The Canterbury Tales
“The Pardoner’s Prologue” (pp. 125-7)
1. Define the following terms (recall & literary devices):
A. Allegory
B. Archetype
C. Exemplum
D. Foreshadowing
E. Maxim
F. Moral
G. Moral Tale
H. Parable
2. Why do you think the Pardoner calls his job a “game”? (analyze)
What strategies does the Pardoner employ in his “game”?
3. What is the Pardoner’s text?
4. Reread lines 41-44; what is the “principal intent” of the Pardoner’s sermons?
(motivation)
5. What are some synonyms for greed?
6. Reread lines 66-71; what does the Pardoner mean when he says, “I do not preach in
vain”? (interpret)
“The Pardoner’s Prologue” is funny in part because it is ironic—full of unexpected twists
and contradictions. Consider what makes each situation below ironic and complete the
chart.
Factoid from the story
What makes it ironic
The Pardoner implies drinking is an evil.
The Pardoner is drinking in a tavern at the
time!
The Pardoner is quick to help the sick.
The Pardoner offers to help the owners of
livestock get rich.
The Pardoner can cure others of greed.
The Pardoner describes how he asks for
payment at the end of sermons.
“The Pardoner’s Tale” (pp. 127-34)
7. Which details in the opening sentence enable the audience to for a quick opinion of
the main characters?
8. What is personified in line 95?
9. What is foreshadowed in lines 101-4?
10. Reread lines 105-9; what details of the publican’s comments add to the sense of
danger? (analyze allegory & archetypal elements)
11. What is the bargain mentioned in line 122? In what line do you find the answer.
(identifying main idea/support)
12. Why would this allegory include images of people from all levels of society?
13. In line 169, the old man makes an ironic statement. What is it & what type of irony
does it illustrate?
14. On page 129-30, what other things are personified?
15. What archetypal role does the old man play?
16. What did the old man say the rioters would find under the tree? What did they find?
17. What effect has greed (cause) had upon the three rioters?
18. In addition to avarice, or greed, against what sins does the exemplum preach in lines
319-23? (lit. analysis—allegory)
19. Judging by the ending, what does the Pardoner think of his fellow travelers?
(drawing conclusions)
20. Most churches currently take up the offering sometime during the middle of the
service, but prior to the sermon. The Pardoner takes up the offering after his sermon.
Which is a better practice? Why? (modern-day link; analysis)
21. Review the story and complete the chart illustrating the archetypal elements.
Patterns of Three
Test of Characters
Mysterious Guide
Just Ending