THE PARDONERS TALE ENGLISH SECOND QUARTER

Geoffrey Chaucer

  • Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the greatest poets and fathers of literature in England.

  • Chaucer's use of English helped establish Middle English vernacular as the mainstream language.

  • Chaucer was born around 1343 to John and Agnes de Copton Chaucer.

  • Chaucer was the first to be buried in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey in 1400.

Geoffrey Chaucer - Early Career

  • In 1357, Chaucer worked as a butler at the court of Elizabeth, Countess of Ulster and her husband Lionel, Earl of Ulster.

  • In 1359, the Hundred Years' War began and Chaucer joined the English army in France.

Geoffrey Chaucer - Political Career

  • Chaucer was captured during a siege in the French City of Reims.

  • John of Gaunt, who Chaucer was related to by marriage, became influential in Chaucer's political career.

  • Chaucer saw his marriage to Philippa Roaet as an opportunity to be accepted into aristocracy.

Chaucer's Work/Career

  • The Book of the Duchess was one of Chaucer's first major poems.

  • Troilus and Criseyde tells a story of doomed medieval romance set against the backdrop of the Battle of Troy.

  • Chaucer worked as a financial controller of custom taxes for 12 years.

Chaucer's Work/Career - The Canterbury Tales

  • In 1387, Chaucer produced The Canterbury Tales, a compilation of 24 stories written in Old English verses.

  • The Canterbury Tales is about a group of pilgrims traveling from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas a Beckett.

  • The tale-tellers in the stories come from various social classes.

The Pardoner's Tale

  • The Pardoner's Tale is about preachers who raise money for religious works.

  • They solicit offerings and grant indulgences.

Three Young Revelers

  • Three young revelers are drinking in a tavern.

  • They hear a bell clinking, signaling a funeral procession.

  • They ask their servant about the corpse being carried away.

Seeking Death

  • The three revelers decide to seek Death.

  • They pledge to live and die for each other.

  • They meet an old man on the road.

Treating the Old Man

  • The revelers treat the old man rudely.

  • The old man tells them where to find Death.

Following the Old Man's Directions

  • The revelers follow the old man's directions to find Death.

Finding the Gold

  • The revelers find a hoard of gold coins under a tree.

Greed and Betrayal

  • The revelers discuss how to split the gold.

  • They decide to kill the youngest reveler to keep the gold for themselves.

Plan of Greed

  • The youngest reveler comes up with a plan to poison the other two

    • He buys bread and wine and goes to the apothecary to get poison

    • He pours the poison into two bottles and keeps the third clean for himself

  • The other two revelers carry out their plan and slay the youngest reveler

Fate

  • One reveler suggests sitting, drinking, and making merry before burying the body

  • By chance, he takes the poisoned bottle and gives some to his mate

  • Both revelers meet their fate instantly

Summary

  • The Pardoner is a hypocrite who preaches against vices but is guilty of them himself

  • He sells access to fake holy relics for money

  • He proudly shares his deception with the pilgrims who value relics on their way to Canterbury

Seven Deadly Sins - Envy

  • Envy is feeling jealous when someone else gets attention.

  • Envy is wanting something that someone else possesses.

Seven Deadly Sins - Pride

  • Pride is the inability to admit making a mistake.

  • Pride is having an excessive view of oneself without regard for others.

Seven Deadly Sins - Sloth

  • Sloth is being lazy and not taking action or utilizing one's talents.

  • Sloth is laying on the couch watching TV while others clean.

Seven Deadly Sins - Wrath

  • Wrath is getting angry and hitting others.

  • Wrath is having strong anger and hate towards another person.

Seven Deadly Sins - Lust

  • Lust is constantly thinking about a desired video game.

  • Lust is wanting something more than family, friends, and faith.

Seven Deadly Sins - Greed

  • Greed is hoarding candies in one's room.

  • Greed is an excessive pursuit of material goods.

Seven Deadly Sins - Gluttony

  • Gluttony is eating the whole cake meant for someone else's birthday.

  • Gluttony is an excessive and ongoing eating of food or drink.