardoner preaches against greed while embodying it; his tale ultimately criticizes the vices he himself represents.
• Allegory: The entire story serves as an allegory for sin, greed, and the folly of man.
• Foreshadowing: The Rioters’ plans and conversations hint at their imminent doom.

Contextual Analysis

• Historical Background: The Pardoner's tale reflects the larger societal criticisms of the Church during Chaucer’s time, particularly practices involving indulgences.
• Pardoners in Medieval Society: Explores their role in the Church as both spiritual figures and shrewd salespeople, often misleading the faithful.

Personal Reflection

• Think about the relevance of the themes in today’s context, such as the relationship between excessive ambition, morality, and human relationships.
• Reflect on how Chaucer critiques social institutions and what that means for contemporary views on religion and morality.

Study Tips

• Focus on character motivations, particularly the Pardoner’s duality.
• Understand how Chaucer uses satire to critique societal norms.
• Consider how the tale is structured and how it builds tension leading to the climax.
• Remember key quotes and their implications for a deeper analysis of the text.

Potential Exam Questions

1. Analyze the role of greed in "The Pardoner's Tale" and its implications for the characters.
2. Discuss the portrayal of the Pardoner as a satirical figure and its significance within the structure of "The Canterbury Tales."
3. Explore the themes of death and morality as presented in the tale.

These notes will serve as a comprehensive study guide for understanding "The Pardoner's Tale" and its key elements, aiding in both analysis and interpretation for future reference.