Summary and Analysis of The Pardoner's Tale (The Canterbury Tales) Prologue to the Pardoner's Tale: The Host thinks that the cause of Virginia's death in the previous tale was her beauty. To counter the sadness of the tale, the Host suggests that the Pardoner tell a lighter tale. The Pardoner delays, for he wants to finish his meal, but says that he shall tell a moral tale. He says that he will tell a tale with this moral: the love of money is the root of all evil. He claims that during his
Chaucer's Pardoner is unique within the group travelling to Canterbury. While the Parson, the Wife of Bath, the Clerk, and others would love to sway the group toward their respective opinions and views, the Pardoner intends to swindle the group out of its money. His sermons are based on sound theology, but they are rendered hollow by his complete lack of integrity in applying them to his own life. He is a hypocrite - his root intention is to accrue money. Curiously, the Pardoner is openly honest
Satire (A Literary Analysis of how Chaucer uses Satire) “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but the highest form of intelligence” (Gino). Admit it; we all have that one friend that is always sarcastic. There are always saying things that may seem nice at first, but when you think about it what they just said could have been a complete insult. This special trait that is used by people is called satire. Satire is defined as the use of wit, especially irony, sarcasm, and ridicule, to criticize faults
against alcohol while simultaneously indulging in its pleasures. Alcohol can be anything from the blood of a savior to a shunned beverage only consumed by devils in religion. For Hafez, a Muslim, the priests or mullahs of his day and age preach lengthy sermons in condemnation of wine and drinking. Hafez shows in the text that these same holy men partake in alcohol just as much as they crusade against it. Hafez provides evidence for this by saying, “Brother believers, whatever shall we do? The priest left
Powerful Satire in The Canterbury Tales If one theme can be considered overriding or defining throughout Medieval European society, it would most likely be the concept of social class structure. During this early historical period in Europe, most of society was divided into three classes or 'estates:' the workers, the nobles, and the clerics. By Chaucer's time, however, the powerful estate structure had begun to wear down. Weaknesses in the system became apparent, as many people, such as Chaucer
century English society. And upon first reading the CT, one might mistake Chaucer's acute social awareness and insightful characterizations as accurate portrayals of British society in the late 1300s and early 1400s. Further, one might mistake his analysis, criticism, and his sardonic condemnation of many elements of British culture for genuine attempts to alter the