from The Canterbury Tales,
"The Pardoner's Tale"
Read this dialogue, between the Pardoner and the Host, from "The Pardoner's Tale":
"Come forward, Host, you shall be the first to pay, And kiss my holy relics right away..."/"No, no,' said he,
'not I, and may the curse/Of Christ descend upon me if I do...'" The Pardoner said nothing, not a word;/He was so angry that he couldn't speak./ 'Well,' said our Host,
'if you're for showing pique,/l'll joke no more, not with an angry man."
Why does Chaucer place this exchange near the conclusion of the section?
(1 point)
to explain why the
• pilgrimage has rerouted itself to Rome
to show that the
Pardoner actually cares about the salvation of others
to reveal that the Pardoner uses the money he gathers to help others
to underscore the
• extent of the Pardoner's greed
The correct answer is: to underscore the extent of the Pardoner's greed.
This exchange between the Pardoner and the Host highlights the Pardoner's greed and refusal to follow his own teachings. The Pardoner, who preaches against the dangers of greed and avarice, becomes angry and refuses to partake in a jest unless he is given money. This emphasizes the hypocrisy and selfishness of the Pardoner, which aligns with the theme of deception and corruption in the tale. Consequently, Chaucer places this exchange near the conclusion to emphasize the Pardoner's greed and emphasize the overall moral message of the story.
The correct answer is: to underscore the extent of the Pardoner's greed.
Chaucer places this exchange between the Pardoner and the Host near the conclusion of "The Pardoner's Tale" to emphasize the Pardoner's greed. The dialogue showcases the Pardoner's desire for monetary gain, as he demands payment and threatens the host with divine punishment if he refuses. This further highlights the Pardoner's immoral and dishonest nature, serving to underscore the extent of his greed.
To determine why Chaucer placed this exchange near the conclusion of the section, we need to analyze the dialogue between the Pardoner and the Host from "The Pardoner's Tale." In this exchange, the Pardoner asks the Host to be the first to pay and kiss his relics, to which the Host vehemently refuses, even invoking a curse upon himself.
The placement of this dialogue serves to underscore the extent of the Pardoner's greed. Throughout "The Pardoner's Tale," Chaucer portrays the Pardoner as a morally corrupt character who uses his position to exploit people's religious beliefs for personal gain. By placing this exchange near the conclusion, Chaucer emphasizes the Pardoner's insatiable desire for wealth and exposes his disingenuous nature.
This dialogue also contrasts with the previous interpretation options listed. It doesn't indicate that the pilgrimage has rerouted itself to Rome, nor does it suggest that the Pardoner genuinely cares about the salvation of others or uses the money he gathers to help others. Instead, it reinforces the Pardoner's avarice.
Therefore, among the given options, the correct answer is: to underscore the extent of the Pardoner's greed.