STUDY PACKET Grade 9-12 Table of Contents Fact Sheets & Discussion Questions Copy for your students, or use yourself to motivate discussion on these interesting parts of medieval life. Medieval Entertainment Tournaments Anachronisms at the Faire Faire Day Worksheets Pick one to photocopy for your students to bring with them as a way of focusing their visit to the faire. Survey of Medieval Life You're the Journalist Classroom Activities These are activities and reports for your class to do before or after your visit to learn more. Create your own Heraldry Medieval Occupations Learn More Suggested Books, Videos, and World Wide Web Pages. 2006-2012
Modern life is full of entertainment. Around the home we can play video games, watch television, listen to the radio, we can surf the internet, we can do a craft project, chat on the phone with friends, read novels or many other things. Away from home we can go to the movies, shopping, or drive on scenic tours, to an amusement park, a museum, or a sports arena. In Medieval times the scope for entertainment was much more limited, but people still found ways to have fun. Story telling was very important to the medieval family. Stories were sometimes the only way to get news, to record events, or teach lessons. Stories can be told in the dark around the fire, they can be told while doing handcrafts, or in the short rest before peasants went back to the harvest. Visitors would be asked to tell stories as a way of sharing news of far off places. Stories about the king and nobles would inform the peasants in villages about a monarch they might never get the chance to see with their own eyes. Very few medieval peasants could read, so it was important to tell stories of your ancestors and your history so that it would be remembered. Adults told stories to children in order to teach them how to behave, how to farm and live. Singing Without the radio, CDs, MP3s, the only way to listen to music was if someone was singing or playing an instrument. People would sing while working, they would sing at home to amuse themselves, and they would sing with friends. A traveling singer was always welcome since they would know songs that would tell news of the day, or new songs of heroic deeds that the townsfolk could learn and sing long after the traveler had moved on. Dance Nobles would dance courtly dances when they would go to visit each other. Nobles danced to show off the beautiful clothes they wore and to show off how many steps each noble man and woman knew. Villagers would dance at festivals like May Day and at harvest festivals. Villagers danced to celebrate the season and to celebrate life. Games and contests Though organized sports did not exist as we know it, villagers would play games with dice and cards, they would compete against each other in their daily activities. Nobles would also compete with one another. At tournaments knights would compete against each other to show off their skill and to entertain those watching.
MEDIEVAL ENTERTAINMENT Discussion Questions Why did the noble class and the peasants do different dances? Are there some modern dance styles done by different groups of people? Relate them to the class system of the Middle Ages. How did the noble classes use music? How did the peasant classes use music? In the Middle Ages children were treated exactly like little adults, How did this affect the time they spent in play? In modern times, why is play considered important for children? Modern jobs are expected to come with days off and vacation time. How did this come about? In the Middle Ages, both peasant and noble were often at the mercy of the seasons. When did medieval people get time off from outdoor work? What types of activities could they do instead? Suggested activities: Learn a medieval song or dance Make up a story of life in a castle or village. See the Learn More section at back of study guide for books and videos to use to find out more information.
In Roman times rulers and slaves alike were entertained by battles staged in large arenas. In the middle ages games of fighting were very popular to all people: villagers held wrestling matches, huntsmen held archery competitions, gentlemen held practice sword bouts, and rulers of the realm would call together all of their knight to compete in grand tournaments. Tournaments were training for actual battle. A time of fun and games when the ruler of the realm could look over his knights and make sure they were staying in shape to be ready for battle. Peasants could watch the tournament and often took the opportunity to TOURNAMENTS When a suit of armor covered knight, it was hard to tell them apart! So knights adopted heraldry: colors and pictures special to each knight. escape the drudgery of their everyday lives. Merchants took advantage of the great gathering of people to sell wares. Ladies and nobles would watch the action from shaded pavilions. Any knight they fancied might be presented with a favor, a cloth banner, a flower or piece of jewelry to show which knight they favored. TYPES OF CONTESTS FOUND AT TOURNAMENTS These are the various ways of battle practiced at tournaments: Foot Combat: Knights in suits of armor battling each other. Mounted Combat: Knights battling on horseback. Jousting: Knights on horseback charging each other with lances. TRIAL BY COMBAT Without the modern court system anyone accused of a crime could fight his or her accuser to determine innocence. It was believed that God would not let a guilty man win. Tournaments were often assembled around a trial by combat.
