Irony used by Chaucer Essay -- essays research papers

Irony is the general name given to literary techniques that involve surprising, interesting, or amusing contradictions. Two stories from Chaucers Canterbury Tales that serve as excellent demonstrations of raillery are The Pardoners Tale and The Nuns Priests Tale. Although these two stories are very different, they both use irony to teach a lesson. In The Pardoners Tale, the Pardoner uses his written report to speak out against many social problems, all of which he is guilty of. He preaches about drunkenness, while he is intoxicated while telling the story. reprobation and greed are other problems he speaks of. Ironically, he attempts to sell fake religious relics and is amazingly greedy. Yet there are also many juiceless situations in the story itself. In the beginning of the story, the three rioters make a pact to be brothers, to each defend the others, and to live and die for one some other in protection from death. In going out to fulfill their vows, they encounter money and end up killing each other over greed. by and by finding the money, the men plan to stay with it until it becomes dark when they can safely take it away. To tide themselves over until then, they send the youngest one out to get feed and wine, and while he is away they plan to kill for his share of the money. Ironically, the youngest one is planning the same thing by slipping poison into the drinks of his companions. When he returns, he is attacked and stabbed to death by the other...