Storyboarding “The Pardoner’s Tale”
15 points
Due: Wednesday, January 17 & 18 – in class
Each character in The Tales relays a story incorporating or relating to his experience and personal
expertise. Through this frame method, Chaucer reveals each character’s traits. DO NOT simply pay
attention to the story being relayed, its plotline, characters and moral, but also pay attention to why and
how this story reflects the storyteller’s (NOT Chaucer’s) personality, outlook and morals.
For this literary selection, you will be storyboarding “The Pardoner’s Tale” from Chaucer’s The
Canterbury Tales. “The Pardoner’s Tale” concerns a trio of avaricious drunks who seek revenge for their
friend’s death, and encounter a strange character, along with serious trouble along the way. It is an ironic
tale concerning trust, friendship, honesty, greed and human nature.
IMPORTANT: While you are reading and storyboarding, think very carefully about how the
Pardoner’s personality and outlook come through in his story. Pay thorough attention to the
symbolism, allusions, and morals and, again, how these reflect the Pardoner’s personality as
introduced through the Prologue and in his own introduction to the tale he is about to tell. You will
be tested over both this story and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” so your storyboard will also serve as
your study guide. Remember: Your storyboard should be created in a way that will allow you to
easily recall story events by reviewing it.
Events to include:
 Setting
 Important events throughout (in chronological order)
 Plotline (see above)
 Purpose of the rioters’ journey
 Characters involved
 Resolution
 Moral(s)/Lesson(s)
Characters to include:
 Three rioters
 Kid in bar
 Old man
 Apothecary
Guidelines:
 You will have a minimum of 8 boxes based on the events/characters to include above.
 Your full name and period number must appear at the TOP of the page or on the back
– do not use one of your eight boxes for your name and period.
 CLEARLY LABEL THE TITLE OF EACH CHARACTER/EVENT IN EACH BOX.
 Each box must include both pictorial and visual notes on appearance, dress and
personality of the character. Colors are important in the descriptions, so feel free to
include important colors if he mentions them. (Coloring will possibly provide you with
extra credit.)
 In the top right hand corner of each box, indicate Chaucer’s opinion of each character
by marking:
F = favorable U = unfavorable N = neutral