Many writers create characters who are blissfully unaware of how they are perceived by others. One of the most complex examples of this is Chaucer's Pardoner. In one character we see a complex mix of what he is, what he is supposed to be, what he thinks he is, and how he is perceived by others. Trace the way Chaucer achieves this in the setup of the entire Canterbury Tales, and the Pardoner's Prologue and Tale.
Im not sure how to answer this essay question
What kind of HELP do you need? You need to be specific when asking questions here.
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first of all calm down im not asking someone to write me an essay i just wanted someone to explain the question to me. I don't want help from people like you.
Please don't be snippy to our volunteer tutors. I'm like Writeacher, so you don't want my help either.
It's too bad you didn't read or comprehend all of Writeacher's post. As she said, if you'd said in your first post that you didn't understand the question, she could have explained it to you.
Yes i understand I did not explain my question in detail but she could have just asked politely if I could, not accuse me of asking someone to do my work for me.
I finished my essay i just wanted an opinion.
To answer the essay question about the complexity of the Pardoner's character in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, you will need to analyze the setup of the entire collection as well as the specific sections of the Pardoner's Prologue and Tale. Here's how you can approach this task:
1. Familiarize yourself with the Canterbury Tales: Begin by understanding the overall structure of the Canterbury Tales. It is a collection of stories told by a diverse group of pilgrims on their journey to the shrine of Thomas Becket. Each pilgrim represents a particular social class or occupation, including the Pardoner.
2. Identify the Pardoner's role: The Pardoner is introduced as a clergyman specializing in granting indulgences, which were pardons for sins. He is depicted as flamboyant, with his long, greasy hair and stylish hat. Take note of the irony that a person who sells pardons for sins is corrupt himself, reflecting the hypocrisy of the Church at that time.
3. Analyze the Pardoner's Prologue: The Pardoner's Prologue is a speech delivered by the Pardoner before telling his tale. Observe how the Pardoner manipulates his audience through his persuasive techniques, such as using emotional language and showing off his relics. He claims to be motivated by greed, yet tries to convince others to avoid the sins of avarice and gluttony.
4. Analyze the Pardoner's Tale: In the Pardoner's Tale, he tells the story of three young men who set out to defy death but ultimately meet their demise due to their own vices. Notice how the Pardoner openly admits to the moral of his tale being that "greed is the root of all evil," yet fails to acknowledge his own greedy nature.
5. Explore perceptions of the Pardoner: Examine how other characters perceive the Pardoner. Do they see through his hypocritical facade, or are they taken in by his flamboyance and charisma? Compare the reactions of the pilgrims to the Pardoner's behavior and teachings, as well as Chaucer's own portrayal of the character.
6. Draw connections and conclusions: Based on your analysis of the Pardoner's Prologue, Tale, and the perspectives of other characters, draw conclusions about the complex mix of what the Pardoner is, what he is supposed to be, what he thinks he is, and how he is perceived by others. Consider how Chaucer uses irony, satire, and symbolism to expose the Pardoner's contradictions and comment on the corrupt nature of the Church.
By following these steps, you will be able to answer the essay question while providing a thorough analysis of Chaucer's creation of the complex character of the Pardoner in the context of the Canterbury Tales.