TOURNAMENT DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Compare and contrast modern sporting events to medieval tournaments. How does modern clothing tell us about the person wearing it? How can we tell if our modern military and police forces are up to standard? Who makes the rules we live by? Compare our judiciary system to that of the Middle Ages. Suggested Activities: Learn about armor or weapons of the middle ages, write a code of chivalry for your classroom, make your own heraldry (see Heraldry activity in this guide.)
ANACRONISMS AT THE FAIRE Discussion Questions The Renaissance Faire is full of history, but it is also full of fantasy, and modernity. Often at the faire you will see modern anachronisms, things from our time that do not fit in olden times. You will also see things more likely to be found in a fantasy novel than in history. List some anachronisms found at the faire: Why do these things not belong in a historical scene? Why are these things necessary at the faire? List some fantastic items and characters at the faire that are not historical: Why do fantasy items and characters fit in at the faire? What purpose did fantasy characters play in medieval life? What is Suspension of Disbelief? How can suspension of disbelief help us learn about history?
FAIRE DAY WORKSHEET A Survey of Medieval Life Have your class work as individuals or groups and experience the range of medieval life at the Faire. Ask questions from at least four different historical characters and learn more about them. Some example questions might be: What is your job? What is your favorite food? How do you feel about the king? What type of house do you live in? Write a question you will ask at least 4 different people: 1. Name of person: Type of person (circle one): Noble Peasant Merchant Other: Their answer to the survey question: 2. Name of person: Type of person (circle one): Noble Peasant Merchant Other: Their answer to the survey question: 3. Name of person: Type of person (circle one): Noble Peasant Merchant Other: Their answer to the survey question: 4. Name of person: Type of person (circle one): Noble Peasant Merchant Other: Their answer to the survey question:
FAIRE DAY WORKSHEET You re the Journalist Prepare to write a newspaper article (or television news story) about someone you encounter at the faire using this worksheet. 1. Write down a description of the person. Describe what they look like, including what they are wearing. Describe if they are noble or peasant Describe their attitude, or emotion Describe what they are doing when you meet them 2. Ask them to answer these questions: How are you enjoying this festival day? Did you make any special preparations for this day? What is it like having King Arthur to visit? How do you make your living? Do you have a family? What religion are you? What type of house do you live in? What do you eat in a typical meal? Ask your own question: 3. Back at school write a news story to share with the class.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY Create Your Own Heraldry This activity will give students a chance to look at what they value and display in more than words what they are proud of about themselves. Noble families and knights on the battlefield were identified by their heraldry: colors, pictures, and sayings that the family had adopted to represent themselves and their values. In the Middle Ages when most people could not read it was important to let others know you were trustworthy and honorable, followed the Heraldry can take many forms: it can be the design on a shield, a flag, or on a tabard worn by the knight. In this activity your students can either use the shield patterns provided on the next pages, or you can create tabards for your students by providing 2 pieces of cloth or paper one foot by one and a half feet, attached by two ribbons (approximately 18 inches long) that will be slung over the shoulder, creating a tabard the students can wear to the faire. 1. Pick an animal that represents the type of person you hope to be, make up your own associations or use: Lion = Courage and fierceness, Horse = Determination, care for others, Rabbit = Love and kindness, Snake = Speech and communication, Dog = Energy and obedience, Cat = Independence and drive, Fish = Speed and flexibility, Lamb = Peace and understanding, Dolphin = Fun and talk, Bird = Thought and knowledge, Bee = Hard work and perseverance, Deer = Tolerance and diversity, Bear = Dependability and trust, Dragon = Mystery If you would rather, you can pick a tree, flower, musical instrument or another object that represents you. Draw your choice in the center of your shield. 2. Pick two colors that represent two things that you value. You can make up your own key to the colors or use: Red = athletics and physical fitness, Orange = Bravery and courage, Yellow = Happiness and fun, Green = Earth and environment, Blue = Feelings and communication, Violet = Nobility and Caring. White = Imagination, Black = Honesty and Truth. Use your colors in the background of your shield 3. Write about what your heraldry represents and what you hope people will perceive about you.
