"Greed is the root of all evil." That is the quote constantly said throughout the Pardoner's Tale. This tale deals with three men and their eventual quest to find Death. While they run across an old man, they are told that Death is behind a tree that the old man points to. They think they are about to find Death behind the tree, but they find something entirely death, and greed becomes the root of all evil. You will find in this tale that the three men are in a pickle. All of them find something that will completely change their fortune. But, how far are they willing to go to make sure that they live comfortably?
On this page you will find several pieces that will aid your understanding of the Pardoner's tale. The modern adaptation video will surely be a fun way to help understand the Pardoner's tale. Check out the critical questions and you will surely find yourself in a moral dilemma. After reading this tale, you will find that greed is the root of all evils, according to the Pardoner. There are several moral lessons throughout the Pardoner's Tale, but which one do you think is most important? This page has plenty of questions, and you have plenty of answers!
On this page you will find several pieces that will aid your understanding of the Pardoner's tale. The modern adaptation video will surely be a fun way to help understand the Pardoner's tale. Check out the critical questions and you will surely find yourself in a moral dilemma. After reading this tale, you will find that greed is the root of all evils, according to the Pardoner. There are several moral lessons throughout the Pardoner's Tale, but which one do you think is most important? This page has plenty of questions, and you have plenty of answers!
The Pardoner in the General Prologue
In the General Prologue, the Pardoner is said to have long, flowing blonde hair. Chaucer describes the Pardoner and mentions that he has very many souvenirs from his trip to Rome. The crookedness of the Pardoner is explored as Chaucer mentions that the Pardoner uses fake relics and indulgences to manipulate people into paying the Pardoner. The thought of the Pardoner being homosexual is also brought up in the General Prologue. Despite all of this being said, the Pardoner is a good storyteller, although the narrator, Harry Bailey, believes this could be due to the Pardoner's crooked ways.
669 With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER
With him there rode a fine PARDONER
670 Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,
Of Rouncivale, his friend and his companion,
671 That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
Who had come straight from the court of Rome.
672 Ful loude he soong "Com hider, love, to me!"
Very loud he sang "Come hither, love, to me!"
673 This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;
This Summoner harmonized with him in a strong bass;
674 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
There was never a trumpet of half so great a sound.
675 This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
This Pardoner had hair as yellow as wax,
676 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;
But smooth it hung as does a clump of flax;
677 By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
By small strands hung such locks as he had,
678 And therwith he his shuldres overspradde;
And he spread them over his shoulders;
679 But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon.
But thin it lay, by strands one by one.
680 But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,
But to make an attractive appearance, he wore no hood,
681 For it was trussed up in his walet.
For it was trussed up in his knapsack.
682 Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;
It seemed to him that he rode in the very latest style;
683 Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
With hair unbound, save for his cap, he rode all bare-headed.
684 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
He had glaring eyes such as has a hare.
685 A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
He had sewn a Veronica upon his cap.
686 His walet, biforn hym in his lappe,
Before him in his lap, (he had) his knapsack,
687 Bretful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot.
Brimful of pardons come all fresh from Rome.
688 A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
He had a voice as small as a goat has.
689 No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;
He had no beard, nor never would have;
690 As smothe it was as it were late shave.
It (his face) was as smooth as if it were recently shaven.
691 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
I believe he was a eunuch or a homosexual.
692 But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware
But as to his craft, from Berwick to Ware
693 Ne was ther swich another pardoner.
There was no other pardoner like him.
694 For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
For in his pouch he had a pillow-case,
695 Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl;
Which he said was Our Lady's veil;
696 He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl
He said he had a piece of the sail
697 That Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente
That Saint Peter had, when he went
698 Upon the see, til Jhesu Crist hym hente.
Upon the sea, until Jesus Christ took him.
699 He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
He had a cross of latten (brass-like alloy) covered with stones,
700 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
And in a glass container he had pigs' bones.
