One way that the setting impacted Crispin is that most of the people in the Middle Ages were poor and a fraction were rich. Crispin was one of those poorer people. He didn't have a good house, it was very filthy. He didn't have enough food. On page 14, "our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas. If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide,". Crispin doesn't expect a filling meal every day, with all of the luxuries. They work so hard for such little pay. He was also beat up so often by the steward. On page 3, "'Look at me' he commanded, reaching down and forcing my head up with a sharp slap of his gloved hand beneath my chin,". He was merely a serf, someone who isn't noticed at all and can be treated like trash. On page 28, "When I, in my high perch, heard these words. I could hardly believe them: I was being accused of a theft I had not done,". They can be accused for anything, even if it's false and they will treat them as criminals. Crispin has lived this life and is affected deeply because this lifestyle is unhealthy. They are treated badly and Crispin is used to it. But he finally decides to flee because he can't handle being treated like this. He has been declared a wolfs head and it means anyone can kill him. This is how the setting impacts Crispin.
In the book Crispin, the main character has to accomplish a lot of different and challenging things and it impacts his character a lot. For example in chapter 3 the book says that there were to "be no Christian souls poorer than mother and I" making Crispin a very poor child and having 0 power and wealth. Another quote says that they ate "barley bread and water ale" proving that Crispin is very very poor. Lastly, the book says that "there was little mother and I could do about our plight. This shows Crispin is poor. This is how Crispin is poor and it impacts his character.
Living in the middle ages caused Crispin's character to be shy and depressed. For example on page 12, it says "since I had no father, I existed in a shadow." In this quote he says he feels like he is non-existant. This can cause him to be depressed and sad of he feels like nobody cares about him. Also on page 13, it says "In short I lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on." Again in this quote he says he lives his life being ignored, and a person who is always pushed to the side. Basically he says through all this, he keeps his head up through it all. This can cause him to be depressed, such as earlier in the book when it mentions that when he speaks to people he has his head down most of the time. Lastly, on pages 13 and 14, it says "We were not slaves. But we were also not free." This can affect Crispin's character because he can make very little choices on his own. He is forced to do work and has little rights. As you can see, all of these things can contribute to making Crispin's character sad and feeling ignored. That is how living in the middle ages contributed to Crispin's character traits.
Crispin was put through many difficult times because of living int he Middle Ages. One of these times was when both of Crispin's parents were killed by the plague. "Since I had no father- I excited in the shadows. But he, like so many, had died before my birth during a recurrence of the great mortality (often called the plague)" (page 12). Another example is how he feels like an outsider because he doesn't have his father's name like most people. "My mother had called me 'son', and, since her name was Asta, 'Asta's son' became my common name." (Page 12). Crispin's life was made very hard because of the time period he lived through. He didn't have the name of his father as many other kids do. He also has no family, because both of his parents have been killed by the plague.
In the novel, Crispins character is impacted by the setting in many ways. One way that the setting of the novel impacts Crispins character is that Crispin is a serf and serfs were at practically the same social class level as a slave making them very poor. In the book Crispin even says "for in the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I"(Avi). Another way that the setting impacts Crispins character is that he is falsely accused of a crime, which was common with serfs in the Middle Ages. This is shown when it says "I was being accused of a theft I had not done"(Avi). Furthermore the setting also impacts Crispins character when he is treated poorly especially by the upper class, for being a serf. For example people like John are always yelling things at him like "look at me"(Avi) and occasionally they will even hit him. These are just a few of the ways that the setting in the novel impacts Crispins characterization.
The setting of the Middle Ages affects crisp in in many ways. One of the ways was that at that time, the majority of the people were poor and a small percentage were rich. Crispin just so happens to be one of the poorest of the poor, with little food, clothes and a small home. "For in the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I." He had said that "our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas. If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide." (14)Which is very small for food on a daily basis. And to add to this, crispin was accused of crimes he didn't commit. "I was being accused of a theft I had not done"(28) and he is usually accused of this by the steward.
Living in the middle ages caused Crispin's character to become very depressed and sad. The serfs would probably get very depressed not being able to do anything but grow their crops and nothing else. "Spring, Summer, and Fall save certain holy days my mother and i, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk." (Avi 14). This quote shows how Crispin and the other serfs are stuck in the little village harvesting crops and working the fields everyday every year from dawn to dusk, Not being able to have fun or do anything else will definitely make them all depressed and sad and also bored. "I had few friends and none i completely trusted." (Avi 13) This quote shows how Crispin, a serf, gets treated poorly so he doesn't have many friends and out of those friends he can't completely trust because they might turn on him and be mean to him. Without having any friends he can trust and not having many friends at all will make him very depressed because he has no one to socialize with or talk to. "Men, women, and children were in the fields at their lawful labor" (Avi 23). Every peasant didn't have a choice but to work on the fields and nothing else. As you can tell living in the middle ages made Crispin's character very depressed and sad.
Living in the Middle Ages affected Crispin because since he was a serf, they didn't get paid well which means they couldn't afford good food. "Our food was barley bread, watered ale, and some cooked dried beans"(14). Instead of owners being accused of wrongdoings, serfs were always blamed. "No one ever accused John Aycliffe"(3). Besides all the hardships, Crispin only had one friend, the priest, when Crispin's mother died the priest tried to help him. "Come to church, Asta's son. We'll pray"(4).
In the book, Crispin, Crispin's after was killed by the Black Plague before Crispin was born. Crispin is one of the poorest peasants in his village, and he thinks "for in the entire kingdom of England, there could be no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi). After his mother dies, Crispin gets needs to escape the village because he cannot afford any food, and he is not paid enough, and he needs to pay a death tax of an ox, so he won't be able to make his own food. After all of that, Crispin needs to escape the village because John Aycliffe wants him dead.
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispins character greatly. He became a very hard worker living in the Middle Ages. “It did not matter. Spring, summer, and fall, save certain holy days, my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk”(Avi 14). This shows how by living in the Middle Ages as a peasant he had to be very hardworking. Living in the Middle Ages also impacted how people think about him from his father. “In a world in which one lived by the light of a father's name and rank, that meant, since I had no father, I existed in a shadow”(Avi 12). This quote shows people rank how important they are from their father but because Crispin didn't have a father, he wasn't important to the people.
Crispin has been effected by the Middle Ages because he did a lot of work by but him and his mother got payed under what the work was worth. "At a time when bread cost a quarter penny a loaf, the value of my mother's daily labor-by king Edward's royal decree -was a penny each day; mine, but a farthing" (Avi 14). They got payed under what the work was worth and being a serf did not help them get payed anymore either. "The land for growing crops was laid out in long, narrow strips" (Avi 22). Not just Crispin was a serf and had it very hard, the whole village was serfs and they all had to work and got the same amount. "Even though I was hunted in many places, the merciful saints were kind. I was not caught" (Avi 27). He was a serf and went missing in the book. Since he was a serf in the Middle Ages he was not allowed to leave and had less freedom then any wealthy person.p that means when he ran away from his village he would be hunted because he was a serf and had limitations.
The setting in the novel impacts Crispin's characterization because the life in the Middle Ages causes him to become lonely, and depressed. In the novel, Crispin is born as a serf and says "I had few friends and none I completely trusted" (page 13). Crispin doesn't trust many people because of his low life in the Middle Ages. Crispin is also taunted a lot and is "convinced there is some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out" (page 13). Crispin doesn't trust many people because of his life as a serf in the Middle Ages. He thinks there is a something wrong with him because he is teased and looked down on. His life in the Middle Ages makes him depressed since he knows his life will be like this forever. Also, the steward "never lost an opportunity to remind [Asta and her son] of the fact that we were villeins--serfs--bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village" (page 14) which made Crispin sad because he knew that he could never lead a greater life. Also, in the novel, Crispin "lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious as to how others lived" (page 13). Crispin knew he was low class and didn't matter much. It is clear, Crispin is lonely because he is shunned and cast aside. Overall, the setting of the Middle Ages impacts Crispin's character and makes him lonely and depressed.
I really like the points that you are making, like how Crispin is very lonely because of "his low life in the middle ages." I also like how you focused on how his social status as a serf greatly impacted his characterization and his personality.
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become curious. Crispin lost both of his parents, and he began to wonder what they were like and if they were actually good people. While Crispin is talking to his priest, he says "there's something about my mother that you are keeping from me, is there not" (Avi 38). The priest gave Crispin some information about his mother, but Crispin still thinks there is more and it is eating at him. Crispin has doubts about his father now too, ever since the priest stated "when you come... I'll tell you about your father" (Avi 39). Crispin continued to ask himself the question "was God angry at her... and me? (Avi 39). As Crispin left the church, he was left with more questions than answers, and could not stop thinking about his father. "Regarding my father, why had my mother told me nothing about him? And what possible matter of importance could Father Quinel reveal of that connection?" (Avi 42). Crispin thought that his parents were both good people, but now Crispin "was in a state of wretched disorder, and I did not want to think. The things the priest had said made my heart feel like a city under siege" (Avi 42). Clearly, if Crispin had not lost his parents due to the quality of life in the Middle Ages, he would not be asking himself all of these questions.
Living in the middle ages had a great affect on the main character of the novel Crispin, by Avi. The protagonist, Crispin, gained several different traits that altered his characterization. One of the traits that he gained was perseverance, when he was chased away from Stromford avoiding death, he struggled on the path to freedom. "Such thoughts forced me back upon the road where I continued on. Sometimes I stumbled. Sometimes I sat by the roadside, head tucked within my folded arms while waiting, I knew not for what. Then yet again-pushed by the need to act, I went on" (Avi 62). Crispin is determined that he will make it, even though he is just a serf that is being chased by knights. He does not stop and rest even though he gets tired, Crispin is determined to escape. Another trait that he has from the middle ages is curiosity. "Despite fear of discovery, I crept through the woods. When i came as near to the light as I dared I raised my head and tensed my legs, ready to flee if necessary." The middle ages helped him be more curious as serfs are tied to the land and don't really know anything. The middle ages caused Crispin's Characterization to change greatly.
Living in the middle ages impacted Crispin by making him more depressed and upset at life, he believes he can't change that fact or he will go to Hell. In the Middle Ages, religion played a major role in everything people do, from everyday life to how the place was governed. Crispin accepts this and wants to get a good chance into getting into heaven "Birth and death alone gave distinction to our lives, as we made the journey between the darkness whence we had come to the darkness where we were fated to await judgment day. Then God's terrible gaze would fall on us and lift us to Heaven's bliss or throw us down to the everlasting flames of Hell"(Avi 15). Crispin doesn't stand up for himself or do anything he believes in because he is afraid that God will throw m into hell,he is upset about his very existence. The setting also impacts Crispin by putting him at the bottom of the social pyramid. He is a serf, a peasant, forced to work for the cruel lord, "There was little my mother or i could do about our plight. We were not slaves. But neither were we free. The steward, John Aycliffe, never lost the opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were villeins-serfs-bound to Furnuval, Lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 13-14). Crispin was forced to work on the fields all day from early morning to late at night, and the lord and his steward were cruel, they would abuse the serfs, and always reminded them of their place, ruining their life. In conclusion, the setting in the book, the Middle Ages, affects Crispin by making him upset about his life and what he thinks is his fate.
The medieval times affect crispins character because he is a serf, a serf is someone who is owned by the land and someone owners the land and they are pretty much slaves to them but not. They were not treated well considering they work all day and all, night every day of the year "Spring, Summer, and Fall save certain holy days my mother and i, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk." (Avi 14). They did not get paid well and did not have any money for food "Our food was barley bread, watered ale, and some cooked dried beans"(Avi 14). Even though they worked so hard they did not get paid well meaning they did not have money for food to eat "For in the entire kingdom of England, there could be no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi 12).
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin and caused him to feel hopeless, fearful and religious.
Crispin is a serf, which is the bottom of the social structure. He is constantly being reminded that a serf who has no rights or freedom: “The steward never lost an opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were serfs bound to…Lord of Stromford Village” (Avi 14). Most serfs were impoverished and had to work on the “fields from dusk to dawn” (Avi 14), but Crispin was the most impoverished serf in the community: “ For the entire kingdom of England, there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I” (Avi 13). On top of that, Crispin doesn’t have a father. All these factors cause Crispin feel hopeless “I did try to accept my life, but…I was filled with suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked…There was little my mother or I could do about our plight” (Avi 13). After Crispin’s mother dies, he runs away into the forest. Days later, he realizes that he is being chased and is declared a wolf’s head, which means that Crispin can be killed on the spot. When Crispin realizes that the priest has also been killed, Crispin believes that now, there is no one to help him, not even god: “God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me” (Avi 56). Throughout his journey of escape, Crispin is extremely scared: “With every step I took, and with every look back, I shed tears of grief” (Avi 56). This quote shows that Crispin is apprehensive and is fearfully trying to survive. Additionally, Crispin relies on God to make decisions for him, since Christianity is a big part of his life and because he is going through a very tough time. He prayed to God to help bring him out of this tough time: " O Great and Giving Jesus, I who have no name, who am nothing, who don't know what to do...implore thy blessed help" (Avi 25). When Crispin came across a fork in the road, he prayed to God to help him: " Please, dear God...choose a path for me" (Avi 65).
All in all, the setting of the book caused Crispin to become hopeless and fearful.
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become unhappy with his life. Crispin lived as a serf so he had not been treated well in society. He had no father for all his life so "In a world in which one lived by the light of a father's name, that meant I existed in a shadow" (12). He had no friends in society due to being a serf, so he was "oft the butt of jests, jibes, and relentless hounding" (13). His only friends in his life were the priest and his mother, and with both of them now dead, he had no friends in society.
The time that the book Crispin takes place in is very important for the characterization of Crispin. One way that the setting affects him is the feudal class system. The village steward (who is basically the assistant of the lord of the village), John AYCLIFFE, "never lost an opportunity to remind" Crispin and his mother "of the fact that" they "were villeins—serfs—bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 14). Serfs, being the lowest class of peasants at the time of this book, also had a low standard of living, which impacts how Crispin survives daily. Another way the setting affects Crispin is the Black Death. It caused his father to die before his birth during "A recurrence of the Great Mortality" (12). As crispin's father died before he was born, no one but crispin's mother was able to take care of him, affecting how Crispin survived daily. Finally, another way that setting affects the character of the protagonist is the importance of Christianity. Crispin had his life "begin on the Feast of Saint Giles", which caused him to wish "to be the deer that he protected", as it is an important religious festival (12, 33). As Crispin is an outcast, he feels that a saint protecting a deer is a metaphor for what Crispin wants the most: protection from being made an outcast. To conclude, religion, the feudal system, and the Plague all affected the characterization of Crispin.
Crispin's character has been affected by the Middle Ages. It has caused him to become upset with himself, hopeless, emotional, and poor. First he is upset with himself. He put it like this: "I did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or Mocked," (Avi 13).As a serf, they are poor and live the life of the shunned. Crispin is made fun of because of his social status. Crispin also feels hopeless. He said "God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me." (Avi 56) Crispin relied on Christianity (A huge part of the Middle Ages) to guide him. Now that he thinks like this because of his reputation, he no longer has God with him at this tough time. Plus, he is emotional. Crispin, because of his social status as a serf, is known as a thief. He did not do it but has to flee. He saw the priest dead before him. This is due to tough consequences for helping Crispin escape. That made Asta's son sad. While on the run, he said "Though worn out from my flight, my close escape, not to mention my churn of emotions, I could not rest." Also, Crispin's character is poor. Basically, serfs are slaves. They will not make a lot of money. Crispin is poor due to his position in the economy. He said, "At a time when bread cost a quarterpenny a loaf, the value of my mothers daily labor, by King Edward's royal decree, was a penny each day; mine, but a farthing." (Avi 14).Crispin admits he is poor and had no money to provide for him and his mother. Therefore, The Middle Ages have an affect on Crispin's character.
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become curious. Crispin lost both of his parents, and he began to wonder what they were like and if they were good or bad people. When Crispin is talking to the priest he says "there's something about my mother that you are keeping from me, is there not"(Avi 38). The priest tells Crispin some about his mother but doesn't tell all. Crispin thinks there is more to know about her than what he has been told. Crispin now wants to learn about his father as well but the priest says "when you come... I'll tell you about your father"(39) but before he can ask anything else the priest tells him he has to go and he doesn't see him again. Crispin begins to wonder about his parents "...the things the priest had said made my heart feel like a city under siege"(42). He wants to know more about them and what and why their death happened to them. It is obvious that if Crispin didn't learn about what happened to his parents he wouldn't keep going to Father Quinel to keep asking questions about his parents.
