Question

Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

He had a latten cross set full of stones
And in a bottle had he some pig’s bones,
But with these relics, when he came upon.
Some simple parson, then this paragon
In that one day more money stood to gain” (The Canterbury Tales; “General Prologue,” lines 701-705)

Based upon the context of this passage, the best meaning of 'paragon' is __________________.

A. idol
B. trickster
C. model of excellence
D. plain

Answer 1

The meaning of the word 'paragon' is c. model of excellence.

"The General Prologue" is part of Geoffrey Chaucer's introduction to The Canterbury Tales. In this famous opening, the author makes reference to the tales and their meaning and he also offers a brief description of the characters. In this excerpt, the writer uses the word 'paragon' to refer to the Pardoner in order to show irony. The Pardoner is actually a trickster since he earns money by selling indulgences and false relics.