701 But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
But with these relics, when he found
702 A povre person dwellynge upon lond,
A poor parson dwelling in the countryside,
703 Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
In one day he got himself more money
704 Than that the person gat in monthes tweye;
Than the parson got in two months;
705 And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,
And thus, with feigned flattery and tricks,
706 He made the person and the peple his apes.
He made fools of the parson and the people.
707 But trewely to tellen atte laste,
But truly to tell at the last,
708 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
He was in church a noble ecclesiast.
709 Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
He well knew how to read a lesson or a story,
710 But alderbest he song an offertorie;
But best of all he sang an Offertory;
711 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
For he knew well, when that song was sung,
712 He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
He must preach and well smooth his speech
713 To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
To win silver, as he very well knew how;
714 Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
Therefore he sang the more merrily and loud.
669 With hym ther rood a gentil PARDONER
With him there rode a fine PARDONER
670 Of Rouncivale, his freend and his compeer,
Of Rouncivale, his friend and his companion,
671 That streight was comen fro the court of Rome.
Who had come straight from the court of Rome.
672 Ful loude he soong "Com hider, love, to me!"
Very loud he sang "Come hither, love, to me!"
673 This Somonour bar to hym a stif burdoun;
This Summoner harmonized with him in a strong bass;
674 Was nevere trompe of half so greet a soun.
There was never a trumpet of half so great a sound.
675 This Pardoner hadde heer as yelow as wex,
This Pardoner had hair as yellow as wax,
676 But smothe it heeng as dooth a strike of flex;
But smooth it hung as does a clump of flax;
677 By ounces henge his lokkes that he hadde,
By small strands hung such locks as he had,
678 And therwith he his shuldres overspradde;
And he spread them over his shoulders;
679 But thynne it lay, by colpons oon and oon.
But thin it lay, by strands one by one.
680 But hood, for jolitee, wered he noon,
But to make an attractive appearance, he wore no hood,
681 For it was trussed up in his walet.
For it was trussed up in his knapsack.
682 Hym thoughte he rood al of the newe jet;
It seemed to him that he rode in the very latest style;
683 Dischevelee, save his cappe, he rood al bare.
With hair unbound, save for his cap, he rode all bare-headed.
684 Swiche glarynge eyen hadde he as an hare.
He had glaring eyes such as has a hare.
685 A vernycle hadde he sowed upon his cappe.
He had sewn a Veronica upon his cap.
686 His walet, biforn hym in his lappe,
Before him in his lap, (he had) his knapsack,
687 Bretful of pardoun comen from Rome al hoot.
Brimful of pardons come all fresh from Rome.
688 A voys he hadde as smal as hath a goot.
He had a voice as small as a goat has.
689 No berd hadde he, ne nevere sholde have;
He had no beard, nor never would have;
690 As smothe it was as it were late shave.
It (his face) was as smooth as if it were recently shaven.
691 I trowe he were a geldyng or a mare.
I believe he was a eunuch or a homosexual.
692 But of his craft, fro Berwyk into Ware
But as to his craft, from Berwick to Ware
693 Ne was ther swich another pardoner.
There was no other pardoner like him.
694 For in his male he hadde a pilwe-beer,
For in his pouch he had a pillow-case,
695 Which that he seyde was Oure Lady veyl;
Which he said was Our Lady's veil;
696 He seyde he hadde a gobet of the seyl
He said he had a piece of the sail
697 That Seint Peter hadde, whan that he wente
That Saint Peter had, when he went
698 Upon the see, til Jhesu Crist hym hente.
Upon the sea, until Jesus Christ took him.
699 He hadde a croys of latoun ful of stones,
He had a cross of latten (brass-like alloy) covered with stones,
700 And in a glas he hadde pigges bones.
And in a glass container he had pigs' bones.
701 But with thise relikes, whan that he fond
But with these relics, when he found
702 A povre person dwellynge upon lond,
A poor parson dwelling in the countryside,
703 Upon a day he gat hym moore moneye
In one day he got himself more money
704 Than that the person gat in monthes tweye;
Than the parson got in two months;
705 And thus, with feyned flaterye and japes,
And thus, with feigned flattery and tricks,
706 He made the person and the peple his apes.
He made fools of the parson and the people.