In the book Crispin, the main character Crispin was impacted by the setting in the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages people were very trusting over anything someone said, also people were very religious which turned out to have a big impact on Crispin's everyday life, and that there were social rankings (feudalism). In the book Crispin it states," I was being accused of a theft I had not done.'' (28) The steward Jhon Ayecliffe accused Crispin of stealing money from the manor house. So since in the Middle Ages everyone was so trusting that they believed anything that a higher class said. Even if it wasn't true, like in Crispin, they probably would believe it. So the villagers in Crispin all hunted him until they found him. This made Crispin end up feeling like he had no one on his own side. And because of a false accusation that he stole money his whole life could be ruined. In the Middle Ages people were also very religious so then that also meant that Crispin was brought up to be religious. In Crispin,'' the holy church told us where we were in the alterations of the day, the year, and daily toil." (15) Crispin's life in the Middle Ages revolved around religion. Religion told them when and what they do every day. Since he was a serf all he could do for hope was pray and hope his prays would be answered. The serfs were the lowest of the lows and had nothing to look forward to besides praying and religious holidays. Crispin had to prayed to stay alive. So religion was a big impact on Crispin's characterization. Another way that trust impacted crispin's characterization in the Middle Ages was, that trust almost led him to his own death. Like I already explained previously. In the Middle Ages the people are very trusting. When Crispin was hiding because he was accused of stealing by the steward everyone thought it was true. In the book it states," instantly suspicious, I said, 'what do you want?" Crispin was tricked into almost dying because of trusting one of his fellow serfs. He trusted him to help him, but instead he almost ended up dying because of trust. The lower class people in the Middle Ages also may have been scared of the upper class so they were forced into trusting them even if the knew if was a lye. The last way crispin's chapter traits were affected by the setting of the Middle Ages is how he was ranked in the manor. In the Middle Ages there were social classes where you were ranked,, and Crispin a serf, was the lowest of the low. He was," bound to the land. They'll never give me permission to go." (36) Crispin and many other serfs were bound to the land so they had no taste of what being free was. If you were a lord, lady, King, or a steward you had power to do whatever you wanted. Since you had control of the serfs you could have them do whatever you want. Crispin was always being controlled by the steward and was being treated like garbage for no reason. So Crispin ended up feeling like he was worthless trash. In the Middle Ages if you were not higher in the class then you were basically a slave to the higher class. In the book Crispin, Crispin's characterization is affected by the Middle Ages because of religion,trusting anything you here, and feudalism.
Life in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to lose his mother and father, his only family, and leave him all alone, to fend for himself in the cruel village of Stromford.
He is a Serf, his only friend is the priest because his mother was shunned by everyone. He lost his father when he was very young, and now with both of them gone and the whole village searching for him, to kill him, he must trust God to lead him to safety. Crispin, a serf, was the son of Asta, and Asta was the one that would pay the yearly tax, or portions of the harvest, but with her gone Crispin can't make money to do that. And since he can't pay that tax he will lose everything he has, and most likely be hurt, or worse. Serfs were treated poorly, in the book Aycliffe was the steward, for Lord Furnival, always was treating Crispin poorly, and so was everyone else in the village "These confesses were numerous, since I had become convinced there was some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out" Aycliffe treated Crispin the worst out of anyone in the town causing him to believe he had a sin "rooted" in him. Serfs were not slaves but they weren't free either. They were restricted to the village and had to work for or do whatever the Lord said. In the book Crispin it describes this "There was little my mother or I could do about our plight. We were not slaves. But neither were we free. The steward, John Aycliffe, never lost opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were veilleins-serfs-bound to Furnival, lord of Stamford village." Crispin is explaining how poor and mistreated he and his mother were. Crispin was so convinced he himself was a sin he does this "In these prayers I acknowledged my great unworthiness to my lord, Jesus, and searched my heart for every sin to which I could confess." Life in the Middle Ages was very hard and not fun at all, these quotes and explanations clearly show that life in the Middle Ages cause Crispin to lose family and leave him alone, depressed and very scared.
Crispin, by Avi, takes place during the Middle Ages–the Medieval era. Living during this period meant social class division and intense Christianity. This causes Crispin’s character to become powerless, cautious and worrisome, and religious. The Middle Ages were a time of hierarchy, so unless you were born into a family of nobles, you were a powerless peasant. In the novel, Crispin is a serf, the lowest rank of peasants, and suffers from many hardships because of it. With being a serf, your rights are stripped away from you, leaving you completely powerless. Masters are allowed to do anything they wish, and if they disliked you, they were able to make false accusations against you. Crispin was a victim of this when Father Quinel tells him, “Aycliffe claims you stole money from the manor”. He quickly denies this accusation since, “in all my life, I’ve never even been in there” (Avi 34). However, despite the uncommitted crime, Crispin has no control over the issue since to Aycliffe, Crispin is nothing more than an object–causing Crispin to be powerless. In addition to being powerless, being serf has also caused Crispin to become very cautious of others. He’s often treated as an item, and doesn’t receive much respect. He, “…had few friends and none I completely trusted. As ‘Asta’s son’, I was oft the butt of jests, jibes, and relentless hounding” (Avi 13). Crispin and his mother are both serfs, and are looked down upon. Many people dislike Crispin mainly because of the relation he has with his mother. As a result, many people often taunt Crispin and alienate him–causing him to have difficulty in trusting people, and to be very cautious. For instance, Father Quinel instructed Crispin to meet him at Goodwife Peregrine’s house. However, while on his way, Cerdic comes and tells him that there was a change in plans, and that Father could no longer meet him. This left Crispin in disbelief and was, “not certain I should trust the boy, but unsure what to do, I stood where I was” (Avi 45). This disbelief and cautiousness were caused by the numerous harsh experiences he had for being serf, and made it difficult for him to trust Cerdic.
The Middle Ages were a period of heavy Christianity, and religion was a big factor in their lives. It is no surprise that Crispin is a victim of this as well, as he continuously prays to God for help and guidance. Crispin went through many hardships as a serf. Many people disliked him and his mother, and wanted Crispin dead–resulting in him running away. However, he soon found himself in a confusing and frustrating situation, which then, “at length I flung myself upon my knees and prayed long and hard to our Savior Jesus, to his Sainted Mother Mary, and most of all my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection” (Avi 58). As a serf during the Middle Ages, there is no surprise that they would often pray to God for help and guidance. Crispin has gone through many hardships from being discriminated against, and is wanted for a crime. This causes him to turn to God for help and guidance in order to get through the situation. The reliability he has with God shows that he is religious. The Middle Ages were a time of extreme hierarchy and intense Christianity. Crispin, by Avi, is a historical fiction novel that takes place during the Middle Ages, and shows the impact of how the setting influences Crispin character. By living in the Middle Ages, Crispin’s character has become powerless, cautious, and religious.
While living in the Middle Ages, many conflicts and troubling experiences caused Crispin's character to become timid, fearful, introverted, and cautious, resulting in him becoming an outcast from society and facing severe discrimination, similar to the way others where treated in the Middle Ages. Many people shame Crispin and his mother because of their social statues. Crispin has become very anxious around others because of his past experiences of being tormented and mocked by other villagers. Crispin was filled with "caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, [he] lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious to how others lived" (Avi 13). The other villagers were constantly taunting, mocking, and shunning Crispin because of his poverty, which has led to him to become much more timid and cautious around other people he meets. The steward of the manor, John Aycliffe "never lost an opportunity to remind [them] of the fact the [they] where villeins-serfs-bound to Furnival, lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 14). Crispin is taunted and sneered at by others, including John, the steward, who mocks him because of his social class, which makes Crispin feel hopeless because of his lack of a voice and opinion, and his inability to move up in the feudal system. The steward's poor treatment against Crispin is what influenced some of the other villagers to join him in his dislike of the boy, causing a fear that they will face punishment from the steward. Crispin's current situation became much worse as he learns his life was at risk. Once John Aycliff realized Crispin witnessed something he shouldn't have, he placed a bounty on Crispin's head in an attempt to kill him. Crispin was shocked to hear that he was in danger and was deemed "'a wolf's head' [he] gasped, horrified... 'I'm considered not human,' [he] said" (Avi 36). Crispin comes to a realization that he is all alone, and has nobody to turn to for help. Besides social restrictions, there are many other factors that affect Crispin. During the Middle Ages, the lack of knowledge about health led to the spread of many deadly diseases, such as the Black Death, which killed many people, including Crispin's father. As Crispin is running from the steward, he stumbles across "the remnants of a village destroyed by the great mortality, as it was called. In Stromford there had been much talk of this devastating pestilence, the great mortality, as it was called. Our village had lost more than half its inhabitants" (Avi 68). Crispin's finding if a destroyed village has reminded him of the fact that this was how his father died, causing him to realize once again that he is all alone in his journey.
I really like your quotes! They truly describe Crispin's characteristics and how they arose based on the conflicts in his life such as living a shunned life, his rank (class) which determined how well he lived, John Aycliffe attempting to kill Crispin, and how he had to live a solitary, dependent life truly capture why he had certain character traits! Great job!
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become a very hard worker. He had to work everyday for the manor. In the book it states, "It did not matter. Spring, summer, and fall, save certain holy days, my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk”(Avi 14). Living in the Middle Ages as a peasant mad crisp in work every single day or he probably would of been killed for not doing his job. Crispin has a very sad and lonely life, living in the Middle Ages. Crispin was "shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious as to how others lived"(Avi13). Crispin lived in the lower class so he didn't matter that much to anyone. He was a cast away. Living in the Middle Ages also made Crispin have to preserve. The book states, "Such thoughts forced me back upon the road where I continued on. Sometimes I stumbled. Sometimes I sat by the roadside, head tucked within my folded arms while waiting, I knew not for what. Then yet again-pushed by the need to act, I went on" (Avi 62). Crispin pushed had to push through and persevere to not get killed and to get to a village where he would be safe. Living in the Middle Ages had a great affect on the main character of the novel.
In this novel, the Middle Ages that definitely characterized many people, including Crispin. Such as the social structure and peasants. Crispin was a peasant and accepted it. He didn't expect a big meal every night and day because he was used to it by now. In fact, on page 14 it says, "our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas. If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide,". It is clear that Crispin doesn't receive big meals because him and his mother, Asta, only earn enough money for bread for a day. They work all day and get barely anything in return. Another example from the story that completely shows how social structure characterized Crispin is that he was beaten. On page 3 of the novel it says, "Look at me' he commanded, reaching down and forcing my head up with a sharp slap of his gloved hand beneath my chin,". The steward, John Aycliffe, looks at Crispin like he is dirt and how he means nothing to him. As I said before, he was a serf, someone who is treated poorly and has no power in life, so he couldn't be free unless he really tried to. However, they had trouble getting money for themselves, if they had to buy their freedom, it would be extremely difficult. This is how the novel Crispin, shows how the Middle Ages characterized Crispin and other people.
Life in the Middle Ages affected crispin in many ways. He was a very poor young man with no possessions. He had little food and his mindset was, "If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide,"(Avi). In the sad reality of this novel, crispin is a bottom of the barrel peasant who's good fortune is receiving meat. Alongside being poor, his mother and him are both overworked and underpaid serfs. "At a time when bread cost a quarter penny a loaf, the value of my mother's daily labor-by king Edward's royal decree -was a penny each day; mine, but a farthing" (Avi 14). Asta was paid a penny a day. That means even with all of Astas work, they are paid seven cents a week. Lastly, crispin is convinced that "convinced there is some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out" (Avi 13). Along with his crushing financial and physical circumstances, emotionally he feels that there is a demon within him. Overall, life in the middle ages was no cake walk for poor crispin.
I think that living in the middle ages impacts crispin's characterization, by crispin having to do work a lot. When john Aycliffe said "you're required to deliver your ox to the manor house tomorrow"(Pg 4) to crispin, crispin new he had more work to do. John, who is the steward, always bosses all the peasants (like crispin) around. It also impacts crispin by when the priest said the steward '"has declared you of a wolfs head'" (Pg 36) to crispin he was in shock. In medieval times when you call someone a wolfs head, the aren't considered human anymore and anyone can kill them. And finally it impacts crispin by crispin and his mother always getting taunted. "She was often taunted by the villagers" (Pg 2). This is how crispin gets affected by the middle ages.
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization, and caused him not to be able to make decisions, and to be extremely religious. In the Middle Ages manor, Crispin "never really had to make important choices about anything—now [he] had to decide everything for myself." (Avi 60). Due to Crispin's life in the Middle Ages, he is unable to think for himself. When he was on the manor, all of his decisions were made for him. Crispin would daily "[fling] [him]self upon my knees and pray long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His Sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to [his] blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). Crispin relies on God to protect him, because in the manor Christianity was the only hope that the serfs had. In conclusion, Crispin became extremely religious and unable to make decisions due to him living in the Middle Ages.
I really like tour main points–especially the religious aspect of it! It clearly shows the importance if Christianity during that time period and the quote expresses it very well. Your organization was also really clear and your writing was concise. Awesome job!
Crispin was put through many difficult times because of living int he Middle Ages. For example, when both of Crispin's parents were killed by the plague. "Since I had no father I excited in the shadows. But he, like so many, had died before my birth during a recurrence of the great mortality (often called the plague)" (Avi). Another example is that he feels an outsider because he doesn't have his fathers name like most people. "My mother had called me 'son', and, since her name was Asta, 'Asta's son' became my common name." (Avi). Crispin's life was very hard because of the time period he lived through. He didn't have the name of his father just like the other kids did. He also had no family, because both of his parents had been killed by the plague.
In the book Crispin, Astas son (Crispin), has been affected by being a serf in multiple ways such as, living consitions, having no money , and being shunned by society. The living conditions affect crispin because when your a serf you have no money to afford anything and so your finacial status is very limited causing your living conditions to not be very good. "Since my mother was a cotter- one who held no land rights- she and i lived in a rented small one bedroom apartment with a thin thatch roof that kept out most rain and earth was our ground." Page 17. This showed the struggle by having a not sterdy and very safe home to live in which affected his saftey and life. Also, being very poor was very difficult on crispin because it was hard to be a serf. " we were not slaves but we werent free, we were serfs and their were no poorer christian souls than my mother and i" page 13. Very poor and they were serfswhihc means they were controlled by a lord and his manor and worked very hard to narley get by which had a huge affect on his life. Furthermore, being shunned by everyone in your village hasa big affect on tour self esteem and daily living. "Other than the priest my mother and i had no friends. We were mostly taunted by other villagers. I had a few friends but none i completly trusted" page 2. This put an affect on his life because after his mom died he had no one to turn to to talk or to hang with he was all alone which made his life sad.
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin, causing him to be scared and dependent on God for everything. Crispin always felt as if he, unknowingly, did something wrong. He was always "filled with caution and suspicion... expecting to be set upon or mocked" (Avi 13). Crispin was cautious of everything he did, because one incorrect thing — wether it be small or big — could tick something, and catch the attention of the steward, John Aycliffe. Aycliffe always took advantage of his position, especially when Lord Furnival was gone. The steward was also very harsh and strict, and consequences from him were nasty. Crispin even noted that Aycliffe "never lost an opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were villeins — serfs — bound to Furnival" (Avi 14). It seems to be that Aycliffe mocks the serfs. They work hard, day and night, but to the steward - it was barely anything. And he always made sure that all the serfs knew that if there was a transgression, that the punishments would be severe. Although he was terrified, Crispin depended on God for everything. Even though he felt that God was punishing him, he prayed "O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to do, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help, or on undone." (Avi 25). Crispin hopes that God will guide him in the right direction, for he does not know the right choice for him to make. His life was changing constantly, so Crispin "prayed long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His Sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 68) along his escape from the wrath of John Aycliffe. Gus, living in the middle ages impacted Crispin greatly, causing him to be terrified and counting on God for his future.
The detail put in your writing is great and it draws readers in, even when it was not required! The quotes and analysis fit together greatly! Overall, excellent job!
