The Pardoner's Tale Book Quiz! Trivia

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  • 1/14 Questions

    What can you infer from these words of the Pardoner in "The Pardoner's Tale"? For my exclusive purpose is to win/And not all to castigate their sin./ Once dead what matter how their souls may fare?/ They can go blackberrying for all I care!

    • He wants parishioners to seek forgiveness for their sins
    • He wants his parishioners to work harder at farming for blackberries
    • He wants his parishioners to think about what will happen when they die
    • He wants his parishioners to give him plenty of their money.
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About This Quiz


Have you ever read the Pardoner’s Tale book? Can you pass this quiz? It is all one of the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. The book is a religious fable in which the central theme of the story is that greed is not good. This fable comes about because, in the book, the characters find a large quantity of gold. See moreTake the quiz and find out more about The Pardoner’s Tale.

The Pardoners Tale Book Quiz! Trivia - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    What is the allegory that the Pardoner teaches in "The Pardoner's Tale"?

    • People are not always what they seem

    • Evil men will get what they deserve

    • Greed is the root of all evil

    • Even the best of friends cannot be trusted

    Correct Answer
    A. Greed is the root of all evil
    Explanation
    The allegory that the Pardoner teaches in "The Pardoner's Tale" is that greed is the root of all evil. This is evident in the story, where the three rioters are consumed by their greed for the treasure and end up killing each other. The Pardoner uses this tale to warn against the dangers of greed and to encourage his audience to repent and seek forgiveness for their sins.

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  • 3. 

    What do you learn about "The Pardoner's Tale" by reading these lines? And then Death went his way without a word. / He's killed a thousand in the present plague, / And sir, it doesn't do to be too vague / If you should meet him; you had best be wary.  

    • Death would rather not speak

    • This is a story about the plague

    • The rioters should stay away from death

    • Death can be avoided if you are careful

    Correct Answer
    A. This is a story about the plague
    Explanation
    The lines mention that Death has killed a thousand people in the present plague, indicating that the story is about the plague.

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  • 4. 

    Which words best describe the three rioters in "The Pardoner's Tale"?

    • Friendly and fun-loving

    • Greedy and rough

    • Smart and dangerous

    • Cautious and sneaky

    Correct Answer
    A. Greedy and rough
    Explanation
    In "The Pardoner's Tale," the three rioters are described as greedy and rough. This can be inferred from their actions and behavior throughout the story. They are motivated by their desire for wealth and are willing to resort to violence to achieve their goals. Additionally, their rough demeanor is evident in their aggressive and confrontational interactions with others.

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  • 5. 

    Reread these lines that are spoken by the old man in "The Pardoner's Tale/" What does he mean? About the earth, which is my mother's gate, / Knock-knocking with my staff from night to noon / And crying, 'Mother, open to me soon! / Look at me, mother, won't you let me in?'

    • He wants to find his mother

    • HE is tired of wandering

    • He wants to die

    • He wants a place to live

    Correct Answer
    A. He wants to die
    Explanation
    The old man in "The Pardoner's Tale" wants to die. This is evident from his statement of knocking on the earth, which he refers to as his mother's gate, and pleading for her to let him in. The repetition of "Mother, open to me soon!" and "Look at me, mother, won't you let me in?" suggests his desperation and desire for death.

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  • 6. 

    Why does the old man send the three rioters to the tree in "the Pardoner's Tale"?

    • So the three rioters will not kill him

    • So the three rioters will go to their own deaths

    • So the three rioters can find gold

    • So he will have time to escape

    Correct Answer
    A. So the three rioters will go to their own deaths
    Explanation
    The old man sends the three rioters to the tree so that they will go to their own deaths. This is because the old man knows that there is a hidden treasure under the tree, and he wants the rioters to find it and ultimately suffer the consequences of their greed. By sending them to their own deaths, the old man seeks to teach them a lesson about the dangers of materialism and the consequences of their actions.

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  • 7. 

    What is one characteristics of an allegory that is found in "The Pardoner's Tale"?

    • A story that occurs within the story

    • Rhyming of every two lines

    • A tale that is told as a long prose poem

    • The use of characters to stand for ideas

    Correct Answer
    A. The use of characters to stand for ideas
    Explanation
    In "The Pardoner's Tale," one characteristic of an allegory is the use of characters to stand for ideas. In this tale, the three rioters represent the vices of greed, gluttony, and drunkenness. Through their actions and dialogue, they symbolize the destructive nature of these vices. The characters in the story are not meant to be taken literally but rather as representations of abstract concepts, making it an allegory.

