1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cushman, Karen. 1994. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395681863
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this story set in England in the year 1290, Catherine is a fourteen-year-old girl living with her family in a medieval English manor, who is determined not to become a "lady" or to get married. This book is written in Catherine's own words as she writes in her daily journal about her daily life, the expectations put upon women at the time, and her plots and schemes to avoid marriage in any way possible.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The characters in this story were all described from the point of view of Catherine, whose writing was often quite humorous as she wrote in her journal. She loved and thought highly of her mother, her brothers Edward and Thomas, and her Uncle George. Catherine portrayed her father as greedy and often called him "the beast." She did not get along with her oldest brother, Robert who she called "abominable." Other important people in Catherine's life were her friends Perkin and Aelis. Perkin was the boy who looked after the goats. Aelis was the only girl who understood how Catherine felt about being "lady like."
Each journal entry begins with a explanation of which saint's day occurred on that date, along with information about that saint. Excerpts were often ridiculous and funny such as "27th Day of March, Feast of Saint Rupert, bishop of worms. I do not know why worms have their own bishop and other creatures do not" or gory such as "20th Day of January, Feast of Saint Sebastian, who was shot with arrows, recovered, accused the emperor of cruelty, and then was clubbed to death." Religion, fear of the devil, and evil spirits were a major influence on Catherine and the people who lived during the 13th century. When Catherine's father had a toothache and wanted to go to the tooth puller to take it out, Catherine's mother feared that "pulling the tooth will leave a hole in his head where evil spirits can get into his body." Catherine then added in her own words "I think it more likely that evil spirits could get out."
The medieval views about the status of women was something Catherine was constantly fighting. In her journal she made a list of all the things girls are not allowed to do including "go on a crusade, be monks, laugh very loud, wear breeches, drink in ale houses, cut their hair, run, be alone, and marry whom they will." Catherine hated doing all the things that ladies were supposed to do such as sewing, washing clothes, tending to the medical needs of the family, minding their manners, and acting proper. Therefore, Catherine spent countless hours confined to her room, "imprisoned" for bad behavior. Catherine wanted to see the world and have adventures. She wrote "Here in my prison my mother works and gossips with her women as if she didn't mind being chained to needle and spindle."
Cushman's portrayal of the medieval times included things such as eating habits, the lack of cleanliness, and the strange remedies for the treatment of disease. In this story menus consisted of such delicacies as eels in quince jelly and hedgehog in raisins and cream. Catherine spent a lot of time counting and sometimes trapping fleas which lived inside the covers on her bed. Medical remedies were mostly herbal concoctions that women of the house grew and made themselves.
Young readers will be able to identify with Catherine as she often writes "Corpus bones! I loathe my life" as she lives with a family who doesn't understand her. Language such as "corpus bones" and "God's thumbs" are Catherine's chosen expletives. The language may not be the same, but the feelings of not being understood and listened to are something every reader can understand. At the end of the story, Catherine ends up having a better sense of herself and resigns herself to marrying the man she unflatteringly called "Shaggy Beard." Catherine is spared a life with him when he is "killed in a brawl over a tavern maid." In his place Catherine will marry "Shaggy Beard's" son, Stephen, who Catherine writes "is young and clean, loves learning, and is not Shaggy Beard. For these alone, I am prepared to love him."
The main theme in this book is the role of women in society. Catherine was a strong willed young lady, but in the end, she was no match for the rules and beliefs of the times. Women were like property sold to the highest bidder. Another theme in this book is religion and how it affected the lives of the people in that time period.
At the end of the book, Cushman wrote an explanatory Author's Note. In this note, she explained medieval times and how she studied the lives of ordinary people during these times. This makes the book authentic as to the time and place of events and the kind of lives these people led.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Children's Literature: "Using diary format, we learn of life, family, joys, and tribulations of a young woman born to title but not wealthy circumstances. Her dislike of her brothers, frustration with parents, conniving to escape chores, and determination to avoid any possible marriage arranged by her father, will keep you in stitches."
KLIATT Review: "Readers will learn much about the historical time period. Realistic, interesting, and sometimes utterly disgusting details of dress, eating habits, sanitation (or lack thereof), social justice, religious beliefs, celebrations, treatment of disease, etc., are plentiful throughout. Catherine is a strong female heroine with a sense of humor who readers will cheer for until the end."
5. CONNECTIONS
*This book would be wonderful to use as a way of introducing middle school and high school students to a study of medieval times.