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become hardworking and a depressed person. In the book, it says that " It did not matter. Spring, summer and fall-- save certain holy days-- my mother and I, like every other Stromford villagers, worked his fields from dawn to dusk." The author Avi shows us that being a serf was very hard and used Crispin as an example to show that the job of being a serf is very difficult. Their job was very difficult and tiring because the lord would make them do so much work and they would have long days and hours. Living in the Middle Ages causes Crispin to also become a depressed person. In the book, it says that "I did try to repeat my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, I lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious as to how other lived." Crispin isn't happy with his life and the way it is. He isn't that appreciative, which makes sense because he doesn't even have anything to be appreciative for. He is comparing his depressing life to Jesus' perfect life and wishes that his life was just as perfect as his. This is how the setting has impacted Crispin's characterization.
Living in the Middle Ages is tough for Crispin because he is a surf and they do not have many rights under the manorialism government. The were forced to work for hours on end for little or no pay. On top of all of that they would do cruel things to their surfs for no reason at all. The cottage being made of small, mean construction could not withstand there assault. Crispin had done nothing bad enough to deserve that every thing he had once held close was gone right before his eyes. Crispin is a social out cast he does not have anything to live for. "I had little doubt that I'd never be protected again". Even the protection that he has is not happening anymore because of his situation anymore. Crispin has a tough life in the book.
Living in the Middle Ages effected how Crispin develops because of the religion of the people, the feudal system, what he can do because he and his mother are serfs, and how he is disliked by many of the people, the steward included, in his village of Stromford. Religion was a big part of manor life as everyone in Stromford was Christian and was baptized by the priest Father Quinel. Like everyone else in the village, Crispin was a Christian and everyday he had offered prayers to God in hopes that his sins would be forgiven and he could go to heaven. Even when his house was pulled apart, he still kept his faith and prayed "O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to do..." (Avi 25) Even when he admits himself that he has no more worth and has no name, he holds fast to his faith that as long as he does nothing bad, he can go to heaven and see his mother again. Crispin was also shared by how the feudal system worked back in the late 1300s. As a serf, he had virtually no rights, and little privileges. such as if he "died, there was a hope of heaven" (23) As well as being protected by Lord Furnival from the "Scots, the French, the Danes, and the wicked infidels." (23) Even though he is protected and could go to heaven, he would have to work Lord Furnival's "land from dawn to dusk" (23) as well as be in total service to the Lord and his steward. Things Crispin had to do is ask for a day off from work if he was ill, ask if he could plant and reap the fields, ask for permission to buy or sell, to be able to marry, or to even baptize their children (Even though you pretty much had to baptize your children at some point.) Overall, I would not think that a serf is what anyone wants to be. Crispin is also shaped by the feudal system because as serfs, they have no rights as well as no property compared to the Lord. The Lord is in Control of all the serfs and all the land in kingdom (in the name of the king of course) but they have pretty much everything but the serfs have pretty much nothing so Crispin had to live with pretty much nothing growing up. On the contrary, we as Americans have quite a lot of stuff in our homes so We should be quite thankful for all the things that we have. Crispin also has many people that dislike him as well as his name "As Asta's son , I was often the jests, jibes, and relentless hounding" (Avi 13) not only that, the Steward, John Wycliffe, also wanted him dead and caused him all over the manor and eventually, out of his village. However, this let him meet up with Bear and this event leads us up to chapter 17 and the continuation of the book.
I like how you include the baptizing and give a more religious aspect to this, because religion was very important during the time. It really enhances your writing!
In the book "Crispin, The Cross of Lead" by Avi, living in the Medieval Ages has caused Crispin to become sad but also independent. No one in the village Crispin lives in, is very fond of him or his mother before she passed away. Father Quinel was Crispin's only real friend that cared about him, everyone else in the village shunned him. "I had very few friends and none I completely trusted"(13). But when Crispin had been running away from Aycliffe, because he had been gotten lead in a trap, he discovers Father Quinel dead, " I peered closer only to see that his throat had been slit. His blood, made black by night, lay pooled upon opt he ground. Stifling a shriek, I knelt down, my whole body shaking"(55-56). Since Crispin does not have anyone to lean on for support, he only has his faith to bring him to peace. "Please, dear God," I cried aloud, my eyes streaming hot tears,"choose a path for me"(65). In the book so far Crispin has had a very hard life, but he continues to keep getting back up every time he falls.
I like how you included the detail about him being shunned, without any friends. This really emphasizes the need for religion in Crispin's life, and how this affects him.
A few of the things that had impacted Cripsin by living in the Middle Ages was that he had to survive on almost nothing and he had relyed on God to be able to get through everything. "I flung myself upon my knees and prayed long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). This shows that when Crispin is all alone on his journey far from his village, and Shem he gets scared, he will go to God for help. "This putting myself in God's merciful hands brought me a little relief..." (Avi 58-59). God helps protect Crispin when he asks for it becuase of the hardships that he is going through. When times had gotten rough, and when he had wanted to give up, he would pray to God and always remember the times he went through with his mother. "More than one I reminded myself of the times when my mother I and had gone without sustenance. If we could survive then-and we did-I could do so now" (Avi 66). To get what he wants, Cripsin will do anything for it, meaning he will never give up becuase he wants to earn his freedom and respect from others. These are only a few of the things that had impacted Crispin by living in the Middle Ages.
Living in the Middle Ages led to Crispin having a dependent and cowardly personality because of the religion and feudal system at that time. During the Middle Ages, many people were Christian. This is true for the main character, Crispin. In the novel he says, “O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who am nothing...who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help or I’m undone" (Avi 25). Later, he also says, "'Please, dear God,' [he] cried...'choose a path for me'" (65). Since he is Christian, Crispin has resorted to praying whenever he needs help and letting God decide for him. He wants God to tell him what to do and cannot decide his fate for himself, a sign of indecisiveness and dependence on others. In addition, during the Middle Ages there was a feudal system with serfs at the bottom, or peasants who were bound to the land of their master (almost like a slave). Crispin was one of these serfs and was accustomed to being controlled by his master. As stated in page 4, the serfs "all lived in fear" of the steward, John Aycliffe (4). This fear instilled a sense of caution and obedience in the serfs, turning them into cowards. This is shown in the book when Crispin thinks, “If I were caught, at least my misery would have ended” (61). He is so unwilling to step out of his comfort zone and be independent for once that he would rather face death than the uncertainty ahead; he's a coward. In short, the religion and feudal system people had in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's character so that he became dependent and cowardly.
I really like the descriptive qords that you use to describe his character. Cowardly and dependent make perfect sense to what his character is! And, the quotes really enhance your writing! Great job.
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become frightened. Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become frightened because he was getting chased by knights and villagers who were highly skilled with weapons, and they were trying to kill him because he is a peasant who was accused of theft. John Aycliffe doesn't only hate peasants, but he hates peasants that he think stole from him. During the chase he was,"faint with horror, I loosened my grip and dropped to the ground. For a moment I squatted, trying to regain my breath and wits" (Avi 53). This quote shows that he was scared because when he was running away from the killers, he had to stop to stay calm. He was also a peasant, so the upper class people who were chasing him and no respect for him. Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become frightened, again, because while he was being chased, he encountered a river, that he was not comfortable swimming in. Since he wasn't comfortable crossing it he turned around, "afraid of the river, I chose to turn and work my way back to the millrun" (Avi 54). Since Crispin was a peasant in the Middle Ages he did not know how to swim because he was busy farming all the time and no one during the Middle Ages knew how to swim. So when he is being chased and finds a river in his way, he would be scared. A final way how living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to be scared is when Cerdic lead Crispin right to the soldiers, "I took but a few more steps when a beating sound, as if someone were striking a drum, came from behind. Startled, I halted, and peered into the darkness" (Avi 51). This shows that Crispin is terrified because when he thought that he was escaping the village, about to be free, and then he realizes that Cerdic and lead him into a trap and all of a sudden four soldiers are right in front of him with weapons. Cerdic did this because he wanted to make John Aycliffe happy so that he didn't have to be in the lower class anymore and he has to listen to the John Aycliffe's orders anyways, so he really didn't have a choice. Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to be frightened because of the three reasons that are stated above.
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization in numerous ways--Cripsin became sorrowful, hard-working, cautious of his surroundings, and courageous. Firstly, Crispin had to experience the death of his mother which took away what he thought was left of his soul--this was because Crispin lived life as a peasant, with treacherous manorialism year-round degrading the trembling, hand-held life out of Crispin "Spring, summer, and fall--save certain holy days-my mother and I, worked his fields form dawn to dusk..when winter came, we fed the animals--we had an ox, and now and then a chicken--gathered wood and brush for heat, slept, and tried to stay alive" (Avi 14). Evidently, Crispin knew that he had to stay alive, so he learned how to be hard-working--Crispin worked vigorously, and he was acquiescent. One of the greatest life-changes that Crispin also had to learn how to adapt to was not once living with the freedom he desired to have, "Everything belonged to the Lord Furnival, who held it in the King's name. Indeed, the steward said we belonged to our lord as well. Like all villagers, we were required to ask the steward's permission to be excused from work if ill, to grind our wheat, or bake it, to buy or sell, to travel from our parish, to marry, even to baptize our children" (22). Crispin never had the chance to do things he wanted without inquiry of permission, he never owned a solitary, independent life. Crispin also had to take precautions of John Aycliffe, proclaimed steward, since "In the absence of Lord Furnival he was in charge of some small transgression--missing a day of work, speaking harshly of his rule, failing to attend mass--brought an unforgiving penalty. It could be a whipping, a clipping of the ear, imprisonment, or a cut-off hand" (4), and John wasn't particularly fond of Crispin, as he tried to kill him twice. In conclusion, later on in the novel, it says "I, whose life has become so quickly altered; I, who had never really had to make important choices about anything-now I had to decide everything for myself" (60). Cripsin finally had to learn to make independent decisions, a journey that he would have never guessed he he would have to go through. He always considered his life to be "full of sins", but ever since he was almost twice caught by Aycliffe, Crispin resorted started praying for guidance from God daily, and living more highly with Christianity "Which of the crossroads was I to take? North, south, east, or west? Please dear God, [I cried aloud, my eyes steaming hot tears], chose a path for me" (65). From this, I can deduce that Crispin had a number of things to be sorrowful about in this life--just some consisting of his mother's death, John Aycliffe almost taking away his life, and lastly, manorialism. Additionally, I can make out the fact that Crispin became hard-working, had to be cautious of his surroundings, and that he became independent and courageous.
The setting of the Middle Ages affects Crispin in many ways. One way he is affected by the setting has to do the social classes during the Middle Ages. Crispin was just a serf, meaning that he was the poorest of people during his time. This meant that Crispin could barely afford food. He exclaims "our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas" (Avi 14). Being so poor also caused people to shun him and his mother. Crispin speaks of the death of his mother and how "they had shunned my mother in life, so they shunned he now" (Avi 2). Since the setting is the Middle Ages, and Crispin and her mother are low class, Crispin's mother becomes shunned. Also, as a lower class, Crispin began to get to get abused by John Aycliffe, a man of higher class. John Aycliffe would inflict pain on him and "reaching down and forcing my head up with a sharp slap..." (Avi 3). This shows that John Aycliffe was abusing him and could get away with it because he was of a higher class. The setting causes Crispin to be of a lower class which causes him to be affected in all these ways just because he lives in the Middle Ages. Crispin's character evolves because he lives in the Middle Ages.
The Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization in many ways. The setting and social structure caused Crispin to become lonely and cast aside, hardworking, obedient, and sorrowful.
Crispin was all alone and he had no one to trust. He narrates, "I had no father...we were villeins - serfs - bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 14). As a serf, he was at the bottom of the bottom, and that helped creat his character. He became a confused boy who was lonely and poor. Crispin also lived the hard life of being a serf and was obedient. In Crispin, the mother and son had to work the entire day because serfs belonged to the land and they had to work on it. The author as Crispin says, "my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields ~ pm dawn to dusk" (Avi 14). Since he was a serf during this time period, he had to do thorough work for long hours. This caused Crispin to be an obedient and hardworking. In addition, Crispin did not object to his lifestyle as much. He understood that he was helpless. After explaining about his hard life as a serf, he narrates, "with all my heart I believed that we would continue to live the same" (Avi 14). This shows that he believed that he would stay this way, and even though he was so poorly treated, he did not dare lift a finger to object. He was also very depressed and confused. During the Middle Ages, Christianity and obedience were very important. Confused on how he had become a serf and not someone else, Crispin blamed himself. He said, "I was convinced there is some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out" (Avi 13). He does not blame others, but thinks that he is the one at fault, and that he is the one who deserved this conflict. Furthermore, Crispin blames himself for the death of Father Quinel. He thinks, "the death of Father Quinel had to do with mother and me, I don't doubt" (Avi 56). This shows that he is slowly getting more sorrowful and plaintive as conflict becomes worse and worse in the society that Crispin lives in. Clearly, Crispin had no one to trust, especially after the death of his mother. He narrates, "I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, I lived the life of the shunned forever cast aside, yet looking on" (Avi 13). Living as a poor boy, Crispin was teased constantly, because he was a serf, and he had no friends. He had only his mother, and when she died, he was very lonely and scared.
In conclusion, Crispin's character was impacted by the Middle Ages in many ways. His character became lonely, obedient, confused, and forlorn with depression.
Nice choice of quotes! It supports your thesis statement perfectly. They show how the conflict affected him as well as how the setting affected him. Great job, Haleema!
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become untrusting, lonely, and scared. Crispin and his mother, Asta, were serfs. They were not free, and belonged to their lord. Serfs had to pay money to have possession of land. Since Crispin was so young when his mother passed, he had no money to pay for the land. Crispin had no home, no land, no family, and nowhere to go. Crispin's father died before he was born leaving Asta to raise Crispin alone. Crispin knew that "it would have been a rare man who would want so frail and impoverished a woman for a wife". Because Asta and her son are serfs, nobody really cares that they exist. After Asta passes away Crispin really has nobody to turn to. They were so poor that when Asta's husband passed away nobody wanted to marry her, leaving Crispin all alone. Since Crispin knew that serfs were considered property, he didn't think anybody would like him or be kind to him leaving him untrusting of the people that were. Crispin knew many people did not like him. The steward, John Aycliffe, was one of those people. Crispin states that John "never lost an opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were villeins — serfs — bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village". Because Crispin was treated so badly by the steward, he believed nobody liked him and that nobody could be trusted. Since Crispin did not trust anybody he wandered around alone and scared. John had falsely accused Crispin of theft but it doesn't stop there. Crispin later learns from the priest that "'the steward...has declared you a wolfs head'". A wolfs head is someone not considered as human. Crispin must hide from everyone in Stromford Village, because they may kill him or turn him in. He has no one to trust besides the priest, who will be murdered in a short while. While Crispin is trying his way to a new land he comes across a body. This body ends up being the priest, Crispin is so devastated because the priest was the only person left he trusted. When Crispin finds him he fell to his knees "and prayed with deep-hearted, sobbing words". Religion makes Crispin feel safe, when he is alone but it doesn't solve everything, Crispin is still very lonely and scared.
I really like how you used the word "untrusting" to describe Crispin, because it really works! It shows exactly how the setting caused him to become shy.
Living in the Middle Ages, causes Crispin to go threw some tuff and difficult situation's, this impacts Crispin as a character because it make's him extremely religious and timid. In the Middle Ages the religion was a big part of life especially to the serf's, the religion in the Middle Ages was predominantly Christian. Since Crispin was a serf he often prayed a lot for a better life and to be free, Crispin payed "long and hard to [the] Savior Jesus, to His Sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). Crispin would not pray for his fave and worshiping reasons, when ever in he was in desperate times he would pray for God to protect him. When Crispin was on the run and hiding from John Aycliffe he often prayed for protection, when Crispin was in the woods he noticed that "three [men] went racing by, sweeping quickly out of sight. "Thank you saint Giles for protecting me" ( Avi 59 ). One of the men on the horses was John Aycliffe, he was looking for Crispin, Crispin prayed for protection and received it because the men went right past Crispin. Not only was Crispin a very religious person he was also very timid. Being a timid person means that you are fearful and cautious. During Crispins escape and journey he was accused of theft so he was very timid during his journey. Crispin always proceeded while traveling with "caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, [he] lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious to how others lived" (Avi 13 ). During Crispin's escape he heard that he was a wolfs head, meaning anyone could kill him, this impacts him because as a timid person because at any given point if spotted he could be killed. Since Crispin could not trust anyone he often visited a father Quinell, he was a priest that he had known for years, father Quinell explained how John Aycliffe was telling everyone that you ( Crispin ) stole money from him, and that you are considered a wolf head "a wolf's head' [he] gasped, horrified... 'I'm considered not human,' [he] said" (Avi 36). A wolf head is one of the worst things you could call someone in the Middle Ages it men't you where not human and anyone could kill you causing Crispin to be timid. This explains how living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become deeply religious and timid.
