Satire in the pardoner's tale
assignment active
the role of a pardoner
in what way does the passage accurately represent
real medieval pardoners?
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 bishop
which i show first-that's to protect myself
so that nobody, whether priest or cleric,
dares interdict me from christ's holy work.
the passage shows that pardoners often sold
indulgences for personal gain.
the passage shows that pardoners were not
allowed to sell relics.
the passage shows that pardoners were officially
authorized by the church.
the passage shows that pardoners had close
relationships with local priests.
-the canterbury tales,
geoffrey chaucer