MEDIEVAL OCCUPATIONS One of the best ways to learn about the lives of common people is to research the jobs available during the time period you are studying. Following is a list of medieval occupations that your students can learn more about and report to the class. At the Connecticut Renaissance Faire you will find many (though certainly not all) of these occupations portrayed. A good way for your students to participate in the atmosphere and experience of the faire is to pretend to be a character from the Middle Ages themselves. Choosing and researching an occupation can be a good start to creating a medieval persona. IN THE VILLAGE Blacksmith Brewer Farmer Fisherman Herder Laborer Midwife Miller Tavern Keep Tinker Weaver IN TOWN Apothecary Baker Beggar Butcher Cooper Dyer Merchant Moneylender Sailor Surgeon Tailor/Seamstress Tanner AT THE CASTLE Archer Armorer Castle Builder Falconer Knight Messenger Minstrel Noble Servant Stable Hand Steward IN THE CHURCH Priest Cathedral Builder Monk/Nun Scholar/Scribe
LEARN MORE Nonfiction Books 1. A Rhyming History of Britain By James Muirden, Published by Walker and Company, 2003. 2. Life in a Medieval Village By Frances & Joseph Gies, Published by Harper & Row, 1989 (or any other book by this duo). 3. The Book Of The Medieval Knight By Stephen Turnbull, Published by Sterling Publishing, 1995. 4. The History and meaning of HeraldryBy Stephen Slater, Published by Annes Publishing, 2004. 5. The World of King Arthur By Christopher Snyder, Published by Thames & Hudson, 2000 Fiction Books 1. The Once and Future King By T.H. White, Published by Ace, 1987. 2. The Crystal Cave By Mary Stewart, Published by Eos, 2003. 3. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur s Court By Mark Twain, Published by Tof Books, 1997. 4. Plays By William Shakespeare 5. Selections from Le Morte D Arthur By Thomas Malory, Published by Modern Library, 1999. Documentaries 1. Crusades Series Narrated by Terry Jones, A & E Entertainment and British Broadcasting Company, 1995 2. The Celts: Rich traditions and Ancient Myths British Broadcasting Company, 1987. 3. King Arthur: Behind the Myths and Legends (The History Channel)A & E Entertainment 4. King Arthur: His Life and Legends (Biography) 2005. 5. Medieval Siege (episode of Nova:Secrets of the Lost Empires 2) WGBH, 2004 6. Barbarians Series Produced by Robert Gardner, A & E Entertainment, 2004 (Note: Rated R) 7. In Search of Shakespeare Hosted By Michael Wood, PBS, 2004 Movies 1. King Arthur Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Buena Vista Home Video, 2004. 2. Monty Python and the Holy Grail directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones, Columbia/TriStar,1975. Note: the following four titles are rated R so should be viewed at parent s discretion: 3. Elizabeth directed by Shekhar Kapur, Umvd, 1998. 4. Excalibur directed by John Boorman, Warner Studios, 1981. (Note: not really for the younger set) 5. Shakespeare in Love directed by John Madden, Miramax, 1998. 6. Braveheart directed by Mel Gibson, Paramouth Studio, 1995. Web Pages 1. http://www.bellaonline.com/site/renaissance Feature articles by CTRFʼs Education Coordinator. 2. http://historymedren.about.com/ a massive tome of information on the middle ages. 3. http://britannia.com/ A web site on British history, Life, and Travel 4. http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/ good sources on archaeology, mostly centered around London, but very informative.