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become dependent on God and desperate for many necessities. Crispin attended numerous confessions, "These confessions were numerous, since I had become convinced there was some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out"(Avi 13). These confessions show us how Crispin relies on God for help because of the many challenges he faced during the Middle Ages. We can also see how much Crispin relies on God when he begs for God to choose his fate, "'Please, dear God,' I cried aloud, my eyes streaming hot tears, 'choose a path for me'"(Avi 65). Crispin can't choose for himself, so he begs God to choose it for him. This choice could decide where Crispin ends up in his battle for freedom in the Middle Ages. Crispin also becomes desperate because he is alive during the Middle Ages. We know how needy his family is, "Our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas. If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide"(Avi 14). From this, we can see how Crispin's family barely had any food to eat even when his mother was alive. When Crispin is alone, he even prays that he can get a bag that he hopes is filled with food, "On the ground by his side lay a fat sack, which contained, I prayed, food"(Avi 72). From these quotes, we can glean that life for Crispin in the Middle Ages was very tough, and from these difficulties, he became reliant on God.
Living in the Middle Ages has impacted Crispin's character because he has many hardships due to his social class. "I had few friends and none I completely trusted. As 'Asta's son,' I was oft the butt of jests, jibes, and relentless hounding. [...] I had become convinced there was some sin embedded in me," (13). Crispin has a low self esteem. The Middle Ages were a depressing time where there was a big gap between the rich and poor people. Crispin's is one of the poorest people in the village and he is made fun of. He also has not control over what it said and done to him. Crispin is so depressed about his situation, he mopes around a lot. "All in all, I spent my time in an aimless, crushing sadness, consumed by an alternating dread and desire that I might be caught. If I were caught, at least my misery would have ended" (61). Living in the Middle Ages has impacted Crispin's character in a way were the is not confident and wishes to die.
Living in the Middle Ages for Crispin would be impossible if he didn't rely on God. Crispin relied on god throughout the book and always prayed to God for direction in his life. Through his journey when running away from his life in his village he came through many struggles like dealing wth the loss of his mother and the priest and surviving alone in the woods. Crispin says in the book "Please dear God!" I cried aloud my eyes streaming hot tears "Choose a path for me." This clearly shows how he needed god during his tough times. Also considering Crispin is a Serf he does t have a good life and only needs god to survive so when his time comes he knows he will be safe in heaven. Crispin is alone and scared and doesn't dare trust anyone In His village because he feels they don't like him. He decided to leave because he had no other choice when the Knights and serfs were chasing after him. He could only rely on the priest who dies and his mother who is also dead. In conclusion Crispin is very alone, scared trying to live life only relying on god.
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become poor, determined and religious.
To start, Crispin is poor. Since he is a serf, he barely afford anything, even food according to this quote. "Our food was barely bread, watered ale, and,from time to time,some cooked dried peas"(Avi 14). A lot of people could afford food, but since he is a serf who has no money and their life is hard, he is poor so far in the book.
Crispin is also determined. He tries to escape as fast as possible and so far he has. He has escaped from a person named John Aycliffe multiple times putting all his hope to the test."I forced myself along, keeping to the road, though to speak of the muddy path I took as a road was a gross exaggeration"(Avi 57). He has been very tired but he kept on going just to survive from people trying to hunt him down.
And finally he is religious. He relies on god for pretty much everything asking for help. Since his religion is Christianity it makes sense he is going to church and praying a lot."'Please dear God,' I cried aloud, my eyes streaming hot tears,'choose a path for me.'" He asks God for everything for hope and asks God of what to do next to survive.
Crispin is character with traits that the setting had affected him. Being poor, determined and religious is some of the traits the setting has given to him and there are many more that the setting has affected him.
Living in the Middle Ages greatly impacted Crispin's life because it made him hard working and insecure. Crispin and his mother were serfs, the lowest class of peasants who all they did was work the fields and serve their Master. "From dawn to dusk, all we did, like every other villager, was work." All Crispin knows to do is work and it has made him very hard working. He does everything he is asked right away and doesn't complain. Crispin is insecure because as "one of the shunned, cast aways" of the village, "he doesn't have many friends." He doesn't have any one to talk to or trust if he needs to. After his mother dies, he has no one he can fully trust other than the priest, but after he is accused of steeling, he is forced to leave the village and everything he knows. He is also hard working because to get the basic essentials he needs in life, he needs to work for them. Nothing is given to him easily. There aren't machines in the Middle Ages to make stuff, everything from pouches to houses needs to be made by hand and that is a lot of work. This is how living in the Middle Ages affected Crispin's characterization.
The way the middle ages are affected Crispin a lot. The book tells how a little bit and the non fiction part backs it up. He is a serf but he is the lowest serf. His ruler hates him and hates his mother (until she died). They are the lowest ranking people in society and that affected Crispin a lot. "I did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked" (the book). He hates it there but he can't leave the land because he is tied down to it. He is shunned by the whole town. He is forced to work just like the article says. The lord has full control over everything the villagers do. Yes, they have a little freedom but the lord can do anything he wants to the people living in his manor. The lord has a steward in the book who does anything to make Crispin's life miserable. And he can do that because he helps the lord. He is the lords assistant. John Ayecliffe (the steward) never misses an opportunity to remind Crispin and his mother they are worthless. They bust their butts like everyone else but yet, nothing. No one likes them. No one talks to them (except the priest). "Mother and I, like every other Stromford villager , worked his field from dawn to dusk" (book ). Crispin does not know why everyone hates him, he is curious (the real meaning, not what his mother calls satin meaning) and wants to know. Crispin and his mother barley have rights like everyone else.
Life in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin by making him very doubtful and miserable, he is Burdened by the life he has. He is fearful of trying to change his life, because he thinks he will go down to Hell. Back in the Middle Ages, something that played a big role, is religion. Religion back then controlled governments, and even how you lived your life. Crispin in the book, sees this as a opportunity to try to get into the heaven above. "Then gods terrible gaze would fall on us and lift us to Heaven's bliss, or throw us down to the everlasting flames of Hell" (Avi15). Crispin is not standing up for himself, and will not try to do anything because if he does, he's trepidatious that he will be dragged down/go down to hell. Crispin, is very sad right now that he exists and that he was born. Back , in the Middle Ages, there was a social pyramid that ranks others on life style. Kings were at the very top, they had all the power to do anything. Kings were also rich. But the lowest of low, the weakest of the we weak, are what Crispin is, a Peasant/Serf. Serfs, have tough lives, they get little to no freedom, and they are controlled by their cruel lord. "There was little that my mother or I could do about our plight. We were not slaves. But neither were free" (13-14). Back then, Serfs, were forced day and night to work without stop, job after job. Crispin, was also treated like he was a slave to work 24 hours a day 7 days a week, but he work on a field. After all of his work is done, what do the lord and his evil indifferent steward do to this poor kid, they abuse him and taunt him. Crispin is also bossed around by the lord, and he's being bullied by the lord and his Steward. All Crispin wants is a better life, and he no longer wants to be abused. To summarize, Living in the Middle Ages, caused Crispin to become doubtful, miserable, and hopeless.
Living in the Middle Ages has heavily impacted Crispins character. He has become very cautious, hopeless, and very secretive knowing he is the only one that can save himself. Crispin was recalling visiting the priest and he remembered saying "I did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion". Pg 13. Crispin was very poor and that made it hard to trust many people because they really didn't care much about him. He knew that many people couldn't be trusted except the priest. When Crispins mother died, Crispin was very upset because his mother was one of the only people he had in his life. After Crispin found the priest dead, he became hopeless and said "God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me". Pg 56. Crispin didn't expect to see the two people that cared about him dead in such a short time. By this happening, Crispin knows that he is on his own now that his mother and the priest are dead. After Crispin overheard the Knights saying that he was accused of stealing, he knew that he couldn't show his face around or else he will be killed. He had to figure out why this happened, so instead of instantly fleeing, he stayed in the nearby forest until he could meet with the priest. When he was about to go back to his house he saw people. He felt "unsettled" and he recalled "I drew back quickly and concealed myself behind some bushes to observe their intentions,"(pgs 17,18). He used the forest as a hiding place while he tried to figure out what was happening. He made sure to be very secretive in the woods so he didn't get found and killed. Living in the Middle Ages has caused Crispin much conflict, this was mostly caused by the fact that he was a serf.
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become hard-working, religious, depressed, and lonely. Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become hard-working because of the long hours he spends on the fields working for the the lord. In the Middle Ages the serfs were tied to the land and were to work as the lord says. Crispin, "...worked his [lord Furnival's] fields from dawn to dusk...fed the animals...gathered wood..." (Avi 14). This is an example of how even though Crispin is only a little boy he becomes very hard-working by his surrounding environment. Living in the Middle Ages in England meant that the religion practiced was Christianity. This means that Crispin was raised in a very holy place and taught him to be a very religious person. "Think...[of] our Blessed Christ...The Holy Church told us..." (Avi 13,15). The Church was always put first in the Middle Ages. Along with the good traits that Crispin develops from living in the Middle Ages, there is also bad traits he develops. Crispin is usually very depressed by a serf and having no family of his own especially after his mother and the priest died. Crispin says, "I did try to accept my life...of the shunned, forever cast aside...There was little my mother and I could do about our plight." (Avi 13). Crispin wanted a life that was complete and had no holes, but for a serf that was not very likely. In addition to being depressed, Crispin was also very lonely. He, "...existed in a shadow..." and had, "...few friends and none I completely trusted." (Avi 12,13). Since Crispin had no immediate family that he knew or were alive and very few friends, Crispin becomes a very lonely person. Life in the Middle Ages for a serf is no walk in the park. This tuff life shapes Crispin into a hard-working, lonely, depressed, and religious person.
Living in the Middle Ages led to Crispin having a heavy hearted and a very religious personality because of the events that occurred at that time. During the Middle Ages, the majority of the people were Christian, and they prayed to their sacred Jesus. Related to Crispin; who is also Christian. He always prays to God whenever he gets the opportunity to. He prays when he is out venturing the forests, or whenever he is suddenly reminded of his miserable plight. In the novel it states, " Late that day, besieged by fears, very lonely and quite famished, I fell to my knees and prayed with sobbing words. In these prayers I acknowledged my great unworthiness to my Lord Jesus and searched my heart for every sin to which I could confess" (Avi 62). Crispin seems to be extremely hopeless and deeply wishing for God to help him. Crispin says "Please, dear God,' [he] cried...'choose a path for me'" (65). While also sounding desperate, Crispin is showing that he does not know what he is doing and questioning himself, and God, of what the purpose is of him living, after all from his mother dying and abandoning him, to aycliffe wanting him dead, the Plague overhanging him, and many unraveled secrets, Crispin does have the right to feel and question his life. Crispin's character is one that feels as if God is the one who controls you. He feels as if he has no right to make his own decisions. Therefore, living in the Middle Ages led Crispin to have a heavy hearted and holy personality.
I really like your quotes! They show how the conflict affected him as well as how the setting affected him! I also like your profile picture. Great job!
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin characterization greatly. The setting caused Crispin to feel despondent. In addition, the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become very religious.
Throughout the first sixteen chapters of the novel, Crispin feels like his life will never be able to change. In the Middle Ages, the social structure played a large role in the way one lived in the future. Crispin was born as a peasant, the lowest position in the feudal pyramid. Around the time the book took place, peasants had little power over their own lives, barely any freedom, and were forced to do labor for several hours each day. During the novel, "the steward, John Aycliffe, never lost an opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were villeins- serfs- bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 14). As one can see, Crispin had no choice but to follow the directions that the steward demanded of him. The steward repeatedly reminded Crispin that his life would never be altered and that he would stay a serf for the rest of his life. John Aycliffe wanted to let Crispin know that he was not an important figure, and that he was just an insignificant serf. Crispin "did try to accept [his] life, but unlike our perfect Jesus,...expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, [he] lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside,..." (Avi 13). Crispin always felt like he did not fit in with the others. Crispin was often taunted and was known as a jest and jibe to others. He was not treated as fairly as some of the other people in his village, and he felt like he was constantly left out.
Not only did the Middle Ages cause Crispin to feel forlorn, but the setting additionally caused Crispin to use religion. In Europe, during the Dark Ages, the majority of the people were Christian. But despite the way most people prayed, Crispin depended on Christianity as a way to solve all of his misfortunes in life and to find answers to all of the decisions that he had to make. When Crispin was walking away from Bromsford Village, he made his way at an intersection of crossroads. "But which of the crossroads was I to take? North, south, east, or west. 'Please dear God', I said ... 'choose a path for me.' " (Avi 65). This quote shows that Crispin looks toward God when he needs response to all of the questions that he does not have a confident solution to. However, Crispin also uses Christianity as a way to find some hope. Once, Crispin prayed for help by saying these specific words, " 'O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to do, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help, or I'm undone' "(Avi 65). In this quote, Crispin is begging God for help, when his life was very melancholy. Even though Crispin has a strong feeling that his life will never change, he utilizes Christianity as the only source to find a little bit of aspiration in his life when times get very rough.
The time and place in which the book takes place resulted in variety of character traits for Crispin. It caused him to become very hopeless and believe in Christianity.
Crispin's personality was of a dependent coward. Most people in the Middle Ages were Christian, so was Crispin. " ' O Great and Giving Jesus, I,... who do not know what to do, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implode Thy blessed help, or I'm undone. ' " (Avi 25). Crispin always looks to God for help, he does not make any for himself. Crispin lets God choose what ever he will do. He becomes dependent on God. Crispin does not know how to make his own choices because he is a serf. All serfs fear their lord and obey whatever order they give. Crispin did not learned how to make his own choices, for he was a serf. Crispin becomes a coward after his mother's death. "If I were caught, at least my misery would have ended." (Avi 61). Crispin stays as a coward because his mother died and he had no one to take care of him and keep him safe, he was out on his own. Crispin had feared his lord, he had lived in fear his whole life and he had not known what to do on his own.
The Middle Ages effected people greatly, especially people like Crispin. Crispin is a very poor peasant, as stated on page 13: "For in the entire kingdom of England, there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi 13). Peasants, who have no class or royalty and are at the bottom of social class, will do whatever the king, or someone with royalty, says. Peasants struggled everyday to live, gathering what they could, as Crispin says "...gathered wood and brush for heat, slept, and tried to stay alive" (Avi 14). The general life of a peasant was hard and depressing. Most believed only God could help them. Crispin knew where he stood in social class, and this made him feel unworthy. "Asta's son, come here, he said to me. Head bowed, I drew close. Look at me he commanded" (Avi 3). Upper class men, Like John Aycliffe, expected respect from lower class people, simply because he thought he was better than all of them. As John says on page 4: "With your mother gone, you're required to deliver your ox to the manor house tomorrow. I said... If I do...I...I won't be able to work the fields. Then starve he said" (Avi 4). Being a poor peasant to upper class people, it doesn't even matter if he lives or not. He's not worth anything to them, which is why they took his ox so he will starve. The Middle Ages effected Crispin's life is a negative way.
There are four main aspects of life in the Middle Ages; feudalism/serfdom, village life, the Black Death, and religion (Christianity). These definitely impacted Crispin's characterization. Crispin lives an impoverished and challenging life, "bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village... [working] his fields dawn to dusk." (Avi 14) The houses were constructed poorly, made of "wattle and daub, thatch and wood, dirt and mud, all in varying shades of brown." Crispin and the other paupers were accustomed to feeling lowly and small instead of proud or respected. His father dies of the Black Death (aka the Great Mortaliy, or the Plague), which greatly impacts his life. "In a world in which one lived by the light of a father's name in rank, that meant— since I had no father— I existed in a shadow." Crispin, by now an orphan, is shunned because of his incredibly low rank. This makes him timid and fearful. Lastly, religion has hugely impacted Crispin. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church dominated the peasants' lives, including Crispin. There are many instances in the book where Crispin mentions God or stories from the bible. "This was the life we led... As had all the men and women since the days of Adam." (Avi 15) He ponders the meaning of his life and concludes that he would "continue to live the same until Archangel Gabriel announced the end of time." (Avi 15) He is always praying, night and day, and visited the church as much as possible, even as he was a wanted 'fugitive' in chapter seven. "The night was intensely dark... Only then did I creep toward the church, alone, uncertain, and very full of fear." (Avi 30-31) Religion conquered Crispin's life, and other than Father Quinel, God was the only thing Crispin could depend on.
Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become sad, depressed, lonely, and extremely religious because Crispin's mother died and she was the only parent that Crispin had besides his Dad but, he wasn't part of his life because he died before Crispin was born. He is depending on God to make his life better and bright for his future."The Serfs of the Middle Ages worked the land independently. They might directly own property, such as tools or household goods, and they grew their crops and raised their own livestock for food. Serfs were not free to move however, and could gain their freedom...." Serfs weren't free to do what ever they wanted to do. They weren't free from the Lord. They had to work but, they can gain their freedom. "I did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked" (pg. 13). Crispin knows his life is going to be hard but, he is trying to stay positive about it. "Legally, they were considered property that could be bought, sold, and traded among different masters. The master held the exclusive right to try them crimes and dispense justice among them." Serfs will get blamed for a crime they didn't commit. The master has power over them and can blame them for everything. Serfs doesn't have freedom over themselves, the masters has power over them. "This was the life we led. It was no doubt the life my forefathers had led, as had all men and women since the days of Adam" (pg. 15). Everyone before Crispin had his life and that is how the Middle Ages caused him to become this way. Peasants have the same life forever. In conclusion, life in the Middle Ages for Crispin caused his character to become unhappy because Crispin's mother, Asta, died and she was the only gradian that he had besides his father but, he really wasn't part of his life because he past away before Crispin was even born.
Living in the Middle Ages was rough and hard, for over 80% of all people living in Europe in those times. the over 80% were peasants and they had to work their entire lives, and even if they did work non-stop they still barely made enough money to survive. The under 20% were all land owners and were very wealthy compared to the peasants. When Crispin's mother was alive, they both knew to themselves "we were not salves. But neither were we free...we were villeins-surfs-bound to Furnival, lord of Stromford Village"(Avi 13-14). Crispin was born into a surf live, and the surfs were bond to the land they were born into which made them unable to leave and unable to be free. When Crispin was hiding from hunting parties, he over heard two people talking of why they were hunting him and told himself I could not believe I "was being accused of a theft I had not done"(28). The lord of Crispin's manor can do anything he wants to the peasants of his land, even falsely accuse someone of a crime they did not commit, and can also get away with it because of his wealth and ownership. Crispin is 13 years and knew "It did not matter. Spring, summer, and fall, my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk”(14). Crispin, when he mentions his field is talking about the Lords fields and everyone including him working all day, every day on the fields. Peregrine told Crispin the steward is "offering twenty shillings reward for you"(47). Crispin was shocked of what he heard and could not believe he was wanted for that much and explains it has "the amount was half a year's wages. No one in the village had such a sum"(47). Peasants in the Middle Ages would do anything for that amount of money because they were all extremely poor. Crispin, knowing he was wanted for 20 chillings brought fear to him, because he knew how high that amount of money was, and knew most of the people wanted to bring him in for the desire of a lot of chillings. Overall, Crispin is characterized as a surf turned criminal, with the haunting of fear and hopelessness over him, but believes God will guide him to safety.
Because of his time period and position in society crispin is very pathetic, and has too much faith in god. Because he is peasant his life is very miserable so he has started to think that god will solve all his problems. This is implied from various statements he makes wich all include some sort of reference to the bible or his faith in god such as "Except- as jesus is my savior- as sure as my heart understood anything- i knew then how much i wished, not to die, but to live". He always says things like this and has way to much faith in god. Another thing he says is "later that day , besieged by fears, very lonely and quite famished i fell to my knees and prayed with deep hearted sobbing words........this time i begged him to gather me that i might join my mother in his holy heaven." This shows that he is always praying and has faith in god that his condition will get better but he doesn't do anything to make it better. He is very pathetic and weak as well. Since he is on the bottom of the social chain he is used to being taunted, beaten, and forced to work. On page 63 when he sees a man "hovering in the air" he says "was it a mortal? My first thought was that it was the steward. Or was it a ghost? A demon perhaps? Or was it an angel come from heaven to take me to safety of gods sweet embrace?". Things like this show that even though they couldve been a variety of reasons why the man appeared to be hovering in the air he still started to think of the worst possible and most unlikely things that the man couldve been. He also says "i did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect jesus, i was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, i lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on curious as to how others lived". As it is shown crispin is a very pathetic and weak person because of the fact that he always expects to be mocked. He also lived a life cast aside so he is very unpopular and unknowing of how to take control of his life. If the fact that he is a peasant means he is on the bottom of the social pyramid isn't worse enough he doesn't have a father wich means his own people shun him as well. He is such an unpopular person because of his status that he didn't even have a name. With crispins life being very miserable he looked towards religion as an outlet for all his problems and never learned to man up and take action wich made him turn weak and pathetic. With all these reasons stated it can be concluded that crispin is very pathetic and weak at this point of the story.
Living in the Middle Ages causes Crispins character to become sad, lonely, and scared. When his mother dies, nobody even cares about Crispin, and nobody helps him. "'With your mother gone you're required to deliver your ox to the manor house tomorrow. It will serve as the death tax.' 'But sir if I do I won't be able to work the fields.' 'Then starve'."This is because of his social ranking, which is peasant. He has no respect, because he has no father. "In a world in which one lived by the light of the fathers name and rank, that meant since I had no father I existed in a shadow." This shows that living in the middles ages causes people to be treated very differently. Crispins religion also impacts the way he acts. Since he believes in Jesus, he believes that he is a sinner, and that God will not protect him. Also because of his social class, he doesn't have friends who respect him because he's so poor. "I had few friends that I completely trusted. I was often the butt of jests, jibes, and relentless hounding." This shows Crispin in lonely because his mom is dead and he has no friends. Because he lives in the Middle Ages, the way he is treated impacts the way he acts. Because he's a peasant, he isn't respected which causes him to become sad and lonely.
I think living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's Characterization because in the middles ages there was social rankings, Crispin was at the bottom of these rankings. Crispin along with his mother, Asta were not accepted by the towns folk. What Crispin is, is a peasant. Peasants work for a manor lord or steward, who takes care and rules over a certain plot of land. These lords or rulers enforced strict rules and laws, which were not passable. They were slaves and "For the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi 13). Crispin's lord was John Aycliff, a man who treated Crispin and his mothers like scum. John Aycliff would make all these people work for hours a day and pay them very little. For them "It did not matter. Spring, summer and fall--save certain holy days-- my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn til dusk" (Avi 14). No one gave them any respect. No one befriended them. Besides one person. The priest. The priest was very nice and helpful to Crispin and his mom. They would go to him for any problems, they would then turn to Christ. "O great and giving Jesus, I who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to o, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help, or I'm undone" (Avi 25). Crispin may of developed some loneliness because he didn't have a friend to turn to. He could sometimes block things out or be disconnected, when his mother died he ran away and got scared. He would run away or hide from his problems, "My day was spent in a hiding game. Even though I was hunted in many places, the merciful saints were kind. I was not caught"(Avi 27). I think living in the Middle Ages was very hard on Crispin which sort of led him to be a bit scared maybe even independent. Also, he was put to work and he might of feared something bad was going to happen to mother.
The book, Crispin, by Avi, is based in the Middle Ages. Asta and her son are serfs, which are peasants. This impacts their life in a big way. When Crispin was a child, his dad had passed before his birth from the "great mortality" (Avi 12). This means that many kids would have grown up without a relative, friend, or maybe have not grown up. If Crispin had a father to grow up with and protect him, he would have been different. They had lived in a "one room dwelling" with a hay roof that hardly kept out the rain. Though they "were not slaves" (Avi 13), they had to live in poor houses, and we're nothing if their animal was dead. They were owned, so if you had to give up an animal like Crispin did, you were practically dead. Since they were owned, they were in trouble if the lord didn't like them. They were able to choose their punishment for nothing and make what they did up. So when Crispin overheard a conversation it's the Steward, he was accused for theft. He was made a wolfs head, which means dead. Being a serf in the Middle Ages had a big impact on people's lives, lives that were in more danger.
The time period and setting of the book Crispin affects Crispin's character and makes him hopeless and negative. He is a peasant and doesn't get many meals. He is very poor and is teased. On page 15, "This was the life we led. It was no doubt the life my forefathers led (...) With all my heart I believed that we would continue to live the same" (Avi 15). Crispin thinks there is no way out of this awful life of poverty in which he was born into. He believes this is his only chance in life and is hopeless of anything else because his faith is a peasant. He also shows lots of negativity on page 56 after he found Father Quinel dead, "God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me" (Avi 56). Crispin is negative and is not sure what to do about the fact the only people who were on his side are now dead. He feels he has done something wrong and God is punishing him for it but he doesn't know what he has done. He is a peasant and believes that is Gods punishment for him. Crispin has become negative and hopeless while living in the Middle Ages
Living in the Middle Ages affected Crispin in a negative way because the were had long barely payed anything, always remember of there place. The had to work from dusk to dawn, a very long hours for only one penny. One fourth of a penny can buy a loaf of bread." At a time when bread a quarter penny a loaf, the value of my mothers daily labor— by King Edward royal decree—was a penny each day."Any chance John Aycliffe had to remind us that we were serfs. Imagine that you are a person back then, and then some guy walks up to you can screams at you, that is what being called a serf feels like. All info is from page 14
In the novel, Crispins character is impacted by the setting in many ways. One way that the setting of the novel impacts Crispins character is that Crispin is a serf and serfs were at practically the same social class level as a slave making them very poor. In the book Crispin even says "for in the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I"(Avi)."I had few friends and none i completely trusted." (Avi 13) This quote shows how Crispin, a serf, gets treated poorly so he doesn't have many friends and out of those friends he can't completely trust because they might turn on him and be mean to him. Without having any friends he can trust and not having many friends at all will make him very depressed because he has no one to socialize with or talk to. Another way the setting affects Crispin is the Black Death. It caused his father to die before his birth during "A recurrence of the Great Mortality" (12). As crispin's father died before he was born, no one but crispin's mother was able to take care of him, affecting how Crispin survived daily.Crispin is taunted and sneered at by others, including John, the steward, who mocks him because of his social class, which makes Crispin feel hopeless because of his lack of a voice and opinion, and his inability to move up in the feudal system. The steward's poor treatment against Crispin is what influenced some of the other villagers to join him in his dislike of the boy, causing a fear that they will face punishment from the steward
I like how you introduced quotes, which helped the flow of the blog. I also liked the choice of quotes, which show how the setting during the Middle Ages affected Crispin.
Crispins characterization changes throughout the book he becomes more survivalist like and does stuff when he runs away into the wood because of John aycliff coming after him for a crime that he did not commit because in the Middle Ages he could not do a crime but they said that you had a crime that you could be punished for that and he was shunned with his mother then she became ill and then died
The setting or Crispin impacted the book Crispin and especially the main character explained how hard and unfair life was. "We were not slaves but neither were we free" this setting was based of from a long time ago Crispin was born in the Middle Ages the same time period when most people were Christian and so was Crispin. " oh great Jesus" explained who hard and unfair life was. "This was the life we lead no doubt my men and forefathers as and all women and men since the day of Adam" this life is clearly unfair because these innocent people don't get to chose how they want to live it. The different characters impacted the setting as well Crispin himself was always sad, unhappy and lonely after this mother passed away. "With you're mother gone you are required to deliver your ox to the manor house tomorrow. It will serve as the death tax. Crispin was a serf and always has been he spent tireless hours working in the field for the lord. Crispin definitely impacted the settings with so many various reasons.
Crispin is not the happiest boy his mother diedd and he is being shund by everyone so he is sad " i lived the life the life of the shunned forever castaside yet looking on curious as to how others live" this is from the book witch tells you that he is being shund and how he is curious
The setting impacts crispin in many ways, one of those ways is he is very dispersed. He thought that he was living a bad life. "I tried to accept my life, but unlike the perfect Jesus, i was filled with caution and suspicion always expected to upon are mocked" ( Avi 13). Since his mother died and he is a peasant he gets shunned by almost every one because he does not have a farther. His farther died of the black death witch was a deadly disease back in the middle ages. Now he was alone had no one to cheer him up so he was dispersed all of the time. Another way to show he was dispersed is " It does not matter . Spring, summer, and fall save certain holy days, my mother and i, like every other Stromford villager, worked the fields till dusk. When winter came, we had an ox, and now and then a chicken, gathered wood and brush for heat, slept, and tried to stay alive" (Avi 14). He is reflecting back on all the things he did and realizing that he didn't do anything fun it was all work so that he could stay alive. He feels very dispersed when he flashes back to those times when he had to do that stuff
Life in the Middle ages for Crispin caused him to become depressed because they were poor and lived in the shadows. Life in the Middle ages however were harsh for the serfs. The life for the serfs were considered not as important as others. The manor treated them like things and not people. "my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk" (Avi 14). Crispin's life is depressing because he has to work for most of the day and has nothing else to do during his life. Serfs were not to move where they wanted to go and had very limited rights in the manor. "We were not slaves. But neither were we free" (Avi 13-14). Crispin's life is this way because of the Middle ages because serfs had no rights do do what they wanted. They were controlled by the steward and were accused of crimes that they didn't even do. As you can see life in the Middle ages made Crispin's life depressing and getting treated cruelly.
Crispin has many different character traits but the one that most stands out is that he is sad or unhappy. He would be unhappy because his mother died, he has no father, and John acliyffe is trying to take his possessions. First one example that shows he's unhappy states "Was death my only hope? Seeking to escape my heart's cage of sorrow, I rushed off toward the forest. Each time I picked myself up and rushed on, panting, crying." This shows he is unhappy because now that John acliyffe is taking his ox he would starve and then he would have nothing. Another example that he is unhappy says"tumbled over a cliff. Though of no great height, it took me by such surprise I went hurtling through the air, crashing hard upon my side and rolling further down a hill." This shows that he is unhappy because he was hurt really badly and acliyffe could have killed him for just being there.
The Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization in many ways. "At a time when bread cost a quarter penny a loaf, the value of my mother's daily labor—by King Edward's royal decree—was a penny each day; mine, but a farthing" (14 Avi). He did not make nearly any money. Because he lives in the Middle Ages, and not in today's world, Crispin does not have as much opportunity as me or other kids who live today. Because there is no possibility of upgrading or going to school and college and actually becoming something of yourself. He just works on the farm all from from sunrise to sunset. "It did not matter. Spring, summer, and fall—save some holy days— my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk" (14 Avi). They worked on the farm nearly the whole year! Whether it was freezing cold or burning hot. When the priest told Crispin that he must leave and go to another city to gain his own freedom he was shocked and didn't know where to go. Neither did the priest, he was uncertain as well. If Crispin had been living in today America, he would know exactly where a neighboring town or city was because there are roads leading everywhere! " 'Father,' I said, 'I don't even know where these cities are' 'I am not so certain myself,' he admitted" (Avi 38). There were only few towns but very far away. If it was today world, the Father Quinel could have given Crispin money for a taxi but there were no cars so Crispin had to make the long, difficult journey on foot. Clearly, living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization in numerous ways.
Crispin feels neglected and very sad. Part of this has to do with the setting of the book. Crispin was a serf, the lowest "class". They were essentially peasants, and most were extremely poor. Serfs were considered property, and had to do anything the lord of the manor told them to. Crispin received endless bullying from the steward of the manor, who "The steward, John Aycliffe, never lost an pportunity to remind us of the fact that we were vilains—serfs—bound to Furnival, Lord of Strombound Village" (Pg. 14). He was taunted and teased by the other villagers, and claimed he "lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside" (Pg. 13). Christianity was a major part of everyone's life. Crispin is no exception. He felt as though God is angry or ashamed of him, and is convinced that "there is some sin rooted inside of me, one I ws desperate to root out" (Pg. 13 ). In conclusion, it is obvious that these living conditions affect Crispin's character.
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization. In the village he lived in the people shunned him because he was poor and his mother had the plague. "I had few friends and none I completely trusted...I was often the butt of jests, jibes and relentless hounding". (Crispin Pg 13).In the village their thought was that people who had the plague were being punished by God so they shunned Crispin and his mother because she had it and their family was poor. The Middle Ages caused Crispin to be very poor. "For in the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I". (Crispin Pg 13). In the Middle Ages there was feudalism which means the lord had people like Crispin who were serf's work and live on their land in exchange for military protection, this caused Crispin and his mother to be very poor. Also living in these times caused Crispin to be very religious. "I bowed my head in prayer: O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to do, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help or I'm undone". (Crispin Pg 25). In the place that he lived and the time he lived in people were very loyal to God and worshiped God. There were very strict religion rules and if they were not followed there could be very harsh consequences an punishments.
