The Canterbury Talcs Narne

Lesson 6
llandout 12 Date

The Pardoner: A Closer Look

Directions: Reread GeoffreyChaucer's clescription of the Pardoner in the Prologue.Then fill in the
web with specitic details.
Talents

Physical Description Main Motivations

The Pardoner

Vices Probable Story Vpes

Profession

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 The Pardoner's Tale
Directions: The ants
are the main ten?

2. What the settin<?

3. Who is Death?

4. What role does the old man playe

5. Identifythe main events.

6. umat is the storys rnain theme?

7. W'%atis Ironlc about the Pardoner's theme?

8. What type of story Is The Pardoner's TaJe?

9. Is this story relevant today?

C Cene•r
The Canterbury Tales Name
Lesson 6
Handout 14 Date
The Root of All Evil
Directions: Read the following description of the medieval concept of the seven deadly sins. Then
choose one of the seven deadly sins, and write a short story in which you show that it can be the
root of all evil.
Medievalpeople had a concept of seven deadly sins. any one of which would
have lethal consequences if left unchecked. One is greed, the central theme of
The Pardoner's Tale. Greed is not just wanting things: it is wanting everything for
oneself. Another is anger, or wrath, whose logical outcome is murder. Pride is not
just good self-esteem: it is extreme arrogance, an exaggerated sense of one's own
power. Envy, a fourth. involves wanting something that belongs to someone else.
The other three deadly sins might, at first glance, not seem so deadly. They are
sloth, gluttony, and lust. Sloth is permanent laziness; gluttony involves chronic
overeatingand overdrinking;lust means that one is driven by sexual desire.

O COPYRIGHT. Center for Learning. Used with permission. Not for resale.

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