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Literature in the Middle Ages

posted May 2, 2014, 4:23 AM by Quoc-Anh Vuong   [ updated May 2, 2014, 4:23 AM ]
Hi Huan and Ly, 
Here are the notes from our sessions on 4/24/14 and today, 5/1/14.  I will do a little research on books for Huan and send you some recommendations. 


Literature in the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages saw the beginnings of a rebirth in literature. Early medieval books were painstakingly hand-copied and illustrated by monks. Paper was a rarity, with vellum, made from calf's skin, and parchment, made from lamb's skin, were the media of choice for writing. Students learning to write used wooden tablets covered in green or black wax. The greatest number of books during this era were bound with plain wooden boards, or with simple tooled leather for more expensive volumes.

*I gave a little history on the Middle Ages first.  

What marked the beginning of the Middle Ages?  FALL OF GREEK AND ROMAN EMPIRE

How were books originally made?  HAND COPIED BY MONKS

What were books written on?  PARCHMENT

What did students write on? WAX

What do you write on? PAPER

How do you experience handwriting?  I CAN DO IT.  HEAD HURTS WHEN I DO.  can you explain this a little more?  JUST MAKING MYSELF WRITE OVERWHELMS ME SO MUCH IT GIVES ME A HEADACHE.  do you get headaches often? YES, EVERY DAY.  what do you think causes them?  WORKING SO HARD.  What if we made a sign that say "headache" for home and school, so that when you got a headache you could point to the sign to let your patents or teacher know.  YES....do lights bother you?  STARING AT LIGHTS GIVES ME A HEADACHE....well don't stare at lights!!!  

Wandering scholars and poets traveling to the Crusades learned of new writing styles. Courtly Love spawned a new interest in romantic prose. Troubadours sang in medieval courtyards about epic battles involving Roland, Arthur, and Charlemagne. Literature exploded from the universities as scholars began to question convention and write social commentary, as well as poetic fiction.

How did the Crusades influence literature?  EXPOSURE TO NEW PEOPLE AND IDEAS

Language saw further development during the Middle Ages. Capital and lowercase letters were developed with rules for each. Books were treasures, rarely shown openly in a library, but rather, kept safely under lock and key. Finding someone who might loan you a book was a true friend. Some might rent out their books, while others, desperate for cash, might turn to the book as a valuable item to be pawned.

Do you think that people still treasure books?  NO BECAUSE THEY ARE SO READILY AVAILABLE.  do you treasure books?  YES, BUT I CAN'T READ INDEPENDENTLY BECAUSE I CANNOT TRACK THE LETTERS ACROSS THE PAGE.  Would it surprise you if I told you that 100% of my clients tell me the same thing?  NO, I THINK IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR AUTISTIC PEOPLE.  

Huan, there are audible books that you can listen to independently on your ipad or other device. Does that appeal to you?  SO MUCH.  I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO READ INDEPENDENTLY.  

Mom asked, "Do you like the audio books Ms. Spencer has been sending home?" IT IS OK, A LITTLE EASY.  

Mom also asked, "Do you sleep at night?"  TOSS AND TURN MOST NIGHTS.  NOT MUCH REST.  

_______
We continued the lesson today.....

We are going to talk about genres of literature.  What does genre mean?  TYPE OF BOOK

What genres of books do you like?  I LIKE WESTERNS....what kind of westerns?  any particular era or type of western?...JUST ANY ABOUT COWBOYS AND NATIVE AMERICANS....fiction or non-fiction?....NONFICTION

What else?  POETRY....any poems or poets in particular?....POEMS ABOUT COUNTRY AND AMERICAN LIFE....How about starting with American poets and poetry? ...YES

What else?  MYSTERIES.....what kind?....MURDER MYSTERIES.....do you like the mysteries vague or twisty and turny?  TWISTY.

Huan, Ms. Spencer is going to be leaving school in the next couple of weeks.  Would you like to write a letter to her telling her how you feel about her and having her as your teacher?  YES

DEAR MS. SPENCER, 
YOU HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE TEACHER.  I AM GOING TO MISS YOU SO MUCH.  I THINK YOU PROBABLY NEED A BREAK FROM YOUR HARD WORK.  I HOPE YOU FIND A JOB THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY.  I HOPE THAT YOUR NEW JOB TREATS YOU WELL.  
YOURS TRULY, 
HUAN

*Huong, I hope you write this note our and send it to Linda!  I think she will really appreciate it!  

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