Read the excerpt from The Canterbury Tales. I can sting with my tongue; and when I preach I sting so hard, the fellow can’t escape Slander and defamation, if so be He’s wronged my fellow-pardoners, or me, Even if I don’t give his actual name, Yet everybody knows that he’s the one From hints, and other circumstantialities— That’s how I deal with people who annoy us; That’s how I spit out venom, under guise Of piety, and seem sincerely pious. How does the excerpt satirize the clergy?
Answer
A
by revealing the clergy’s lack of loyalty to one another
B
by revealing the clergy’s vindictive abuse of power
C
by revealing the clergy’s lack of theological knowledge
D
by revealing the clergy’s disregard for people experiencing poverty
Explanation
The speaker describes using sermons to attack and defame people who have offended him or his fellow pardoners, even without naming them directly. He disguises this personal revenge as piety, showing how a clergyman can misuse his authority to harm others. This satirizes the clergy’s vindictive abuse of power.
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