Intro to The Pardoner's Tale

Narrative that has BOTH literal AND deeper, symbolic meanings. This form appears in many types of work, including poetry, novels, plays, and short stories.

• Exemplum: Latin for "example"

• Pardoner's Tale is an exemplum against the sin of greed

• Pardoner's sermon illustrates "Love of money is the root of all evil."

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​Pardoner's Tale Allegory

• a social commentary

• uses hyperbole (exaggeration), understatement

• often uses irony (difference between appearance vs reality)

• Purpose: to use humor to poke fun of a particular leader, a social custom or tradition or any other practice they want to call into question.

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​Satire is

• ​Chaucer used "The Pardoner's Tale" to criticize the Church.

• Pardoner's sermon against greed is ironic due to his personal greediness

• Social Commentary: Change needed to address the corruption in the Church

​Satire in "The Pardoner's Tale"

a basic storytelling pattern that made allegories easy to understand and remember

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​Archetypal Narrative Elements

• Characters, events, and other things come in threes

• A test of characters' morality

• A mysterious guide who helps point the way

• A just ending that rewards good and punishes evil

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​Common Archetypal Narrative Elements

Knowledge of the following vocabulary words will be necessary to understanding "The Pardoner's Tale"

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​Reading Vocabulary

• ​Pallor

• Hoary

• Tarry

• Apothecary

• Deftly

• Sauntered

(noun) an unnatural lack of color; paleness

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​Pallor

(adjective) white or gray with age

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​Hoary

(verb) to delay or linger

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Tarry

(noun) pharmacist; druggist

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​Apothecary

(adverb) skillfully; with ease and quickness

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​Deftly

(verb) walked at an unhurried pace

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​Sauntered