How we cite our quotes: (Line number)
Quote #10
"Thou spak right now of thilke traytour Deeth,
That in this contree alle oure freendes sleeth.
Have heer my trouthe, as thou art his espye,
Telle where he is, or thou shalt it abye,
By God and by the hooly sacrament!
For soothly thou art oon of his assent
To sleen us yonge folk, thou false theef!" (467 – 473)
The rioter draws a line in the sand between the young and old, implying that the elderly are in cahoots with Death to kill the young. It's an allegorical medieval version of the generation gap.
Quote #11
"Now, sires," quod he, "if that ye be so leef
To fynde Deeth, turne up this crooked wey,
For in that grove I lafte hym, by my fey,
Under a tree, and there he wole abyde;
Noght for your boost he wole him no thyng hyde.
See that ook? Right ther ye shal hym fynde." (474 – 479)
The Old Man directs the young men to a tree in a grove. Once there, they find four bushels of gold, which eventually cause them to kill one another out of greed. So the Old Man is knowingly directing these three to their own deaths. Those pilgrims are probably counting out their coins right about now.
Quote #12
Paraventure ther may fallen oon or two
Doun of his hors, and breke his nekke atwo.
Look, which a seuretee is it to yow alle
That I am in youre felaweship yfalle,
That may assoille yow, bothe moore and lasse,
When that the soule shal from the body passe. (649 – 654)
Here the Pardoner clearly reveals his livelihood's dependence on people's fear of what comes after death. Trying to sell his stuff to the pilgrims, he shamelessly exploits this fear by reminding them of the perils of the road. It reminds Shmoop of commercials for life insurance; you never know when you might drop dead, so you'd better make sure your family isn't stuck with "final expenses." You might call the Pardoner's merchandise "afterlife insurance."