The Middle Ages impacts Crispin because he is shunned by the very existence of men and society, he is said to be inhuman and has to be put down like a dog. And to go along with that he is left all alone, when father Quinel dies not long after his mothers death, and now he is being hunted by many, and has barely any food, not that he had much before either.
Living in the middle ages causes him to live unequal to the other people and it also made him more timid. "Since I had no father- I excited in the shadows. But he, like so many, had died before my birth during a recurrence of the great mortality (often called the plague)" (Avi 12). He became a serf because he did not have a father so he had no rank. Another quote is "I tried to accept my life, but unlike the perfect Jesus, i was filled with caution and suspicion always expected to upon are mocked" (Avi 13). in the book he is really suspicious because he always thinks he will be mocked.
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Cripsin's life in many ways. First of all, he was afraid to do anything wrong because religion was a huge part of their life at that time period. "There is some sin rooted inside of me. One I was desperate to root out." (Avi, pg 13). He was also treated horribly by other people.
In the book Crispin, Asta's Son has low self-esteem, is religious, and very depressed. One of the main causes of these feelings is the beliefs and social rankings in the Middle Ages. Serfs are descended from slaves and are considered to be the lowest in social rankings. Not only are Crispin and his mother serfs, but they are considered to be outsiders in the community dynamic for reasons unknown to Crispin. This causes them to be shunned, teased, and treated more harshly in comparison with the other serfs. He starts to feel as if he is not worth anything, because he is treated as such. On page 25 he even thinks, "I, who have no name, who am nothing." Thinking of himself as a nobody causes him to become very unhappy. When he runs away, he wishes that he were caught, even though it would mean dying, so at least his, "misery would have ended."(Avi 61). He also thinks on page 62 that, "the truth was- and how great my shame- I no longer wished to live; which was, I knew, a sin." Additionally, This shows how religious he is, since even in his immense state of melancholy, his thoughts were focused around his image in God's eyes. This dedication to religion is common in the culture of the Middle Ages. Most people believed that all occurrences were controlled by God and that all actions would effect whether or not you were allowed into heaven. This made it very difficult for him to feel better about himself because it seemed as though he had sin embedded in him and that God was punishing him. Because of the culture and beliefs of the people in the Middle Ages, this perpetual cycle of sorrow is irreversible.
A few of the things that had impacted Cripsin by living in the Middle Ages was that he had to survive on almost nothing and he had relyed on God to be able to get through everything. "I flung myself upon my knees and prayed long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). This shows that when Crispin is all alone on his journey far from his village, and Shem he gets scared, he will go to God for help. "This putting myself in God's merciful hands brought me a little relief..." (Avi 58-59). God helps protect Crispin when he asks for it becuase of the hardships that he is going through. When times had gotten rough, and when he had wanted to give up, he would pray to God and always remember the times he went through with his mother. "More than one I reminded myself of the times when my mother I and had gone without sustenance. If we could survive then-and we did-I could do so now" (Avi 66). To get what he wants, Cripsin will do anything for it, meaning he will never give up becuase he wants to earn his freedom and respect from others. These are only a few of the things that had impacted Crispin by living in the Middle Ages.
The setting in the Middle Ages affected Crispin be because he was a serf. Serfs were "oft the butt of jest, jibes, and relentless hounding"(13). In the book Crispin the main character mother dies and in those times no one cares if your a serf cause your life was meaning less to other people. Serf's in in the middle ages were "not free to move" same like Crispin, in the novel he was tied to the manor of which they could not go into. Crispin had "few friends and none"(13) he completely trusted because he was only close to his mother. Crispin was always depressed because he was always reminded that his mother died because he was called "Asta's son". Crispin could never lead a normal life were he is not look down upon unless he gain his freedom. Overall Crispin was a serf and he was shunned and he didn't cared that much. The setting of tge Middle ages makes Crispin sad and lonely everyday even with or without his mother Asta.
Living in the middle ages caused Crispin's character to be reclusive and depressed. On page 12, it says "Since I had no father, I existed in a shadow." In this quote he says he feels like he is less than human without a father. This can make him feel to like an abomination to his society because without a father figure in his life and a mother that was always working, he would feel like heels a nobody. Also on page 13, it says "In short I lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on." This is consistent with the last quote because it shows that Crispin is looked down upon in the society by those in higher rankings than him, but this never blinded him from anything. All in all, Crispin reminds us that he keeps a positive overall look on things even after everything that makes him feel down in the moment. Lastly, on pages 13 and 14, it says "We were not slaves. But we were also not free." This can affect Crispin's character because he can make very little choices on his own and causes him to feel trapped and in need of a rescue from a higher power. He is forced to do labor and was not able to own land. Given the evidence, all of these pieces of information have confirmed that Crispin's character reclusive and feel as if he is an outcast. Those are a few of the many ways that living in the Middle Ages contributed to Crispin's many complex character traits.
The setting really affects the character of Crispin. He has to live off pretty much nothing, and has no parents to look up to or go to for help. He relies on god, and believes he will get him through everything. "I flung myself upon my knees and prayed long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). This shows that Crispin can rely on his savior, Jesus Christ to get him through every problem that he faces. There were also social rankings. Crispin was in the lowest of the low classes, he was a peasant serf. "For the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi 13). This could easily bring along depression and make life hard for Crispin, by being very poor in his community.
Some ways of living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin is the religion, social structure, physical world, and one of the many different conflicts that he faces through his life in the Middle Ages. "Dawn had come, and the Stromford church was announcing early morning prayers, prime." Every citizen prays at least 3 times a day. They pray for Compline, blessing Christ, and Prime. At least three times morning, afternoon, and dawn, they pray for each thing at a certain time when the church bell goes off. "As judge, Jury, and willing executioner, Acliffe had but to give the word, and the offender's life was forfeit. We all lived in fear of him" All the surfs lived in fear of the higher social structure, because the steward controls everyone on the lords land when he is gone in war, or etc. "With stone walls two levels high and small windows, the manor was to me like a castle, high, mighty, and impenetrable." The manor is very well built, because the highest class of social structure lives in better building and they get better treatment. When the serfs have a small home and their conditions are not so great, so usually a serf family tries 12 times to have a child. "God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me." Crispin believes that God is punishing him, and he doesn't know why. "I did try to accept my life, but unlike out perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspension, always expecting us to be set upon or mocked." I chose this quote because it shows that Crispin is always feeling like he is being punished by God, and he tries hard to accept that he is in the world for a reason.
Crispin is living in the time period of the Middle Ages, this impacts his characterization in important ways because of the kind of setting that is described in the story. Because Crispin is a peasant in this time, he found himself to be “filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, [Crispin] lived the life of the shunned forever cast aside”(Avi 13). Most of the people living in the Middle Ages were peasants. The peasants were mocked or deliberately ignored by upperclassmen. The fact that the story t Ames place in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become careful and suspecting of others. He never knew when he was going to be hurt again. Crispin is also religious. On page 62 it says “I fell to my knees and prayed with deep-hearted, sobbing words. In these prayers I acknowledged my great unworthiness to my Lord Jesus and searched my heart for every sin to which I could confess” (62). Religion is big part of his life especially when living in the Middle Ages because some people in poverty had only God for hope, like Crispin. This shows that living in the Middle Ages impacts his characterization because the tough times that he is having makes him turn to religion for hope. Another way that the setting impacts Crispin's characterization is the setting makes him curious. In chapter three it states that Crispin “lived the life of the shunned forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious as to how others lived”(13). This shows Crispin is curious because he lived in the Middle Ages. Crispin is a peasant in the book and was laughed at by many, but he knew not everyone lived like he did. Living in the Middle Ages impacted his characterization because it impacted his suspicion, his need for religion and his curiosity.
from how he is treated in his village and how low they are compared to other people Crispin and his mother were peasants they were serfs from what they were called. " I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked, in short I lived life of the shunned. There was little my mother or I could do about our plight, we were not slaves, but neither were we free"(AVI 13-14). Crispin is a serf in the novel it clearly explains how him and his mother were treated in their village and what the lord was like. Being a serf is a difficult life and from reading the book you can see the way Crispin has been treated and used by the people in his village. In the middle ages there were levels of rankings for people like serfs, peasants, kings, lords and knights, and for the lower ranked people it was difficult to live like the other people which what crispin was. " Thinking of himself as a nobody causes him to become very unhappy. When he runs away, he wishes that he were caught, even though it would mean dying, so at least his,"misery would have ended."(Avi 61). Everyone would pick and taunt Crispin and it was misery living a serf's life like Crispin and you would wish your life would have ended just like Crispin. Which explains the impact on Crispin's characterization in the middle ages.
One way that the setting impacted Crispin is that most of the people in the Middle Ages were poor and a fraction were rich. Crispin was one of those poorer people. He didn't have a good house, it was very filthy. He didn't have enough food. On page 14, "our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas. If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide,". Crispin doesn't expect a filling meal every day, with all of the luxuries. They work so hard for such little pay. He was also beat up so often by the steward. On page 3, "'Look at me' he commanded, reaching down and forcing my head up with a sharp slap of his gloved hand beneath my chin,". He was merely a serf, someone who isn't noticed at all and can be treated like trash. On page 28, "When I, in my high perch, heard these words. I could hardly believe them: I was being accused of a theft I had not done,". They can be accused for anything, even if it's false and they will treat them as criminals. Crispin has lived this life and is affected deeply because this lifestyle is unhealthy. They are treated badly and Crispin is used to it. But he finally decides to flee because he can't handle being treated like this. He has been declared a wolfs head and it means anyone can kill him. This is how the setting impacts Crispin.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about how the wealth affected Crispin. It also shows how the social structure affected him. Great job!
DeleteIn the book Crispin, the main character has to accomplish a lot of different and challenging things and it impacts his character a lot. For example in chapter 3 the book says that there were to "be no Christian souls poorer than mother and I" making Crispin a very poor child and having 0 power and wealth. Another quote says that they ate "barley bread and water ale" proving that Crispin is very very poor. Lastly, the book says that "there was little mother and I could do about our plight. This shows Crispin is poor. This is how Crispin is poor and it impacts his character.
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ReplyDeleteLiving in the middle ages caused Crispin's character to be shy and depressed. For example on page 12, it says "since I had no father, I existed in a shadow." In this quote he says he feels like he is non-existant. This can cause him to be depressed and sad of he feels like nobody cares about him. Also on page 13, it says "In short I lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on." Again in this quote he says he lives his life being ignored, and a person who is always pushed to the side. Basically he says through all this, he keeps his head up through it all. This can cause him to be depressed, such as earlier in the book when it mentions that when he speaks to people he has his head down most of the time. Lastly, on pages 13 and 14, it says "We were not slaves. But we were also not free." This can affect Crispin's character because he can make very little choices on his own. He is forced to do work and has little rights. As you can see, all of these things can contribute to making Crispin's character sad and feeling ignored. That is how living in the middle ages contributed to Crispin's character traits.
ReplyDeleteCrispin was put through many difficult times because of living int he Middle Ages. One of these times was when both of Crispin's parents were killed by the plague. "Since I had no father- I excited in the shadows. But he, like so many, had died before my birth during a recurrence of the great mortality (often called the plague)" (page 12). Another example is how he feels like an outsider because he doesn't have his father's name like most people. "My mother had called me 'son', and, since her name was Asta, 'Asta's son' became my common name." (Page 12). Crispin's life was made very hard because of the time period he lived through. He didn't have the name of his father as many other kids do. He also has no family, because both of his parents have been killed by the plague.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel, Crispins character is impacted by the setting in many ways. One way that the setting of the novel impacts Crispins character is that Crispin is a serf and serfs were at practically the same social class level as a slave making them very poor. In the book Crispin even says "for in the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I"(Avi). Another way that the setting impacts Crispins character is that he is falsely accused of a crime, which was common with serfs in the Middle Ages. This is shown when it says "I was being accused of a theft I had not done"(Avi). Furthermore the setting also impacts Crispins character when he is treated poorly especially by the upper class, for being a serf. For example people like John are always yelling things at him like "look at me"(Avi) and occasionally they will even hit him. These are just a few of the ways that the setting in the novel impacts Crispins characterization.
ReplyDeleteThe setting of the Middle Ages affects crisp in in many ways. One of the ways was that at that time, the majority of the people were poor and a small percentage were rich. Crispin just so happens to be one of the poorest of the poor, with little food, clothes and a small home. "For in the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I." He had said that "our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas. If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide." (14)Which is very small for food on a daily basis. And to add to this, crispin was accused of crimes he didn't commit. "I was being accused of a theft I had not done"(28) and he is usually accused of this by the steward.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the middle ages caused Crispin's character to become very depressed and sad. The serfs would probably get very depressed not being able to do anything but grow their crops and nothing else. "Spring, Summer, and Fall save certain holy days my mother and i, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk." (Avi 14). This quote shows how Crispin and the other serfs are stuck in the little village harvesting crops and working the fields everyday every year from dawn to dusk, Not being able to have fun or do anything else will definitely make them all depressed and sad and also bored. "I had few friends and none i completely trusted." (Avi 13) This quote shows how Crispin, a serf, gets treated poorly so he doesn't have many friends and out of those friends he can't completely trust because they might turn on him and be mean to him. Without having any friends he can trust and not having many friends at all will make him very depressed because he has no one to socialize with or talk to. "Men, women, and children were in the fields at their lawful labor" (Avi 23). Every peasant didn't have a choice but to work on the fields and nothing else. As you can tell living in the middle ages made Crispin's character very depressed and sad.
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ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages affected Crispin because since he was a serf, they didn't get paid well which means they couldn't afford good food. "Our food was barley bread, watered ale, and some cooked dried beans"(14). Instead of owners being accused of wrongdoings, serfs were always blamed. "No one ever accused John Aycliffe"(3). Besides all the hardships, Crispin only had one friend, the priest, when Crispin's mother died the priest tried to help him. "Come to church, Asta's son. We'll pray"(4).
In the book, Crispin, Crispin's after was killed by the Black Plague before Crispin was born. Crispin is one of the poorest peasants in his village, and he thinks "for in the entire kingdom of England, there could be no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi). After his mother dies, Crispin gets needs to escape the village because he cannot afford any food, and he is not paid enough, and he needs to pay a death tax of an ox, so he won't be able to make his own food. After all of that, Crispin needs to escape the village because John Aycliffe wants him dead.
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ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages impacted Crispins character greatly. He became a very hard worker living in the Middle Ages. “It did not matter. Spring, summer, and fall, save certain holy days, my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk”(Avi 14). This shows how by living in the Middle Ages as a peasant he had to be very hardworking. Living in the Middle Ages also impacted how people think about him from his father. “In a world in which one lived by the light of a father's name and rank, that meant, since I had no father, I existed in a shadow”(Avi 12). This quote shows people rank how important they are from their father but because Crispin didn't have a father, he wasn't important to the people.
ReplyDeleteCrispin has been effected by the Middle Ages because he did a lot of work by but him and his mother got payed under what the work was worth. "At a time when bread cost a quarter penny a loaf, the value of my mother's daily labor-by king Edward's royal decree -was a penny each day; mine, but a farthing" (Avi 14). They got payed under what the work was worth and being a serf did not help them get payed anymore either. "The land for growing crops was laid out in long, narrow strips" (Avi 22). Not just Crispin was a serf and had it very hard, the whole village was serfs and they all had to work and got the same amount. "Even though I was hunted in many places, the merciful saints were kind. I was not caught" (Avi 27). He was a serf and went missing in the book. Since he was a serf in the Middle Ages he was not allowed to leave and had less freedom then any wealthy person.p that means when he ran away from his village he would be hunted because he was a serf and had limitations.
ReplyDeleteThe setting in the novel impacts Crispin's characterization because the life in the Middle Ages causes him to become lonely, and depressed. In the novel, Crispin is born as a serf and says "I had few friends and none I completely trusted" (page 13). Crispin doesn't trust many people because of his low life in the Middle Ages. Crispin is also taunted a lot and is "convinced there is some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out" (page 13). Crispin doesn't trust many people because of his life as a serf in the Middle Ages. He thinks there is a something wrong with him because he is teased and looked down on. His life in the Middle Ages makes him depressed since he knows his life will be like this forever. Also, the steward "never lost an opportunity to remind [Asta and her son] of the fact that we were villeins--serfs--bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village" (page 14) which made Crispin sad because he knew that he could never lead a greater life. Also, in the novel, Crispin "lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious as to how others lived" (page 13). Crispin knew he was low class and didn't matter much. It is clear, Crispin is lonely because he is shunned and cast aside. Overall, the setting of the Middle Ages impacts Crispin's character and makes him lonely and depressed.
