The Parson: What He Said and Why The Canterbury Tales offers many characters whose vocation does not match his tale. This often provides humor and provokes much thought. Yet Chaucer makes the parson match his tale. This provokes a more serious line of thinking. Thus Chaucer shows his brilliance in versatility of topics. The first thing that should be noted in the Parson's tale is that the Parson refuses to tell a fairy tale. In lines 30-36, the Parson explains his reasoning in simple prose. He will not tell a story mixed with chaff and wheat. Rather, he chooses to tell a story in nonfiction prose so that everyone can understand it clearly. His aim is not so much to tell an impressive story but to show what he believes is important. Secondly, he speaks in a respectable medieval manner appealing to the authorities. While the Wife of Bath says she will not report to the authorities, he does so without shame. It refers to the biblical figures Matthew, Jeremiah, Solomon, David, Jesus, Job, Hezekiah, Ezekiel, Peter, Jeremiah, Moses, Isaiah, Micah, John, Joseph, Paul, Zechariah and Luke. It also refers to scholars and saints such as Ambrose, Isidore, Gregory, Augustine, Chrysostom, Bernard, Seneca, Basil, Damasus, and Galen. Because Augustine was the most influential person in the history of the Church, Augustine is the most cited authority relied upon. Additionally, it includes a lengthy discussion of mortal and venial sins. He exemplifies many ways one can fall into one of the seven deadly sins. Such crimes include birth control as murder and nocturnal emission as adultery. It also provides guidelines on how to prevent such sins. It offers hope to the penitent by expounding the method of reconciliation prescribed by the Holy Church.