Satire in The Pardoner’s Tale Answers

Read the excerpt from The Canterbury Tales.I only preach of avarice and the like,And in this way induce them to be freeIn giving cash—especially to me.Because my only interest is in gain;I’ve none whatever in rebuking sin.

Read the excerpt from The Canterbury Tales.In Flanders there was once a companyOf youngsters wedded to such sin and follyAs gaming, dicing, brothels, and taverns,Where, night and day, with harps, lutes, and citherns,They spend their time in dicing and in dancing,Eating and drinking more than they can carry;And with these abominable excessesThey offer up the vilest sacrifices . . .

What is a relic?

Read the excerpt from The Pardoner’s Tale in The Canterbury Tales.And it fell to the youngest of them all,And he set off at once towards the town.And thereupon, so soon as he was gone,One of the two who stayed said to the other:"You know, of course, that you are my sworn brother.I’ll tell you something that you won’t lose by.As you can see, our friend has gone away,And here is gold, and that in greatest plenty,All waiting to be split between us three.How would it be, if I can work it soThat it is only shared between us two,Wouldn’t I be doing you a friendly turn?”

Read the excerpt from The Canterbury Tales."Gentlemen” said he, "I take pains to preach In churches with a lofty, resonant voice, Regular as a bell I ring it out,For everything I say I have by heart:My text’s the same one as it always was . . .”

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Read the excerpt from The Canterbury Tales.I can sting with my tongue; and when I preachI sting so hard, the fellow can’t escapeSlander and defamation, if so beHe’s wronged my fellow-pardoners, or me,Even if I don’t give his actual name,Yet everybody knows that he’s the oneFrom hints, and other circumstantialities—That’s how I deal with people who annoy us;That’s how I spit out venom, under guiseOf piety, and seem sincerely pious.

Read the excerpt from The Canterbury Tales."Think what a safeguard it must be for youThat I, who can absolve both high and lowWhen soul from body is about to go,Should chance to fall in with your company!Let me suggest that our host here begin,Since he’s the one who’s most wrapped up in sin.Step forward, Mister Host—your offering first,And you can kiss the relics, every one!All for a penny! Out now with your purse!”

Read the excerpt from The Canterbury Tales."To start with, I declare where I’ve come from,And then produce my certificates, one by one;My licence with the seal of our lord bishopWhich I show first—that’s to protect myselfSo that nobody, whether priest or cleric,Dares interdict me from Christ’s holy work.”