ReplyDeleteI really like the points that you are making, like how Crispin is very lonely because of "his low life in the middle ages." I also like how you focused on how his social status as a serf greatly impacted his characterization and his personality.
DeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become curious. Crispin lost both of his parents, and he began to wonder what they were like and if they were actually good people. While Crispin is talking to his priest, he says "there's something about my mother that you are keeping from me, is there not" (Avi 38). The priest gave Crispin some information about his mother, but Crispin still thinks there is more and it is eating at him. Crispin has doubts about his father now too, ever since the priest stated "when you come... I'll tell you about your father" (Avi 39). Crispin continued to ask himself the question "was God angry at her... and me? (Avi 39). As Crispin left the church, he was left with more questions than answers, and could not stop thinking about his father. "Regarding my father, why had my mother told me nothing about him? And what possible matter of importance could Father Quinel reveal of that connection?" (Avi 42). Crispin thought that his parents were both good people, but now Crispin "was in a state of wretched disorder, and I did not want to think. The things the priest had said made my heart feel like a city under siege" (Avi 42). Clearly, if Crispin had not lost his parents due to the quality of life in the Middle Ages, he would not be asking himself all of these questions.
ReplyDeleteI like how you show how the conflict itself was from the middle ages and how it impacted Crispin.
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ReplyDeleteLiving in the middle ages had a great affect on the main character of the novel Crispin, by Avi. The protagonist, Crispin, gained several different traits that altered his characterization. One of the traits that he gained was perseverance, when he was chased away from Stromford avoiding death, he struggled on the path to freedom. "Such thoughts forced me back upon the road where I continued on. Sometimes I stumbled. Sometimes I sat by the roadside, head tucked within my folded arms while waiting, I knew not for what. Then yet again-pushed by the need to act, I went on" (Avi 62). Crispin is determined that he will make it, even though he is just a serf that is being chased by knights. He does not stop and rest even though he gets tired, Crispin is determined to escape. Another trait that he has from the middle ages is curiosity. "Despite fear of discovery, I crept through the woods. When i came as near to the light as I dared I raised my head and tensed my legs, ready to flee if necessary." The middle ages helped him be more curious as serfs are tied to the land and don't really know anything. The middle ages caused Crispin's Characterization to change greatly.
Living in the middle ages impacted Crispin by making him more depressed and upset at life, he believes he can't change that fact or he will go to Hell. In the Middle Ages, religion played a major role in everything people do, from everyday life to how the place was governed. Crispin accepts this and wants to get a good chance into getting into heaven "Birth and death alone gave distinction to our lives, as we made the journey between the darkness whence we had come to the darkness where we were fated to await judgment day. Then God's terrible gaze would fall on us and lift us to Heaven's bliss or throw us down to the everlasting flames of Hell"(Avi 15). Crispin doesn't stand up for himself or do anything he believes in because he is afraid that God will throw m into hell,he is upset about his very existence. The setting also impacts Crispin by putting him at the bottom of the social pyramid. He is a serf, a peasant, forced to work for the cruel lord, "There was little my mother or i could do about our plight. We were not slaves. But neither were we free. The steward, John Aycliffe, never lost the opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were villeins-serfs-bound to Furnuval, Lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 13-14). Crispin was forced to work on the fields all day from early morning to late at night, and the lord and his steward were cruel, they would abuse the serfs, and always reminded them of their place, ruining their life. In conclusion, the setting in the book, the Middle Ages, affects Crispin by making him upset about his life and what he thinks is his fate.
ReplyDeleteThe medieval times affect crispins character because he is a serf, a serf is someone who is owned by the land and someone owners the land and they are pretty much slaves to them but not. They were not treated well considering they work all day and all, night every day of the year "Spring, Summer, and Fall save certain holy days my mother and i, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk." (Avi 14). They did not get paid well and did not have any money for food "Our food was barley bread, watered ale, and some cooked dried beans"(Avi 14). Even though they worked so hard they did not get paid well meaning they did not have money for food to eat "For in the entire kingdom of England, there could be no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi 12).
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin and caused him to feel hopeless, fearful and religious.
ReplyDeleteCrispin is a serf, which is the bottom of the social structure. He is constantly being reminded that a serf who has no rights or freedom: “The steward never lost an opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were serfs bound to…Lord of Stromford Village” (Avi 14). Most serfs were impoverished and had to work on the “fields from dusk to dawn” (Avi 14), but Crispin was the most impoverished serf in the community: “ For the entire kingdom of England, there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I” (Avi 13). On top of that, Crispin doesn’t have a father. All these factors cause Crispin feel hopeless “I did try to accept my life, but…I was filled with suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked…There was little my mother or I could do about our plight” (Avi 13). After Crispin’s mother dies, he runs away into the forest. Days later, he realizes that he is being chased and is declared a wolf’s head, which means that Crispin can be killed on the spot. When Crispin realizes that the priest has also been killed, Crispin believes that now, there is no one to help him, not even god: “God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me” (Avi 56). Throughout his journey of escape, Crispin is extremely scared: “With every step I took, and with every look back, I shed tears of grief” (Avi 56). This quote shows that Crispin is apprehensive and is fearfully trying to survive. Additionally, Crispin relies on God to make decisions for him, since Christianity is a big part of his life and because he is going through a very tough time. He prayed to God to help bring him out of this tough time: " O Great and Giving Jesus, I who have no name, who am nothing, who don't know what to do...implore thy blessed help" (Avi 25). When Crispin came across a fork in the road, he prayed to God to help him: " Please, dear God...choose a path for me" (Avi 65).
All in all, the setting of the book caused Crispin to become hopeless and fearful.
I really like the quotes you chose. They portray the exact meaning if the write up. They show how the setting directly impacted Crispin in many ways.
DeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become unhappy with his life. Crispin lived as a serf so he had not been treated well in society. He had no father for all his life so "In a world in which one lived by the light of a father's name, that meant I existed in a shadow" (12). He had no friends in society due to being a serf, so he was "oft the butt of jests, jibes, and relentless hounding" (13). His only friends in his life were the priest and his mother, and with both of them now dead, he had no friends in society.
ReplyDeleteThe time that the book Crispin takes place in is very important for the characterization of Crispin. One way that the setting affects him is the feudal class system. The village steward (who is basically the assistant of the lord of the village), John AYCLIFFE, "never lost an opportunity to remind" Crispin and his mother "of the fact that" they "were villeins—serfs—bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 14). Serfs, being the lowest class of peasants at the time of this book, also had a low standard of living, which impacts how Crispin survives daily. Another way the setting affects Crispin is the Black Death. It caused his father to die before his birth during "A recurrence of the Great Mortality" (12). As crispin's father died before he was born, no one but crispin's mother was able to take care of him, affecting how Crispin survived daily. Finally, another way that setting affects the character of the protagonist is the importance of Christianity. Crispin had his life "begin on the Feast of Saint Giles", which caused him to wish "to be the deer that he protected", as it is an important religious festival (12, 33). As Crispin is an outcast, he feels that a saint protecting a deer is a metaphor for what Crispin wants the most: protection from being made an outcast. To conclude, religion, the feudal system, and the Plague all affected the characterization of Crispin.
ReplyDeleteCrispin's character has been affected by the Middle Ages. It has caused him to become upset with himself, hopeless, emotional, and poor. First he is upset with himself. He put it like this: "I did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or Mocked," (Avi 13).As a serf, they are poor and live the life of the shunned. Crispin is made fun of because of his social status. Crispin also feels hopeless. He said "God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me." (Avi 56) Crispin relied on Christianity (A huge part of the Middle Ages) to guide him. Now that he thinks like this because of his reputation, he no longer has God with him at this tough time. Plus, he is emotional. Crispin, because of his social status as a serf, is known as a thief. He did not do it but has to flee. He saw the priest dead before him. This is due to tough consequences for helping Crispin escape. That made Asta's son sad. While on the run, he said "Though worn out from my flight, my close escape, not to mention my churn of emotions, I could not rest." Also, Crispin's character is poor. Basically, serfs are slaves. They will not make a lot of money. Crispin is poor due to his position in the economy. He said, "At a time when bread cost a quarterpenny a loaf, the value of my mothers daily labor, by King Edward's royal decree, was a penny each day; mine, but a farthing." (Avi 14).Crispin admits he is poor and had no money to provide for him and his mother. Therefore, The Middle Ages have an affect on Crispin's character.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become curious. Crispin lost both of his parents, and he began to wonder what they were like and if they were good or bad people. When Crispin is talking to the priest he says "there's something about my mother that you are keeping from me, is there not"(Avi 38). The priest tells Crispin some about his mother but doesn't tell all. Crispin thinks there is more to know about her than what he has been told. Crispin now wants to learn about his father as well but the priest says "when you come... I'll tell you about your father"(39) but before he can ask anything else the priest tells him he has to go and he doesn't see him again. Crispin begins to wonder about his parents "...the things the priest had said made my heart feel like a city under siege"(42). He wants to know more about them and what and why their death happened to them. It is obvious that if Crispin didn't learn about what happened to his parents he wouldn't keep going to Father Quinel to keep asking questions about his parents.
ReplyDeleteIn the book Crispin, the main character Crispin was impacted by the setting in the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages people were very trusting over anything someone said, also people were very religious which turned out to have a big impact on Crispin's everyday life, and that there were social rankings (feudalism). In the book Crispin it states," I was being accused of a theft I had not done.'' (28) The steward Jhon Ayecliffe accused Crispin of stealing money from the manor house. So since in the Middle Ages everyone was so trusting that they believed anything that a higher class said. Even if it wasn't true, like in Crispin, they probably would believe it. So the villagers in Crispin all hunted him until they found him. This made Crispin end up feeling like he had no one on his own side. And because of a false accusation that he stole money his whole life could be ruined. In the Middle Ages people were also very religious so then that also meant that Crispin was brought up to be religious. In Crispin,'' the holy church told us where we were in the alterations of the day, the year, and daily toil." (15) Crispin's life in the Middle Ages revolved around religion. Religion told them when and what they do every day. Since he was a serf all he could do for hope was pray and hope his prays would be answered. The serfs were the lowest of the lows and had nothing to look forward to besides praying and religious holidays. Crispin had to prayed to stay alive. So religion was a big impact on Crispin's characterization. Another way that trust impacted crispin's characterization in the Middle Ages was, that trust almost led him to his own death. Like I already explained previously. In the Middle Ages the people are very trusting. When Crispin was hiding because he was accused of stealing by the steward everyone thought it was true. In the book it states," instantly suspicious, I said, 'what do you want?" Crispin was tricked into almost dying because of trusting one of his fellow serfs. He trusted him to help him, but instead he almost ended up dying because of trust. The lower class people in the Middle Ages also may have been scared of the upper class so they were forced into trusting them even if the knew if was a lye. The last way crispin's chapter traits were affected by the setting of the Middle Ages is how he was ranked in the manor. In the Middle Ages there were social classes where you were ranked,, and Crispin a serf, was the lowest of the low. He was," bound to the land. They'll never give me permission to go." (36) Crispin and many other serfs were bound to the land so they had no taste of what being free was. If you were a lord, lady, King, or a steward you had power to do whatever you wanted. Since you had control of the serfs you could have them do whatever you want. Crispin was always being controlled by the steward and was being treated like garbage for no reason. So Crispin ended up feeling like he was worthless trash. In the Middle Ages if you were not higher in the class then you were basically a slave to the higher class. In the book Crispin, Crispin's characterization is affected by the Middle Ages because of religion,trusting anything you here, and feudalism.
ReplyDeleteLife in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to lose his mother and father, his only family, and leave him all alone, to fend for himself in the cruel village of Stromford.
ReplyDeleteHe is a Serf, his only friend is the priest because his mother was shunned by everyone. He lost his father when he was very young, and now with both of them gone and the whole village searching for him, to kill him, he must trust God to lead him to safety. Crispin, a serf, was the son of Asta, and Asta was the one that would pay the yearly tax, or portions of the harvest, but with her gone Crispin can't make money to do that. And since he can't pay that tax he will lose everything he has, and most likely be hurt, or worse. Serfs were treated poorly, in the book Aycliffe was the steward, for Lord Furnival, always was treating Crispin poorly, and so was everyone else in the village "These confesses were numerous, since I had become convinced there was some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out" Aycliffe treated Crispin the worst out of anyone in the town causing him to believe he had a sin "rooted" in him. Serfs were not slaves but they weren't free either. They were restricted to the village and had to work for or do whatever the Lord said. In the book Crispin it describes this "There was little my mother or I could do about our plight. We were not slaves. But neither were we free. The steward, John Aycliffe, never lost opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were veilleins-serfs-bound to Furnival, lord of Stamford village." Crispin is explaining how poor and mistreated he and his mother were. Crispin was so convinced he himself was a sin he does this "In these prayers I acknowledged my great unworthiness to my lord, Jesus, and searched my heart for every sin to which I could confess." Life in the Middle Ages was very hard and not fun at all, these quotes and explanations clearly show that life in the Middle Ages cause Crispin to lose family and leave him alone, depressed and very scared.
Crispin, by Avi, takes place during the Middle Ages–the Medieval era. Living during this period meant social class division and intense Christianity. This causes Crispin’s character to become powerless, cautious and worrisome, and religious. The Middle Ages were a time of hierarchy, so unless you were born into a family of nobles, you were a powerless peasant. In the novel, Crispin is a serf, the lowest rank of peasants, and suffers from many hardships because of it. With being a serf, your rights are stripped away from you, leaving you completely powerless. Masters are allowed to do anything they wish, and if they disliked you, they were able to make false accusations against you. Crispin was a victim of this when Father Quinel tells him, “Aycliffe claims you stole money from the manor”. He quickly denies this accusation since, “in all my life, I’ve never even been in there” (Avi 34). However, despite the uncommitted crime, Crispin has no control over the issue since to Aycliffe, Crispin is nothing more than an object–causing Crispin to be powerless. In addition to being powerless, being serf has also caused Crispin to become very cautious of others. He’s often treated as an item, and doesn’t receive much respect. He, “…had few friends and none I completely trusted. As ‘Asta’s son’, I was oft the butt of jests, jibes, and relentless hounding” (Avi 13). Crispin and his mother are both serfs, and are looked down upon. Many people dislike Crispin mainly because of the relation he has with his mother. As a result, many people often taunt Crispin and alienate him–causing him to have difficulty in trusting people, and to be very cautious. For instance, Father Quinel instructed Crispin to meet him at Goodwife Peregrine’s house. However, while on his way, Cerdic comes and tells him that there was a change in plans, and that Father could no longer meet him. This left Crispin in disbelief and was, “not certain I should trust the boy, but unsure what to do, I stood where I was” (Avi 45). This disbelief and cautiousness were caused by the numerous harsh experiences he had for being serf, and made it difficult for him to trust Cerdic.
ReplyDeleteI like your quotes. They relate to what you are trying to get across:)
DeleteThe Middle Ages were a period of heavy Christianity, and religion was a big factor in their lives. It is no surprise that Crispin is a victim of this as well, as he continuously prays to God for help and guidance. Crispin went through many hardships as a serf. Many people disliked him and his mother, and wanted Crispin dead–resulting in him running away. However, he soon found himself in a confusing and frustrating situation, which then, “at length I flung myself upon my knees and prayed long and hard to our Savior Jesus, to his Sainted Mother Mary, and most of all my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection” (Avi 58). As a serf during the Middle Ages, there is no surprise that they would often pray to God for help and guidance. Crispin has gone through many hardships from being discriminated against, and is wanted for a crime. This causes him to turn to God for help and guidance in order to get through the situation. The reliability he has with God shows that he is religious. The Middle Ages were a time of extreme hierarchy and intense Christianity. Crispin, by Avi, is a historical fiction novel that takes place during the Middle Ages, and shows the impact of how the setting influences Crispin character. By living in the Middle Ages, Crispin’s character has become powerless, cautious, and religious.
