Tobin 1
British Literature, Fall 2012
Unit 2
25 October 2012
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Topic: Canterbury Tales “Pardoner’s Tale” – Satire and Irony
Objective: After this class you will be able to read the “Pardoner’s Tale” from Chaucer’s Canterbury
Tales and identify what type of irony is being employed and what satirical message is being given
through the text.
EXPECTATIONS
1. Place proper materials on your desk 
2. Fill in MLA heading
3. Sit at SLANT
4. Silently and immediately begin the “Do Now”
ON YOUR DESK
1. Your English binder
2. Two sharpened writing utensils
3. This Packet
Do Now – Entrance Ticket
In two minutes, you will take an entrance ticket. It is just like an exit ticket, except that it tests you
yesterday’s material at the beginning of today’s class.
That’s why I’m giving you two minutes to briefly review the reading from last night (p. 142-150) and
recall the plot.
Review Notes:
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Scenes
Tobin 2
You are about to broken into 5 groups. Each group will be responsible for creating a 1-2 minute skit
that portrays a portion of the plot from The Pardoner’s Prologue and Tale. Your group will also be asked
to answer an interpretive question for our “lecture” at the end.
Requirements for POINTS:
a) All members of the group must play a role in the skit
b) All members of the group must take summary notes to prepare for the skit
c) The skit must be at least 1 minute long and no more than 2 minutes
d) The skit must cover all major events in your section
Group 1: “Pardoner’s Prologue” lines 1-80
Summary Notes:
Question: How would you account for the psychology of the Pardoner: Is he truly evil, just drunk, or so
used to cheating that he does it automatically?
Answer:
Group 2: “Pardoner’s Tale” lines 81-189
Summary Notes:
Question: How do the tavern knave and the publican personify Death? What does the rioters’ response
to the description tell you? Also, What archetypal role does the old man play?
Answer:
Group 3: “Pardoner’s Tale” lines 190-258
Summary Notes:
Tobin 3
Question: How is it both literally and figuratively true that Death is under the tree when all that’s under
the tree is a pot of gold?
Answer:
Group 4: “Pardoner’s Tale” lines 259-312
Summary Notes:
Question: Describe the situational irony of the three rioters’ plan.
Answer:
Group 5: “Pardoner’s Tale” lines 313-342
Summary Notes:
Question: What do you think Chaucer is satirizing in “The Pardoner’s Tale”?
Answer:
Final Question: Do people with the Pardoner’s ethics and tricks still exist today—in any field of life?
Explain.
Exit Ticket
HW: Reader Response over “Pardoner’s Tale”
Tobin 4
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Tobin 5
British Literature, Fall 2012
Unit 1
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25 October 2012
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You Do/HW: Reader Response to “Pardoner’s Tale” p. 142-50
Directions:
1: Select an annotation from the reading that you think you could further explain.
2: In the checkboxes, record the topic of the annotation
3: Select a prompt from the list on the back of this page that goes with that topic and record it below.
4: Respond to the prompt in complete sentences. You must fill the lines on the page.
Topic:  Figurative Language,
 Question,  Symbols  Themes  Characters  Reaction
Selected Prompt: ______________________________________________________________________
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Response to Prompt: ___________________________________________________________________
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Tobin 6
Reader Response Prompts
 Figurative Language Prompts
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What figurative language did the author use and what affect was it supposed to have on the
audience or reader?
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What was interesting, unique or well written?
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How could the writer have improved the selection both in terms of content, style & word
choice?
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What sensory details does the author use?
 Question Prompts
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What aspects of the reading surprised you? Why?
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What are some questions that you still have? What is unresolved by the time the text
concludes?
 Symbol Prompts
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What reoccurring objects or places keep being mentioned? What might they represent?
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Is there a person who seems to represent a certain idea? Who is it and what do they stand
for?
 Theme Prompts
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Where does the author make a statement without coming out and saying it? What is that
statement? How do you know it’s there?
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What cultural norms and attitudes are either affirmed or challenged by the text?
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How does the theme of this text reinforce OR go against themes of other stories, artworks, or
films you have seen?
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What lasting impression(s) does the author leave the readers with?
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Does the message or theme of this text align with your own beliefs? Why or why not?
 Character Prompts
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Which characters resonated with you? Why? Which characters did not? Why not?
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What is happening between characters that is unspoken or implied? What will result from it?
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Which character is most flawed?
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Which character is most moral?
 Personal Reactions Prompts
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What emotions or feelings did the reading elicit from you?
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What connections can you draw to contemporary society?
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What connections can you draw between the text and your life or life today?