Instructions
This worksheet invites you to explore the misty borderlands where history and literature meet. You will delve into the great legendary cycles of medieval Europe, consider how stories were passed down before the age of printing, and reflect on how tales of heroes and kings can illuminate the past. Pray, attend closely to each task.
Part 1: The Great Matters of Medieval Literature
Medieval storytellers often grouped their tales into three great cycles, or "Matters." Match each "Matter" to its correct description and the primary hero associated with it by writing the correct letter and number in the "Your Answer" column.
| Matter | Your Answer (Description + Hero) |
|---|---|
| The Matter of Britain | |
| The Matter of France | |
| The Matter of Rome |
| Descriptions | Heroes |
|---|---|
| A. Tales of chivalry, Christian warfare, and the emperor's twelve noble paladins. | 1. Alexander the Great & Aeneas of Troy |
| B. Legends of Celtic heroes, enchanted isles, Camelot, and the Knights of the Round Table. | 2. King Arthur |
| C. Retellings of classical Greek and Roman myths and historical events, adapted for a medieval audience. | 3. Charlemagne & Roland |
Part 2: From Spoken Word to Written Page
For centuries, stories like Beowulf or the tales of King Arthur were not read from books. They were performed aloud by bards and storytellers from memory, often with music. This is called an oral tradition. Each performance could be slightly different. Only much later did scribes—often monks working in monasteries—begin to write these stories down on expensive animal-skin parchment. This created a manuscript culture, which fixed the story into a single, tangible version.
1. What is one advantage of an oral tradition for the storyteller?
2. What is one major disadvantage of a purely oral tradition for preserving a story over many centuries?
3. When a scribe wrote down an oral tale, what might have been lost from the original performance?
Part 3: A Timeline of Tales
The chart below shows the vast gap that can exist between when a story was first told and when the first surviving written copy was made. Consider the implications of this gap as you examine the dates.
| Literary Work | Estimated Period of Oral Origin | Date of Earliest Surviving Manuscript | Time Gap (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon Epic) | c. 700-800 CE | c. 975-1025 CE | ~250 years |
| The Song of Roland (Matter of France) | c. 1040-1080 CE | c. 1120 CE | ~50 years |
| The Mabinogion (Matter of Britain) | c. 1000-1100 CE (or much earlier) | c. 1350 CE | ~300+ years |
Part 4: History Within the Story
The books in our study, such as H.E. Marshall's Kings & Things, Lady Charlotte Guest's The Mabinogion, or Phillippa Hardman's study of Charlemagne, blend historical figures with legendary deeds. In the space below, answer the following question in 3-4 sentences:
Question: How can a fictional story or legend be a valuable source for understanding the history, beliefs, and culture of the people who created and shared it?
Part 5: Further Reading for the Adventurous Scholar
Should you wish to continue your adventures, the following texts are highly recommended. Seek out modern translations that are praised for both their accuracy and their readability.
- The Matter of Britain:
- The Mabinogion, translated by Sioned Davies or the classic version by Lady Charlotte Guest.
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, translated by Simon Armitage or J.R.R. Tolkien.
- The Matter of France:
- The Song of Roland, translated by Dorothy L. Sayers or Glyn Burgess.
- Early English Literature (Pre-1066):
- Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney (this version is celebrated for its poetic quality).
- The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, translated by Michael Swanton. This is more history than legend, but provides context.
A Gentleman's & Lady's Guide to Scholarly Attainment
One's work on these matters of history and literature shall be judged according to the following standards of merit, with the expectation that a student of good sense and diligent application will strive for the highest approbation. (Aligned to the Australian Curriculum v9 for students of the eighth and ninth year).
| Criterion of Judgement | A Most Accomplished Scholar (Exhibits a high degree of merit) | A Competent Student (Displays satisfactory understanding) | Requires Further Diligence (Shows a nascent but incomplete grasp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis of a Text's Form and Purpose | The student, with laudable perception, explains how the very structure and language of these ancient tales were contrived to influence the sentiments and opinions of their audience. | The student identifies certain features of a text and offers a reasonable, if plain, account of their purpose. | The student points to a feature of a text but struggles to articulate its intended effect upon the reader or listener. |
| Understanding of Context and Value | A most discerning mind is shown in the explanation of how a work such as The Mabinogion might be valued quite differently by a medieval Welsh court and a modern reader, and how such estimations do evolve with the passing of years. | The student acknowledges that texts are products of their time and that their meaning can change, providing a simple example. | The student shows a limited awareness that the historical circumstances of a text's creation are of any consequence to its meaning. |
| Creation of Persuasive Prose | The student composes written responses of notable clarity and elegance, employing a sophisticated vocabulary and well-ordered sentences to construct a most convincing argument. | The student conveys their ideas in a clear and orderly fashion, using appropriate, if commonplace, language and structure. | The student's meaning, though perhaps sound at its heart, is obscured by a want of structure and precision in expression. |
Answer Key
Part 1: The Great Matters of Medieval Literature
- The Matter of Britain: B, 2
- The Matter of France: A, 3
- The Matter of Rome: C, 1
Part 2: From Spoken Word to Written Page
- Advantage of oral tradition: The storyteller could adapt the tale for their specific audience, making it more exciting, dramatic, or humorous as needed. They could also lengthen or shorten the story.
- Disadvantage of oral tradition: The story could be forgotten if no one learns to perform it. Details could be accidentally changed or lost over generations, altering the story completely. There is no single "correct" version to refer back to.
- What might be lost: The scribe could not capture the performer's tone of voice, gestures, musical accompaniment, or the audience's reaction. The dynamic, live energy of the performance is lost when it becomes static text on a page.
Part 4: History Within the Story (Sample Answer)
A legend can be a valuable historical source even if the events are not factually true. These stories reveal what a culture valued, such as courage, loyalty, or piety. They show us their fears (monsters, invaders) and their beliefs about the world, magic, and their own origins. Therefore, by studying their literature, we are studying a kind of cultural and social history of the people who told the stories.