Catherine
Called Birdy
Catherine, Called Birdy
Catherine
Called Birdy
Catherine, Called Birdy
Written in journal format, set in 1290-1291,
Catherine,
Called Birdy is a window into life in the Dark Ages. The
only daughter of a knight, 13 year old Birdy has almost reached marriageable
age. Her journal takes the reader through a year and a month of Birdy's
intrigues and trickery to prevent being, as she puts it, "sold at auction
like a pig" by her father whom she only refers to as "the beast."
Her mother is trying to teach her to be a lady with "lady lessons," and
even her old nurse is joined with her parents against her. As the
journal progresses we follow Birdy through many events common to the life
of the 13th century.
Birdy describes her life, as well as that of friends, family, servants,
and villagers. She also gives us a brief look at life in a monastery,
in court, at the local village, and in the local manor house. The
reader goes with her to visit her brother in an abbey, to a nearby village
to watch a hanging, to her mother's solar to learn needle arts, to the
local village to participate in cottage building, to holiday banquets and
celebrations and through her everyday life. We watch as she
grows from a daydreaming little girl, to a young woman who has learned
the value of herself and acceptance of her role in life.
Told with humor and amazing historical accuracy, Catherine, Called Birdy
is a book to contrast with present day life. The responsibilities
and social requirements of a young teenager are vastly different from today's
teen. They will also get an eye-opening view of life as it was for
young people in those days. Readers who think of the Dark Ages as
being times of glorious crusades, with princesses living in castles waiting
for handsome princes' to come marry them, will get a more accurate understanding
of life "back in the Dark Ages."
Social
Studies:
This
story takes place in the Medieval Times. In addition, it highlights a different
type of lifestyle, especially for women, that society is not used to. Women's
Rights and the Civil Rights Movements could be a great extension of this
story. Have a class debate discussing the inequality issues that are present
in the story (ex: Do you think it was right that Catherine's father was
allowed or chose her mate?).
Math:
Catherine
was able to trick or send the prospective suitors away from her. Create
word problems associated with the number of men she was able to send running.
The teacher and students can formulate questions that can be done individually,
in pairs or groups. For example: If Catherine's father gave her $5.00 for
every suitor she talked to how much money did she make? (Catherine saw
12 men, yet only spoke to 9)
Creative
Arts:
Break
the class into groups of four or five. Have a contest for the best skit
that exemplifies a scenario that might have taken place between Catherine
and a suitor. Students can use props, costumes, music or any other element
that brings the skit to life.
Web quest
1. “Map
a Medieval Manor”
www.mmhschool.com/teach/socialstud/grade3-6/w16412-2.html
2. “Life
in the Middle Ages”
www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/Brisas/sunda/ma/mahome.htm
3. “A
Virtual Visit to the Middle Ages”
WWW.MIDDLEAGES.COM”
4. “Castle
Quest”
http://cob.ioc.net/~kevcom/CQ/SetUp.html
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