*Other books by Karen Cushman:
THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE. ISBN 0395728061
THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. ISBN 0395692296
*Other books about medieval times:
Carrick, Donald. HARALD AND THE GIANT KNIGHT. ISBN 089919060x
Dickson, Gordon R. THE DRAGON AND THE FAIR MAID OF KENT. ISBN 0312861605
Cushman, Karen. 1994. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0395681863
2. PLOT SUMMARY
In this story set in England in the year 1290, Catherine is a fourteen-year-old girl living with her family in a medieval English manor, who is determined not to become a "lady" or to get married. This book is written in Catherine's own words as she writes in her daily journal about her daily life, the expectations put upon women at the time, and her plots and schemes to avoid marriage in any way possible.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The characters in this story were all described from the point of view of Catherine, whose writing was often quite humorous as she wrote in her journal. She loved and thought highly of her mother, her brothers Edward and Thomas, and her Uncle George. Catherine portrayed her father as greedy and often called him "the beast." She did not get along with her oldest brother, Robert who she called "abominable." Other important people in Catherine's life were her friends Perkin and Aelis. Perkin was the boy who looked after the goats. Aelis was the only girl who understood how Catherine felt about being "lady like."
Each journal entry begins with a explanation of which saint's day occurred on that date, along with information about that saint. Excerpts were often ridiculous and funny such as "27th Day of March, Feast of Saint Rupert, bishop of worms. I do not know why worms have their own bishop and other creatures do not" or gory such as "20th Day of January, Feast of Saint Sebastian, who was shot with arrows, recovered, accused the emperor of cruelty, and then was clubbed to death." Religion, fear of the devil, and evil spirits were a major influence on Catherine and the people who lived during the 13th century. When Catherine's father had a toothache and wanted to go to the tooth puller to take it out, Catherine's mother feared that "pulling the tooth will leave a hole in his head where evil spirits can get into his body." Catherine then added in her own words "I think it more likely that evil spirits could get out."
The medieval views about the status of women was something Catherine was constantly fighting. In her journal she made a list of all the things girls are not allowed to do including "go on a crusade, be monks, laugh very loud, wear breeches, drink in ale houses, cut their hair, run, be alone, and marry whom they will." Catherine hated doing all the things that ladies were supposed to do such as sewing, washing clothes, tending to the medical needs of the family, minding their manners, and acting proper. Therefore, Catherine spent countless hours confined to her room, "imprisoned" for bad behavior. Catherine wanted to see the world and have adventures. She wrote "Here in my prison my mother works and gossips with her women as if she didn't mind being chained to needle and spindle."
Cushman's portrayal of the medieval times included things such as eating habits, the lack of cleanliness, and the strange remedies for the treatment of disease. In this story menus consisted of such delicacies as eels in quince jelly and hedgehog in raisins and cream. Catherine spent a lot of time counting and sometimes trapping fleas which lived inside the covers on her bed. Medical remedies were mostly herbal concoctions that women of the house grew and made themselves.
Young readers will be able to identify with Catherine as she often writes "Corpus bones! I loathe my life" as she lives with a family who doesn't understand her. Language such as "corpus bones" and "God's thumbs" are Catherine's chosen expletives. The language may not be the same, but the feelings of not being understood and listened to are something every reader can understand. At the end of the story, Catherine ends up having a better sense of herself and resigns herself to marrying the man she unflatteringly called "Shaggy Beard." Catherine is spared a life with him when he is "killed in a brawl over a tavern maid." In his place Catherine will marry "Shaggy Beard's" son, Stephen, who Catherine writes "is young and clean, loves learning, and is not Shaggy Beard. For these alone, I am prepared to love him."
The main theme in this book is the role of women in society. Catherine was a strong willed young lady, but in the end, she was no match for the rules and beliefs of the times. Women were like property sold to the highest bidder. Another theme in this book is religion and how it affected the lives of the people in that time period.
At the end of the book, Cushman wrote an explanatory Author's Note. In this note, she explained medieval times and how she studied the lives of ordinary people during these times. This makes the book authentic as to the time and place of events and the kind of lives these people led.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Children's Literature: "Using diary format, we learn of life, family, joys, and tribulations of a young woman born to title but not wealthy circumstances. Her dislike of her brothers, frustration with parents, conniving to escape chores, and determination to avoid any possible marriage arranged by her father, will keep you in stitches."
KLIATT Review: "Readers will learn much about the historical time period. Realistic, interesting, and sometimes utterly disgusting details of dress, eating habits, sanitation (or lack thereof), social justice, religious beliefs, celebrations, treatment of disease, etc., are plentiful throughout. Catherine is a strong female heroine with a sense of humor who readers will cheer for until the end."
5. CONNECTIONS
*This book would be wonderful to use as a way of introducing middle school and high school students to a study of medieval times.
*Other books by Karen Cushman:
THE BALLAD OF LUCY WHIPPLE. ISBN 0395728061
THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE. ISBN 0395692296
*Other books about medieval times:
Carrick, Donald. HARALD AND THE GIANT KNIGHT. ISBN 089919060x
Dickson, Gordon R. THE DRAGON AND THE FAIR MAID OF KENT. ISBN 0312861605
No comments:
Post a Comment