Lesson Plan: Meddling with History - The Battle of Hastings Reimagined

Materials Needed:

• Digital Access: Internet connection for viewing the Bayeux Tapestry online (e.g., via the Bayeux Museum website or a high-resolution scrollable version).
• Text: A copy of Cecilia Holland's short story, "Repulse at Hastings, October 14, 1066."
• Video: The Doctor Who classic serial, "The Time Meddler" (Season 2, 1965).
• Creative Supplies: Student's choice of materials for the final project. This could include:
  • Paper and drawing/coloring supplies (markers, colored pencils).
  • A long roll of paper (like butcher paper) for a tapestry-style project.
  • A word processor or notebook for writing.
  • Optional: Digital art software, video recording equipment, or audio recording software.
• Notebook or Journal: For responding to prompts and planning.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Analyze how a single historical event (the Battle of Hastings) is portrayed across different media: historical artifact, alternate history fiction, and science fiction television.
• Evaluate the concept of a historical "point of divergence" and explain how a small change can lead to a radically different outcome.
• Synthesize information from all three sources to create your own original work of alternate history.
• Justify your creative choices by connecting them to historical context and the themes presented in the source materials.

Lesson Activities

Part 1: The "Official" Story - The Bayeux Tapestry (Approx. 60 minutes)

The Bayeux Tapestry tells the story from the Norman perspective—the winners' side. We'll start by understanding the story as they wanted it to be told.

1. Explore the Tapestry: Using a high-quality digital version, scroll through the entire Bayeux Tapestry from beginning to end. Don't worry about reading all the Latin text; focus on the images. Pay attention to key scenes: Harold's oath to William, King Edward's death, the appearance of Halley's Comet, the preparations for war, and the battle itself.
2. Journal Response: In your notebook, answer the following questions:
   • How is Harold Godwinson portrayed compared to William of Normandy? Look at their posture, size, and actions. Who seems more heroic or destined to win?
   • The Tapestry is a piece of propaganda. What message do you think the creators wanted to send?
   • Find the scene where Harold is killed (Scene 57). Historians debate whether he is the figure with the arrow in his eye or the one being cut down by a knight. Which do you think is more dramatic? Why might the Tapestry show both?
   • What moment in the battle do you think was the most critical turning point, based on the images?

Part 2: The Alternate Story - "Repulse at Hastings" (Approx. 45 minutes)

Now, let's explore what might have happened if the battle went the other way. Cecilia Holland is a master of historical fiction, and here she imagines a world where William does not conquer England.

1. Read the Story: Read Cecilia Holland's "Repulse at Hastings, October 14, 1066."
2. Journal Response: In your notebook, reflect on the story:
   • What specific event does Holland identify as the key turning point that changes the outcome of the battle? How does this compare to the turning point you identified in the Tapestry?
   • How does the story's tone feel compared to the Tapestry? Is it triumphant, grim, uncertain?
   • Holland focuses on the chaos and personal experience of the battle. How is this different from the more stylized, bird's-eye view of the Tapestry?
   • What does the story suggest England's future would be like without the Norman conquest?

Part 3: The Meddled Story - Doctor Who's "The Time Meddler" (Approx. 100 minutes)

This story introduces another Time Lord, the Monk, who isn't just observing history—he's trying to change it. He believes he's improving it. This brings up the ethics and consequences of altering the past.

1. Watch the Serial: Watch all four episodes of "The Time Meddler."
2. Journal Response: After watching, consider these questions in your notebook:
   • The Monk isn't trying to change the Battle of Hastings directly. What is his plan? Why does he think giving the Saxons advanced weapons in the earlier Battle of Stamford Bridge will help them win at Hastings?
   • The Doctor is horrified by the Monk's plan. Why? What is the Doctor's philosophy about changing history at this point in the show? Do you agree with him or with the Monk?
   • The Monk has a toaster and other anachronisms in the monastery. How do these small, funny details highlight the bigger theme of meddling with time?
   • Imagine the Monk's plan had succeeded. How would a "Saxon super-state" armed with 1960s technology have changed world history? Think big!

Part 4: Your Story - The Final Project (Creative Work Session)

You have seen history as it was recorded, as it might have been, and as it could have been meddled with. Now, it's your turn to become the historian, the author, or the time meddler.

Your Task: Create an artifact from an alternate timeline related to the Norman Conquest. You must choose a single "point of divergence"—one moment where things go differently—and show the consequences.

Step 1: Choose Your "Point of Divergence"

Your change can be small or large. Here are some ideas inspired by our sources:

• The Tapestry Twist: Halley's Comet was seen as a bad omen for Harold. What if it was interpreted differently?
• The Holland Approach: A different military strategy succeeds. What if the Saxon shield wall never broke? What if William was the one who was killed early in the battle?
• The Time Meddler Method: An outside force interferes. What if Harold had a "secret weapon" (technology, information, a mysterious advisor)? What if the Viking invasion at Stamford Bridge never happened, leaving Harold's army fresh?
• A Personal Change: What if Harold never made his oath to William? What if King Edward had clearly named a different heir?

Step 2: Choose Your Medium

How will you present your alternate history? Select one of the following:

• The Alternate Tapestry: Create 5-10 new "panels" for the Bayeux Tapestry showing your new version of events. You can draw this on a long scroll of paper. No need for embroidery—pen and ink or colored pencils work great! Your art style can mimic the original or be your own.
• A "Found" Document: Write a primary source document from your new timeline. This could be a letter from a soldier after the battle, a page from a monk's chronicle, or a royal decree from the victorious King Harold. It should describe the new reality.
• The Meddler's Log: Write a series of log entries from the perspective of a time traveler (like the Monk or the Doctor) who has witnessed or caused the change. Describe what you did, why you did it, and what the unintended consequences were.

Step 3: Create Your Project!

Take your time and have fun bringing your alternate timeline to life.

Step 4: Write a "Historian's Note" (1-2 Paragraphs)

With your finished project, write a short explanation. This note should cover:

• What was your specific point of divergence?
• Why did you choose this point? How was it inspired by the Tapestry, Holland's story, or "The Time Meddler"?
• Briefly explain the new historical outcome your artifact depicts.
• Why did you choose your particular medium (tapestry panels, letter, log entry) to tell this new story?

Extension & Deeper Thinking (Optional)

• Research: The Anglo-Saxon language and culture were very different from the Norman French. Research how the English language might be different today if the Norman Conquest had failed. Would we still have so many French-derived words?
• Modern Connections: The idea of history having "Fixed Points" that cannot be changed is a major theme in modern Doctor Who. Do you believe some historical events are so important that they are inevitable? Was the Norman Conquest one of them?