The Pardoner’s Tale 63: in flaundres whilom was a compaignye 464: Of yonge folk that haunteden folye, 465: As riot, hasard, stywes, and tavernes, 466: Where as with harpes, lutes, and gyternes, 467: They daunce and pleyen at dees bothe day and nyght, 468: And eten also and drynken over hir myght, 469: Thurgh which they doon the devel sacrifise

470: Withinne that develes temple, in cursed wise, 471: By superfluytee abhomynable. 472: Hir othes been so grete and so dampnable 473: That it is grisly for to heere hem swere. 474: Oure blissed lordes body they totere, : Hem thoughte that jewes rente hym noght ynough; 476: And ech of hem at otheres synne lough.

The Pardoner’s Tale Prologue tells his true nature: Prologue tells his true nature: “I preach for nothing but for greed of gain” “I preach for nothing but for greed of gain” Line 5: “I preach against the very vice /I make my living out of—avarice.” Line 5: “I preach against the very vice /I make my living out of—avarice.” Line 22: “never do an honest job of work.” Line 22: “never do an honest job of work.”

Reasons Cleverness: the Pardoner thinks he is sneaky Cleverness: the Pardoner thinks he is sneaky Frankness: the Pardoner may realize that the pilgrims recognize him for what he really is Frankness: the Pardoner may realize that the pilgrims recognize him for what he really is Mean: he thinks the pilgrims “yokel” Mean: he thinks the pilgrims “yokel”

The Tale Lines introduce the theme: sin Lines introduce the theme: sin Seven deadly sins killed the immortal soul— damnation Seven deadly sins killed the immortal soul— damnation Avarice Avarice Lust Lust Gluttony Gluttony Sloth Sloth Melancholy Melancholy Wrath Wrath Envy Envy Vanity Vanity

The Tale The three men in this tale are guilty of three: The three men in this tale are guilty of three: Gluttony: “eat and drink far more than they could hold” Gluttony: “eat and drink far more than they could hold” Lust: “haunting vice and ribaldry” Lust: “haunting vice and ribaldry” Sloth: “harp, guitar, or lute carouses” (the youngsters play rather than work) Sloth: “harp, guitar, or lute carouses” (the youngsters play rather than work)

Three Sins The tale concerns all three of these, with dire consequences for our major characters The tale concerns all three of these, with dire consequences for our major characters Vanity is another sin introduced Vanity is another sin introduced

Background Death (personification) is in the form of the plague Death (personification) is in the form of the plague The youngsters, while drinking heavily (gluttony) brag about stopping Death (vanity) The youngsters, while drinking heavily (gluttony) brag about stopping Death (vanity) With this statement: “we will kill this traitor Death” (pg 133, 91) With this statement: “we will kill this traitor Death” (pg 133, 91)

Symbol Line 105: “A very poor old man/Who humbly greeted them” Line 105: “A very poor old man/Who humbly greeted them” The man is Death—he assigns the fate to the young men when he tells them where they may find Death The man is Death—he assigns the fate to the young men when he tells them where they may find Death The old man is looking for Death—he cannot die (Pontius Pilate?) The old man is looking for Death—he cannot die (Pontius Pilate?)

Disrespect The youngsters show the old man disrespect The youngsters show the old man disrespect Call him “Old fool” Call him “Old fool” Tell him to be quiet Tell him to be quiet They say he is the “spy” for death They say he is the “spy” for death Call him a “thieving swine” Call him a “thieving swine”

Deceit or Fate? The old man tells where he left Death The old man tells where he left Death The youngsters are not very smart (the old man said he was looking for death) The youngsters are not very smart (the old man said he was looking for death) The youngsters find “golden florins” instead (eight bushels worth) The youngsters find “golden florins” instead (eight bushels worth)

Fortune? The young ruffians claim that the money must certainly have been left by Fortune The young ruffians claim that the money must certainly have been left by Fortune This is another personification This is another personification Gold is directly related to avarice Gold is directly related to avarice

Ill-gotten Gain Line 183: “people would call us robbers” Line 183: “people would call us robbers” This line is put in to show there is no honor among thieve This line is put in to show there is no honor among thieve The three unscrupulous men know their own kind to be greedy, but still fail to see this in themselves The three unscrupulous men know their own kind to be greedy, but still fail to see this in themselves

Ill-Gotten Gain The three men devise to get the money to town by night The three men devise to get the money to town by night Symbol: night is used to cover deceit/treachery Symbol: night is used to cover deceit/treachery The men hope to hide their “sin” with darkness The men hope to hide their “sin” with darkness

The Plan Two men stay while the third goes to town to get food and drink Two men stay while the third goes to town to get food and drink This is the point where “Death” has been found under the tree This is the point where “Death” has been found under the tree The young men’s resolve has now been divided The young men’s resolve has now been divided

The Plan The two remaining men purpose to stab the third man in the back while he is distracted The two remaining men purpose to stab the third man in the back while he is distracted This is a coward’s means of dispatching an opponent This is a coward’s means of dispatching an opponent This directly contradicts the values of the present society This directly contradicts the values of the present society

The Plan The third man is unscrupulous himself The third man is unscrupulous himself He gets poison which is so strong it will kill with just one drop He gets poison which is so strong it will kill with just one drop He puts poison in two of the wine bottles He puts poison in two of the wine bottles Humor: the two men left at the tree are referred to as “polecats” (vermin) Humor: the two men left at the tree are referred to as “polecats” (vermin)

The Result The two men succeed in stabbing the third upon his return The two men succeed in stabbing the third upon his return The tow men then drank to their good “fortune” from the poisoned bottles and promptly died The tow men then drank to their good “fortune” from the poisoned bottles and promptly died

The Result

The Devil his Due Line 47: “Doing thereby the devil sacrifice” Line 47: “Doing thereby the devil sacrifice” Line 272: “And when this rioter, this devil’s clay” Line 272: “And when this rioter, this devil’s clay” The three men have given their immortal souls to the devil with their avarice, lust, and sloth The three men have given their immortal souls to the devil with their avarice, lust, and sloth

“As Bold as Brass” Lines : “I’ve some relics in my bale” Lines : “I’ve some relics in my bale” The Pardoner wastes no time attempting to make money following his “sermon” The Pardoner wastes no time attempting to make money following his “sermon” Absolution is on sale today! Absolution is on sale today!

The Impression The Pardoner claims that the host is “most enveloped in sin” (big insult on morality and intelligence) The Pardoner claims that the host is “most enveloped in sin” (big insult on morality and intelligence) The host promptly and emphatically refuses: “No…may the curse of Christ descend upon me if I do!” The host promptly and emphatically refuses: “No…may the curse of Christ descend upon me if I do!”

The Peacemaker The Knight shows his chivalrous nature when he keeps the host and pardoner from being angry The Knight shows his chivalrous nature when he keeps the host and pardoner from being angry He recognizes the need for the pilgrims to get along (leadership?) He recognizes the need for the pilgrims to get along (leadership?) “They kissed, and we continued on our way.” “They kissed, and we continued on our way.”

Images

Chaucer

Chaucer and Text

Chaucer Hoccleve’s Chaucer Portrait Hoccleve’s Chaucer Portrait

Chaucer 15 th Century Portrait 15 th Century Portrait