Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions based on the passage:
An exemplum is a story used to illustrate a broader moral or thematic point. It was often employed within religious sermons. Popular during the Middle Ages, this device featured prominently in collections of tales. These tales—both historical and legendary—were compiled for preachers to use in their teachings. In The Pardoner's Tale by Chaucer, the author uses an exemplum to convey the message "Greed is the root of all evil." He tells the story of three drunken revelers who set out to find and confront Death. Instead, they discover a treasure. In their greed, they kill one another to gain sole possession of the gold. By doing so, they meet Death in the end.
The term "exemplum," once tied to religious discourse, now applies more broadly to stories used in formal, nonreligious exhortations. For instance, in The Nun's Priest's Tale, Chaucer's Chanticleer employs this approach and presents at least ten exempla. He uses them to try to convince his skeptical wife, Dame Pertelote, that bad dreams can signal disaster. His efforts ultimately fail. Still, the use of exempla remains a compelling means of argumentation and moral instruction.
What is the main moral lesson Chaucer shares in The Pardoner's Tale?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
Greed is the root cause of evil
Explanation
The passage clearly states that in The Pardoner's Tale, Chaucer uses an exemplum to convey the message “Greed is the root of all evil.” The three revelers become so greedy after finding the treasure that they kill one another, ultimately leading to their own deaths. Therefore, Option 3 correctly expresses the central moral of the tale.
The other options are incorrect. Option 1 focuses on honesty, which is not the main theme. Option 2 mentions that money cannot prevent death, but the passage emphasizes greed rather than wealth itself. Option 4 highlights loyalty versus selfishness, which is not the primary moral presented.
Key Points
In reading comprehension, identify statements that explicitly express the author's message or moral. Here, the passage directly states that the lesson of The Pardoner's Tale is that greed is the root of all evil.