New Questions for "The Pardoner's Tale" --- Due Today

Begin on pg. 144

1. How is "Death" characterized in lines 72-98?
2. The fact that death is described as a person, is an example of what literary technique?
3. How are the 3 men characterized on pages 144-145? Give min.3 specific lines/words as support.
4. What is the old man's answer as to why he is still alive(2 things)in lines 118-137?
5. In lines 138-148--why should the young treat the old well?
6. In lines 159-166, (the old man's directions), he tells them if they are looking for Death, they will find it under the oak tree--is he telling him the character "Death" will be there? How do you know? What do they think?
7. How does the image in lines 167-182 call to mind the Pardoner's motto-Radix malorum est cupiditas? (look at notes if you need to)
8. In lines 194, the rioter calls the one who will go to town the "lucky man." How is this ironic?
9. In lines 205-214, why does the first conspirator keep referring to the others as his "friends" and "brothers"?
10.What other sins does the Pardoner throw in to scare the pilgrims in lines 231-235?
11. In lines 243-250, who is speaking? Who does he blame for this horrible greed?
12. How are lines 252-259 ironic?
13. What does he mean in line 277 when he calls the rioter "the devil's clay"? What literary device is this?
14-15. Paraphrase lines 299-340. What is the Pardoner's purpose here? How might this story help his cause?