This past friday we started our introduction to Charlemagne or Charles the Great as some call him!
On Monday we will pick up where we left off with the reading packet...
- Project: Reading and Discussion.
- "The Christmas Crowning of Charlemagne"
From this reading we will then discuss and answer the questions found on the last page of the packet.
Tuesday, we will be reading aloud the play "Song of Roland" which is a poem written around 1100 A.D. by an unknown French author. This story is about the greatest of the legendary knights to serve Charlemagne, and is the oldest existing epic poem in French. This poem probably began as a popular song about a battle fought in 778 A.D when Charlemagne was returning from an expedition to Spain. Much of the poem/song's story has been changed to make the event more exciting to the listener. We'll discuss some of the changes we find.
- What is your opinion on Blancandrin's statement that it is "Better for them to lose their heads than for us to lose our fair land of Spain?"
- If you were King Charles, when King Marsile made his proposal, would you have chosen war or peace?
- Do you think Roland was being foolish or brave when he refused to call for help? What would you have done if you were in Roland's shoes?
Homework for tuesday night, is to take your play and complete "The Three Estates" worksheet. Take all the characters listed in the play and place them in 3 categories: Churchmen and women, Nobles, Ordinary People.
Wednesday, we will have a map showing the expansion of Charlemagne's empire. After locating the territories taken from the Lombards and Saxons. We will look at a modern day map of Europe and try to determine which countries these territories are today. You will have a reading packet to read:
- Chapter X: Charlemagne, King from 768-814 A.D.
Thursday, we will move on to Alfred the Great, after reading from our reading cards, we will complete the worksheet that goes along with it.
Friday, we will have a reading packet about Alfred the Great: Project, Reading and Discussion.
We will discuss in class the difference between the legend and the truth. Page 4 of this packet we will draw a picture of FIVE important events or contributions Alfred the Great made to society.
We will discuss in class the difference between the legend and the truth. Page 4 of this packet we will draw a picture of FIVE important events or contributions Alfred the Great made to society.
