The Pardoner’s Tale Questions
1. The Pardoner tells the Pilgrims how he “operates,” how he cheats poor village folks out of their
money. What, specifically, are the methods he uses? What does he tell them to get them to give him
money?
The Pardoner forces the villagers into giving him money by guilt tripping them with their past sins. The
Pardoner says that their money will be in exchange for forgiveness and mercy from God.
3. Who among the villagers does he say will NOT be able to use his products? How does this get more
villagers to offer to buy them?
The Pardoner says that sinners will not be able use to his products. This gets more of the villagers to buy
offerings because doing so will help them atone for their sins.
4. What is the Pardoner’s attitude toward his own villainy? Is he trying to impress the Pilgrims with
what a successful con man he is? Is he proud of his accomplishments?
The Pardoner believes that he is above all others because he is the most devoted to and educated in
God. He takes pride in his ability to manipulate others and take advantage them without getting caught
and tells this to the pilgrims to show off and brag about his skills.
6. How does preaching on this topic help the Pardoner achieve his goal of separating his audience
from their money?
When the Pardoner uses the phrase, “the love of money is the root of all evil” people feel as any desire
for money is a sign of th sin of greed forming in them. So, the villagers feel like they must get rid of their
money to dissolve any desires they had for fortune ans as well as getting mercy from God.
9. The Pardoner begins by sermonizing on what are generally called “tavern sins.” Which sins are
these?
“Tavern sins” are also known as the Seven Deadly Sins that kill those who commit them. The Pardoner’s
focus is mainly on the sins Greed and Gluttony but Wrath, Envy, Pride, Sloth, and Lust also are a part of
these sins.
11. What has happened to one of the three rioters’ friends? What oath do they swear? Whom do they
go after to kill?
One of the three rioters friends was killed while drunk by a rogue named Death. The three rioters swear
on an oath that they will be brothers from now on and head to kill Death.
15. Describe how the rioters kill each other, who gets stabbed, who gets poisoned, etc.
When the rioter came back from town, the other two rioters stabbed him. The remaining two rioters
celebrated with the poisoned drinks the rioter brought back. Soon after, the two rioters died to
poisoning.
17. What deadly sin are the three rioters guilty of? Does it kill them? Is it ironic that the Pardoner is
also guilty of this same sin? Is the Pardoner flirting with spiritual death?
The three rioters are guilty of greed since the tried to kill each other to keep the gold to themselves. In
the end, all three of them ended up dead because of their greed for their treasure. The Pardoner
demonstrates irony as he judges those who commit acts of greed and they should be punished while he
himself also commits these same crimes. The Pardoner is flirting with spiritual death since he constantly
jokes about the danger he is in and how close death is while being very arrogant.
18. How does the moral of the story — greed leads to death — help the Pardoner sells his relics and
pardons to the village folk to whom he tells this story? Does it tend to open their pockets? What
about the Pilgrims? Is the Pardoner trying to open their pockets too?
The moral of greed leading to death helps the Pardoner sells his relics because it scares the villagers into
believing the same fate will come for them. In turn, the villagers are willing to give whatever they have
away to appease God. The Pardoner doesn’t care who it is, he will always try to make money off them
by spreading religion since he is full of greed and driven by money.
