Chaucer's CANTERBURY TALES (General Prologue) One of Chaucer's great character descriptions is of the Pardoner:

a.) What image suggests his lack of manliness and his effeminacy? Why do you think Chaucer would portray the Pardoner this way?

The Pardoner makes his living in an unmanly way, through wit and guile rather than true trade. The pardoner is described as a gelding or a mare, like an animal that cannot reproduce.

b.) A goat is usually considered a lecherous animal. What image associates the Pardoner with a goat? Why does Chaucer depict him thusly?

The Pardoner's goat-like beard, eyes, and hair suggest a man who is still driven by desire, but by a perverted rather than a healthy form of sexual desire -- in the Pardoner's case he is driven by a desire for money and physical satisfactions of good and drink as a replacement for sexuality.

c.) What images does Chaucer use to describe the Pardoner's eyes?

Yellow, pus-encircled, and animalistic all create images that suggest sickness, depravity, and perversion.

d.) What images describe his hair and what do you think is the impression Chaucer wants you to glean from this description?

Wispy and whiskery, again stressing the castrated animal or goat, and implying a lack of healthy levels of normal human 'humors' or desire. Also, it suggests the man's drunkenness and love of rich food.

e.) How do these images, taken all together, make you feel about the Pardoner?

These images combination of revulsion at his hypocrisy, and disgust that people come to the man for spiritual guidance when he can provide them with none -- when he himself is sick and corrupt with a love of rich food and wine.

2.) Chaucer satirizes the Church of his time in the Prologue. Show how this is true in the Pardoner's description.

The Pardoner is a man who exculpates people for their sins -- however he is a mercenary, venial creature himself,...

He openly uses false relics to provoke awe, piety, and draw money from the pockets of his followers.
3.) In describing the pilgrims, Chaucer reveals things about his own personality, biases, and values. What do you see revealed in the Pardoner?

Although he was not a religious man in a doctrinal or dogmatic sense, Chaucer valued morality when it was consistent, tolerant, and not enforced in a mean or hypocritical basis for personal enrichment -- unlike the way the Pardoner uses religion for personal profit, and simply to make people feel bad about themselves.

Questions re: "Prologue to The Pardoner's Tale"

1.) Why do you think the Pardoner is so honest about his vices?

He is honest about his vices because they are so obvious -- and because he wishes to drink, eat, and make merry with his fellow pilgrims, rather than conceal these delights.

2.) What does the Pardoner's use of Biblical and historical allusions add to his character?

He can quote scripture -- like the devil is said to be able to quote scripture to serve his own devices. He is evidently not a stupid man, and his honesty is somewhat endearing. Even if he is not someone would seek spiritual guidance from, he seems like someone with whom it would be fun to have a drink with. At least, he knows and acknowledges how corrupt he is.

Questions re: "The Pardoner's Tale"

1.) According to the Pardoner's Tale, why are the three rioters looking for Death?

They are looking for Death, to kill him for killing so many others, after seeing a man being taken to his grave while they are intoxicated.

2.) What does the old man tell the three rioters? How do they treat him?

He tells them he is looking for death, but death will not come to him until he can find someone to exchange their youth for his old age. The three rioters treat him disrespectfully…