Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!
Laura Amy Schlitz
Candlewick Press, 2007
Awards: 2008
Newbery Award Winner
Suggested Delivery:
Whole Class (Reader’s Theatre)
Reading Level:
- · Grade Level: 6
- · Fountas and Pinnell: Z
Key Words:
- Medieval
- Class system
- Monologue
- World History
- England
Vocabulary: friants (2), forge (6), anvil (9), dysentery
(18), vanquish (18), valiant (35), frank (35), selfsame (43),
Summary: This
book is constructed of a series of 17 monologues and 2 dialogues, spoken by
various child characters living in 13th Century, England. Speakers
range from the Lord’s daughter and nephew, to the children of the town beggar
and blacksmith. This witty and historically accurate collection creates an
intriguing bridge to the people and places of medieval England.
Before: Prior to
reading, the class will have a discussion on reader’s theatres.
- · Involves sharing literature by reading aloud and performing dialogue of assigned characters
- · Can be a more interesting way of learning material or becoming more fluent.
Additionally, we will discuss the use of monologues.
- · Definition: a long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical program
- · Used to exemplify the in-depth perspective of just one person.
Lastly, students will be assigned a role, and will briefly review
their own poems, looking for words that need to be defined, or meanings that
need clarification.
During: While the
book is being performed as a class, students will record the following from at
least 3 monologues, in addition to their own.
- · Setting
- · Main idea of the monologue
- · Mood of the dialogue
- · Character’s class
- · Favorite quote
- · In the Middle Ages, the characters of Petronella and Jacob would have been at odds with one another in society because of their religion. In reading their dialogue, are there are any real differences between the characters? What do you think of their societal separation?
After: Students
will be combined in groups comprised of actors whose character’s belong to
different social classes. There will be at least one noble, one middle class,
and one peasant class character in each group. While discussing the character
analysis facts they recorded, students will talk about the pros and cons of
belong to one class over another. Questions to consider:
- · Which character lived the hardest/easiest life?
- · What did we learn about the Middle Ages?
Writing: Basing
your responses on the characters we read about in Good Masters, Sweet Ladies!, which of their classes or lifestyles
would you rather belong to?
- · Is any lifestyle better than the other, or are they simply different?
- · What are some pros and cons of belonging to either social class?
Electronic Resources:
o Reader’s
Theatre example
o Teacher’s
guide
Schlitz, L. (2007). Good
Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village. Cambrige: Candlewick
Press.
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