The Canterbury Tales | The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale Summary & Analysis | Geoffrey Chaucer

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29 Nov 201703:05

Summary

TLDRIn 'The Pardoner's Tale' from *The Canterbury Tales*, the Pardoner reveals his corrupt preaching methods, exploiting people's greed for profit while preaching against it. He narrates the story of three young men who, after hearing of a deadly thief named Death, seek him out in a drunken rage. Their quest leads them to treasure beneath a tree, where greed takes hold, resulting in betrayal and death for all three. The tale serves as a moral lesson on the consequences of sinful behavior, illustrating the theme that one's actions ultimately lead to their downfall, encapsulated in the adage 'you reap what you sow.'

Takeaways

  • 😇 The Pardoner manipulates people for money instead of caring for their souls.
  • 🍷 The three young men in the tale indulge in vices like gluttony and drunkenness.
  • ⚔️ Gluttony is highlighted as a major cause of human misery and grief.
  • 👻 The young men learn about death personified as a thief who has been killing many.
  • 🌳 They decide to find and confront death after hearing about the thief.
  • 👴 An old man, who cannot die, directs them to a tree where they believe they can find death.
  • 💰 The men discover a treasure of coins beneath the tree, distracting them from their goal.
  • ☠️ The youngest man is killed by his companions who conspire against him for the treasure.
  • 🍷 The poisoned wine results in the death of all three men, showcasing the tale's grim moral.
  • 📜 The story illustrates that sinful actions lead to dire consequences, echoing the theme 'you reap what you sow.'

Q & A

  • What is the primary occupation of the Pardoner in the tale?

    -The Pardoner is a corrupt preacher who manipulates people into giving him money by pretending to care for their souls.

  • How does the Pardoner describe his preaching methods?

    -He states that he puts on a show to manipulate others, using the same texts repeatedly while living a greedy and selfish life.

  • What vices do the three young men in the tale indulge in?

    -The young men indulge in various vices, including gluttony, drunkenness, gambling, lying, and swearing in God's name.

  • What event prompts the three young men to seek out Death?

    -They encounter a coffin and learn that a man they knew has been killed by a thief called Death, which motivates them to confront and kill Death.

  • What does the old man tell the three young men?

    -The old man, who has lived a long time because Death will not take him, eventually directs them to a tree where they might find Death.

  • What do the young men find beneath the tree?

    -They discover a stash of coins beneath the tree and believe they have found a treasure.

  • What is the fate of the three young men by the end of the tale?

    -All three young men die: the youngest is killed by the others, and the two remaining men die from poisoned wine prepared by the youngest.

  • What moral lesson does the Pardoner convey through his tale?

    -The moral lesson is that sinful behavior ultimately leads to death, encapsulated in the phrase 'you reap what you sow.'

  • How does the Pardoner respond to the criticism from Harry Bailey?

    -The Pardoner becomes angry after being insulted by Harry Bailey, but the knight attempts to mediate and make peace between them.

  • What does the Pardoner's tale serve as a commentary on?

    -The tale serves as a commentary on the hypocrisy of those who preach morals while engaging in sinful behavior, particularly how the men attempt to destroy Death, equating their power with that of God.

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Etiquetas Relacionadas
Canterbury TalesPardoner's Talemoral lessongreeddeceptiondeathsinful behaviorstorytellingmedieval literaturehuman vice
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