Canterbury Tales: Pardoner's Tale - Questions

1. What event prompts the three rioters to seek Death?

The death of an old friend of theirs prompts the three rioters to seek Death, also hearing stories of Death killing many people in different villages.

2. In what way is their discovery at the old tree unexpected?

They forgotten their journey about finding Death when they find gold coins at the old tree (they wree expecting to find Death, not gold).

3. Describe the events that directly lead to their deaths.

The youngest rioter died by the hands of the two other rioters, then they both died by the posioned wine the youngest rioter brought.

4. Were you able to correctly anticipate everything that happened, or were you surprised by how some events developed?

I was able to make a guess about the deaths of the three rioters being brought upon themselves.

5. A foil is a character who provides a striking contrast to other characters. In what way does the old man serve as a foil to the three rioters?

The old man serves as a foil to the three rioters, because he speaks about how he is waiting for his time to come and speaks the word of God while telling them that Death can be found under the old tree.

7. How essential is irony to the meaning of the store?

The irony is essential, because it reinforces the theme of money being the root of all evil.

8. During the mid-14th century, the Black Death - a massive epidemic of the bubonic plague - swept through Asia and Europe. In Europe alone, one-quarter of the population died. In what ways might these circumstances have made people vulnerable to the tricks of the Pardoner and other unscrupulous clergymen?

The people were probably scared and wanting to redeem their sins so they seek the Pardoner to lift their sins before they die. They were also probably mentally unstable, so they were doing everything they could to stay alive and to be welcomed in the gates of Heaven. Basically, they were scared.