707 But trewely to tellen atte laste,
But truly to tell at the last,
708 He was in chirche a noble ecclesiaste.
He was in church a noble ecclesiast.
709 Wel koude he rede a lessoun or a storie,
He well knew how to read a lesson or a story,
710 But alderbest he song an offertorie;
But best of all he sang an Offertory;
711 For wel he wiste, whan that song was songe,
For he knew well, when that song was sung,
712 He moste preche and wel affile his tonge
He must preach and well smooth his speech
713 To wynne silver, as he ful wel koude;
To win silver, as he very well knew how;
714 Therefore he song the murierly and loude.
Therefore he sang the more merrily and loud.
Middle English Version and Translation
The Black Death
The Black Death was undoubtedly one of the most horrific widespread diseases throughout human history. There have been several theories as to what caused the plague but more recently Yersinia pestis, a dangerous bacteria, is believed to be the major cause of the disease. This disease peaked through Europe around 1348-1350. This disease caused upheavals of all kinds, religious, social, economic etc. and it took over 150 years for Europe to recover.
Harry Potter!
JK Rowling has mentioned that her "The Tale of Three Brothers" is based off of the Pardoner's Tale. JK Rowling's version deals with three brothers who reach a bridge and then meet the personification of death. The three brothers all receive a gift from death. However, they use these gifts selfishly which results in the death of two of them. The third one hides under his gift, an invisibility cloak, until he gives it to his son and meets death gracefully.
Danse Macabre
Danse Macabre is known as the dance of death. The theme of death is prevalent throughout all of the Pardoner's Tale. Death takes young and old, it takes everyone. The Pardoner's Tale deals with these three men who are in the pride of their life before they all die. Although death is a sad topic, it unites everyone, regardless of where that person is at in life.
|
Pardons
Pardons are simply a forgiveness of a crime or wrongdoing. This is important to the Pardoner's Tale, however, because he is a pardoner! The Pardoner admits that he sells relics, and indulgences as a means to get people to pay him. He then gives people pardons for their wrongdoings. Unfortunately, in his tale, the three men cannot be given any pardons, because they have already experienced Danse Macabre!
Faus Semblant
As said on one of the other pages on this website, Chaucer often found inspiration for his tales from other authors. It is believed that the prologue to the Pardoner's Tale was inspired from Faus Semblant in the medieval French poem Roman de la Rose. It's been said that the tale of the three rioters is a version of a folk tale, and interestingly it has several different analogues, including: ancient Buddhist, Persian, and African dialogue.
Critical Questions:
1. The Pardoner mentions that the relics he sells are false relics that he uses only to deceive people and make money off of. However, after his tale he offers a relic to Harry Bailey. What do you believe is the significance of this?
2. What do you believe is the moral lesson in the Pardoner's tale? 3. Throughout this tale there is a recurring theme that the Pardoner mentions, "greed is the root of all evil." How is this illustrated throughout the Pardoner's tale? |
Modern Adaptation of The Pardoner's Tale:
|
|
Activities for The Pardoner's Tale:
1.) Interpretive Translation: For this activity students may choose a part of this tale that they particularly liked and then will translate this to a modern day happening. This project will require creativity! You will have to provide the set of fifty or so lines and translate it to modern English. After this the fun will really begin! Translate the tales to a modern theme that resembles that of the passage in the Pardoner's Tale. There is no right answer for your interpretive translation, but it must be able to relate to the tale. After you have finished with your interpretive translation you must include a brief explanation of why you made the choices that you did. You can explain why you choose the setting you did, why the characters are the way they are etc. and then explain how this is similar to the Pardoner's Tale passage that you chose. This is a more extensive exercise than the poem translations completed for The Knight's Tale.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tale_of_the_Three_Brothers#.22The_Tale_of_the_Three_Brothers.22
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/25094193?uid=2&uid=4&sid=21103957677357