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  • 8. 

    In "The Pardoner's Tale," what do the two rioters decide to do after they have sent their friend for food and wine?

    • To take the money while he is gone

    • To carry away the money that night

    • To give some money to the old man

    • To kill their friend when he returns

    Correct Answer
    A. To kill their friend when he returns
    Explanation
    In "The Pardoner's Tale," the two rioters decide to kill their friend when he returns after sending him for food and wine. This decision is driven by their greed for the money that they believe they will gain by killing him. They see it as an opportunity to keep all the money for themselves and not share it with their friend. This decision reflects the theme of greed and betrayal that is prevalent throughout the tale.

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  • 9. 

    What does the young rioter decide while on his way into town for food and wine in "The pardoner's Tale"?

    • To poison his friends

    • To look for Death on his way

    • To find the old man and warn him

    • To tell the old man what they found

    Correct Answer
    A. To poison his friends
    Explanation
    In "The Pardoner's Tale," the young rioter decides to poison his friends while on his way into town for food and wine. This decision demonstrates the greed and moral corruption of the young rioter, as he is willing to harm his companions for personal gain. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive nature of greed and the consequences of immoral actions.

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  • 10. 

    Who is the old man in "The Pardoner's Tale"?

    • Death

    • Hope

    • A thief and wanderer

    • A mean-spirited villager

    Correct Answer
    A. Death
    Explanation
    In "The Pardoner's Tale," the old man is portrayed as Death. This is evident from the description of the old man as having a pale face and wearing ragged clothing, which are commonly associated with the concept of death. Additionally, the old man speaks of his encounters with Death and his desire to find Death, further indicating that he represents Death in the story.

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  • 11. 

    In "The Pardoner's Tale" which character or characters does the Pardoner most closely resemble?

    • The old man

    • Death

    • The three rioters

    • His parishioners

    Correct Answer
    A. The three rioters
    Explanation
    The Pardoner most closely resembles the three rioters. In "The Pardoner's Tale," the Pardoner tells a story about three young men who are consumed by greed and seek out death. Similarly, the Pardoner himself is driven by greed and uses his position as a religious figure to deceive and manipulate people for his own gain. Both the Pardoner and the three rioters embody the destructive nature of greed and the consequences it can bring.

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  • 12. 

    Which character trait leads to the downfall of the three rioters in "The Pardoner's Tale"?

    • Innocence

    • Greed

    • Jealousy

    • Pride

    Correct Answer
    A. Greed
    Explanation
    The correct answer is greed. In "The Pardoner's Tale," the three rioters are motivated by their greed for wealth and material possessions. They set out on a journey to find and kill Death, but along the way, they encounter a pile of gold coins. Their greed takes over, and they end up killing each other over the treasure. This trait of greed ultimately leads to their downfall.

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  • 13. 

    Which vocabulary word correctly completes this sentence? The _________ sold the young rioter a strong poison that he mixed with wine.

    • Pallor

    • Tarry

    • Prating

    • Apothecary

    Correct Answer
    A. Apothecary
    Explanation
    The word "apothecary" correctly completes the sentence because it refers to a person who sells drugs or medicines, which fits the context of the sentence where the young rioter is buying poison.

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  • 14. 

    Which of the following was not a social change that occurred due to the Black Death?

    • The peasants were given voting rights

    • Feudalism died out because peasants were no longer tied to the land.

    • The changes eventually led to the rise of a middle class that included the English Country Gentleman

    • A shortage of labor allowed workers to set their price and negotiate rents.

    Correct Answer
    A. The peasants were given voting rights
    Explanation
    The Black Death, a devastating pandemic that occurred in the 14th century, resulted in significant social changes. However, the statement that peasants were given voting rights is incorrect. The Black Death did not lead to the granting of voting rights to peasants. Instead, it caused a labor shortage, which allowed workers to negotiate better wages and conditions. The other options mentioned in the question, such as the decline of feudalism and the rise of a middle class, are accurate social changes that occurred due to the Black Death.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Sep 17, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    Lisa Hall
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