ReplyDeleteWhile living in the Middle Ages, many conflicts and troubling experiences caused Crispin's character to become timid, fearful, introverted, and cautious, resulting in him becoming an outcast from society and facing severe discrimination, similar to the way others where treated in the Middle Ages. Many people shame Crispin and his mother because of their social statues. Crispin has become very anxious around others because of his past experiences of being tormented and mocked by other villagers. Crispin was filled with "caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, [he] lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious to how others lived" (Avi 13). The other villagers were constantly taunting, mocking, and shunning Crispin because of his poverty, which has led to him to become much more timid and cautious around other people he meets. The steward of the manor, John Aycliffe "never lost an opportunity to remind [them] of the fact the [they] where villeins-serfs-bound to Furnival, lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 14). Crispin is taunted and sneered at by others, including John, the steward, who mocks him because of his social class, which makes Crispin feel hopeless because of his lack of a voice and opinion, and his inability to move up in the feudal system. The steward's poor treatment against Crispin is what influenced some of the other villagers to join him in his dislike of the boy, causing a fear that they will face punishment from the steward. Crispin's current situation became much worse as he learns his life was at risk. Once John Aycliff realized Crispin witnessed something he shouldn't have, he placed a bounty on Crispin's head in an attempt to kill him. Crispin was shocked to hear that he was in danger and was deemed "'a wolf's head' [he] gasped, horrified... 'I'm considered not human,' [he] said" (Avi 36). Crispin comes to a realization that he is all alone, and has nobody to turn to for help. Besides social restrictions, there are many other factors that affect Crispin. During the Middle Ages, the lack of knowledge about health led to the spread of many deadly diseases, such as the Black Death, which killed many people, including Crispin's father. As Crispin is running from the steward, he stumbles across "the remnants of a village destroyed by the great mortality, as it was called. In Stromford there had been much talk of this devastating pestilence, the great mortality, as it was called. Our village had lost more than half its inhabitants" (Avi 68). Crispin's finding if a destroyed village has reminded him of the fact that this was how his father died, causing him to realize once again that he is all alone in his journey.
ReplyDeleteI really like your quotes! They truly describe Crispin's characteristics and how they arose based on the conflicts in his life such as living a shunned life, his rank (class) which determined how well he lived, John Aycliffe attempting to kill Crispin, and how he had to live a solitary, dependent life truly capture why he had certain character traits! Great job!
DeleteI like the way you used the brackets to make the quotes flow into the sentence better.
Delete(period after dependent life) They truly...
DeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become a very hard worker. He had to work everyday for the manor. In the book it states, "It did not matter. Spring, summer, and fall, save certain holy days, my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk”(Avi 14). Living in the Middle Ages as a peasant mad crisp in work every single day or he probably would of been killed for not doing his job. Crispin has a very sad and lonely life, living in the Middle Ages. Crispin was "shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious as to how others lived"(Avi13). Crispin lived in the lower class so he didn't matter that much to anyone. He was a cast away. Living in the Middle Ages also made Crispin have to preserve. The book states, "Such thoughts forced me back upon the road where I continued on. Sometimes I stumbled. Sometimes I sat by the roadside, head tucked within my folded arms while waiting, I knew not for what. Then yet again-pushed by the need to act, I went on" (Avi 62). Crispin pushed had to push through and persevere to not get killed and to get to a village where he would be safe. Living in the Middle Ages had a great affect on the main character of the novel.
ReplyDeleteIn this novel, the Middle Ages that definitely characterized many people, including Crispin. Such as the social structure and peasants. Crispin was a peasant and accepted it. He didn't expect a big meal every night and day because he was used to it by now. In fact, on page 14 it says, "our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas. If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide,". It is clear that Crispin doesn't receive big meals because him and his mother, Asta, only earn enough money for bread for a day. They work all day and get barely anything in return. Another example from the story that completely shows how social structure characterized Crispin is that he was beaten. On page 3 of the novel it says, "Look at me' he commanded, reaching down and forcing my head up with a sharp slap of his gloved hand beneath my chin,". The steward, John Aycliffe, looks at Crispin like he is dirt and how he means nothing to him. As I said before, he was a serf, someone who is treated poorly and has no power in life, so he couldn't be free unless he really tried to. However, they had trouble getting money for themselves, if they had to buy their freedom, it would be extremely difficult. This is how the novel Crispin, shows how the Middle Ages characterized Crispin and other people.
ReplyDeleteLife in the Middle Ages affected crispin in many ways. He was a very poor young man with no possessions. He had little food and his mindset was, "If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide,"(Avi). In the sad reality of this novel, crispin is a bottom of the barrel peasant who's good fortune is receiving meat. Alongside being poor, his mother and him are both overworked and underpaid serfs. "At a time when bread cost a quarter penny a loaf, the value of my mother's daily labor-by king Edward's royal decree -was a penny each day; mine, but a farthing" (Avi 14). Asta was paid a penny a day. That means even with all of Astas work, they are paid seven cents a week. Lastly, crispin is convinced that "convinced there is some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out" (Avi 13). Along with his crushing financial and physical circumstances, emotionally he feels that there is a demon within him. Overall, life in the middle ages was no cake walk for poor crispin.
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ReplyDeleteI think that living in the middle ages impacts crispin's characterization, by crispin having to do work a lot. When john Aycliffe said "you're required to deliver your ox to the manor house tomorrow"(Pg 4) to crispin, crispin new he had more work to do. John, who is the steward, always bosses all the peasants (like crispin) around. It also impacts crispin by when the priest said the steward '"has declared you of a wolfs head'" (Pg 36) to crispin he was in shock. In medieval times when you call someone a wolfs head, the aren't considered human anymore and anyone can kill them. And finally it impacts crispin by crispin and his mother always getting taunted. "She was often taunted by the villagers" (Pg 2). This is how crispin gets affected by the middle ages.
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization, and caused him not to be able to make decisions, and to be extremely religious. In the Middle Ages manor, Crispin "never really had to make important choices about anything—now [he] had to decide everything for myself." (Avi 60). Due to Crispin's life in the Middle Ages, he is unable to think for himself. When he was on the manor, all of his decisions were made for him. Crispin would daily "[fling] [him]self upon my knees and pray long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His Sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to [his] blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). Crispin relies on God to protect him, because in the manor Christianity was the only hope that the serfs had. In conclusion, Crispin became extremely religious and unable to make decisions due to him living in the Middle Ages.
ReplyDeleteI really like tour main points–especially the religious aspect of it! It clearly shows the importance if Christianity during that time period and the quote expresses it very well. Your organization was also really clear and your writing was concise. Awesome job!
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DeleteCrispin was put through many difficult times because of living int he Middle Ages. For example, when both of Crispin's parents were killed by the plague. "Since I had no father I excited in the shadows. But he, like so many, had died before my birth during a recurrence of the great mortality (often called the plague)" (Avi). Another example is that he feels an outsider because he doesn't have his fathers name like most people. "My mother had called me 'son', and, since her name was Asta, 'Asta's son' became my common name." (Avi). Crispin's life was very hard because of the time period he lived through. He didn't have the name of his father just like the other kids did. He also had no family, because both of his parents had been killed by the plague.
ReplyDeleteI really like the way you interpretated the conflict into the setting into the story into the blog post. Everything relates great together!
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ReplyDeleteIn the book Crispin, Astas son (Crispin), has been affected by being a serf in multiple ways such as, living consitions, having no money , and being shunned by society.
The living conditions affect crispin because when your a serf you have no money to afford anything and so your finacial status is very limited causing your living conditions to not be very good. "Since my mother was a cotter- one who held no land rights- she and i lived in a rented small one bedroom apartment with a thin thatch roof that kept out most rain and earth was our ground." Page 17. This showed the struggle by having a not sterdy and very safe home to live in which affected his saftey and life. Also, being very poor was very difficult on crispin because it was hard to be a serf. " we were not slaves but we werent free, we were serfs and their were no poorer christian souls than my mother and i" page 13. Very poor and they were serfswhihc means they were controlled by a lord and his manor and worked very hard to narley get by which had a huge affect on his life. Furthermore, being shunned by everyone in your village hasa big affect on tour self esteem and daily living. "Other than the priest my mother and i had no friends. We were mostly taunted by other villagers. I had a few friends but none i completly trusted" page 2. This put an affect on his life because after his mom died he had no one to turn to to talk or to hang with he was all alone which made his life sad.
Living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin, causing him to be scared and dependent on God for everything. Crispin always felt as if he, unknowingly, did something wrong. He was always "filled with caution and suspicion... expecting to be set upon or mocked" (Avi 13). Crispin was cautious of everything he did, because one incorrect thing — wether it be small or big — could tick something, and catch the attention of the steward, John Aycliffe. Aycliffe always took advantage of his position, especially when Lord Furnival was gone. The steward was also very harsh and strict, and consequences from him were nasty. Crispin even noted that Aycliffe "never lost an opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were villeins — serfs — bound to Furnival" (Avi 14). It seems to be that Aycliffe mocks the serfs. They work hard, day and night, but to the steward - it was barely anything. And he always made sure that all the serfs knew that if there was a transgression, that the punishments would be severe. Although he was terrified, Crispin depended on God for everything. Even though he felt that God was punishing him, he prayed "O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to do, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help, or on undone." (Avi 25). Crispin hopes that God will guide him in the right direction, for he does not know the right choice for him to make. His life was changing constantly, so Crispin "prayed long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His Sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 68) along his escape from the wrath of John Aycliffe. Gus, living in the middle ages impacted Crispin greatly, causing him to be terrified and counting on God for his future.
ReplyDeleteThe detail put in your writing is great and it draws readers in, even when it was not required! The quotes and analysis fit together greatly! Overall, excellent job!
DeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become hardworking and a depressed person. In the book, it says that " It did not matter. Spring, summer and fall-- save certain holy days-- my mother and I, like every other Stromford villagers, worked his fields from dawn to dusk." The author Avi shows us that being a serf was very hard and used Crispin as an example to show that the job of being a serf is very difficult. Their job was very difficult and tiring because the lord would make them do so much work and they would have long days and hours. Living in the Middle Ages causes Crispin to also become a depressed person. In the book, it says that "I did try to repeat my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, I lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious as to how other lived." Crispin isn't happy with his life and the way it is. He isn't that appreciative, which makes sense because he doesn't even have anything to be appreciative for. He is comparing his depressing life to Jesus' perfect life and wishes that his life was just as perfect as his. This is how the setting has impacted Crispin's characterization.
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ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages is tough for Crispin because he is a surf and they do not have many rights under the manorialism government. The were forced to work for hours on end for little or no pay. On top of all of that they would do cruel things to their surfs for no reason at all. The cottage being made of small, mean construction could not withstand there assault. Crispin had done nothing bad enough to deserve that every thing he had once held close was gone right before his eyes. Crispin is a social out cast he does not have anything to live for. "I had little doubt that I'd never be protected again". Even the protection that he has is not happening anymore because of his situation anymore. Crispin has a tough life in the book.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages effected how Crispin develops because of the religion of the people, the feudal system, what he can do because he and his mother are serfs, and how he is disliked by many of the people, the steward included, in his village of Stromford.
ReplyDeleteReligion was a big part of manor life as everyone in Stromford was Christian and was baptized by the priest Father Quinel. Like everyone else in the village, Crispin was a Christian and everyday he had offered prayers to God in hopes that his sins would be forgiven and he could go to heaven. Even when his house was pulled apart, he still kept his faith and prayed "O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to do..." (Avi 25) Even when he admits himself that he has no more worth and has no name, he holds fast to his faith that as long as he does nothing bad, he can go to heaven and see his mother again.
Crispin was also shared by how the feudal system worked back in the late 1300s. As a serf, he had virtually no rights, and little privileges. such as if he "died, there was a hope of heaven" (23) As well as being protected by Lord Furnival from the "Scots, the French, the Danes, and the wicked infidels." (23) Even though he is protected and could go to heaven, he would have to work Lord Furnival's "land from dawn to dusk" (23) as well as be in total service to the Lord and his steward. Things Crispin had to do is ask for a day off from work if he was ill, ask if he could plant and reap the fields, ask for permission to buy or sell, to be able to marry, or to even baptize their children (Even though you pretty much had to baptize your children at some point.) Overall, I would not think that a serf is what anyone wants to be.
Crispin is also shaped by the feudal system because as serfs, they have no rights as well as no property compared to the Lord. The Lord is in Control of all the serfs and all the land in kingdom (in the name of the king of course) but they have pretty much everything but the serfs have pretty much nothing so Crispin had to live with pretty much nothing growing up. On the contrary, we as Americans have quite a lot of stuff in our homes so We should be quite thankful for all the things that we have.
Crispin also has many people that dislike him as well as his name "As Asta's son , I was often the jests, jibes, and relentless hounding" (Avi 13) not only that, the Steward, John Wycliffe, also wanted him dead and caused him all over the manor and eventually, out of his village. However, this let him meet up with Bear and this event leads us up to chapter 17 and the continuation of the book.
I like how you include the baptizing and give a more religious aspect to this, because religion was very important during the time. It really enhances your writing!
DeleteIn the book "Crispin, The Cross of Lead" by Avi, living in the Medieval Ages has caused Crispin to become sad but also independent. No one in the village Crispin lives in, is very fond of him or his mother before she passed away. Father Quinel was Crispin's only real friend that cared about him, everyone else in the village shunned him. "I had very few friends and none I completely trusted"(13). But when Crispin had been running away from Aycliffe, because he had been gotten lead in a trap, he discovers Father Quinel dead, " I peered closer only to see that his throat had been slit. His blood, made black by night, lay pooled upon opt he ground. Stifling a shriek, I knelt down, my whole body shaking"(55-56). Since Crispin does not have anyone to lean on for support, he only has his faith to bring him to peace. "Please, dear God," I cried aloud, my eyes streaming hot tears,"choose a path for me"(65). In the book so far Crispin has had a very hard life, but he continues to keep getting back up every time he falls.
ReplyDeleteI like how you included the detail about him being shunned, without any friends. This really emphasizes the need for religion in Crispin's life, and how this affects him.
DeleteI really like how you included the part about Father Quinel!
DeleteA few of the things that had impacted Cripsin by living in the Middle Ages was that he had to survive on almost nothing and he had relyed on God to be able to get through everything. "I flung myself upon my knees and prayed long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). This shows that when Crispin is all alone on his journey far from his village, and Shem he gets scared, he will go to God for help. "This putting myself in God's merciful hands brought me a little relief..." (Avi 58-59). God helps protect Crispin when he asks for it becuase of the hardships that he is going through. When times had gotten rough, and when he had wanted to give up, he would pray to God and always remember the times he went through with his mother. "More than one I reminded myself of the times when my mother I and had gone without sustenance. If we could survive then-and we did-I could do so now" (Avi 66). To get what he wants, Cripsin will do anything for it, meaning he will never give up becuase he wants to earn his freedom and respect from others. These are only a few of the things that had impacted Crispin by living in the Middle Ages.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages led to Crispin having a dependent and cowardly personality because of the religion and feudal system at that time. During the Middle Ages, many people were Christian. This is true for the main character, Crispin. In the novel he says, “O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who am nothing...who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help or I’m undone" (Avi 25). Later, he also says, "'Please, dear God,' [he] cried...'choose a path for me'" (65). Since he is Christian, Crispin has resorted to praying whenever he needs help and letting God decide for him. He wants God to tell him what to do and cannot decide his fate for himself, a sign of indecisiveness and dependence on others. In addition, during the Middle Ages there was a feudal system with serfs at the bottom, or peasants who were bound to the land of their master (almost like a slave). Crispin was one of these serfs and was accustomed to being controlled by his master. As stated in page 4, the serfs "all lived in fear" of the steward, John Aycliffe (4). This fear instilled a sense of caution and obedience in the serfs, turning them into cowards. This is shown in the book when Crispin thinks, “If I were caught, at least my misery would have ended” (61). He is so unwilling to step out of his comfort zone and be independent for once that he would rather face death than the uncertainty ahead; he's a coward. In short, the religion and feudal system people had in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's character so that he became dependent and cowardly.
ReplyDeleteI really like the descriptive qords that you use to describe his character. Cowardly and dependent make perfect sense to what his character is! And, the quotes really enhance your writing! Great job.
DeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become frightened. Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become frightened because he was getting chased by knights and villagers who were highly skilled with weapons, and they were trying to kill him because he is a peasant who was accused of theft. John Aycliffe doesn't only hate peasants, but he hates peasants that he think stole from him. During the chase he was,"faint with horror, I loosened my grip and dropped to the ground. For a moment I squatted, trying to regain my breath and wits" (Avi 53). This quote shows that he was scared because when he was running away from the killers, he had to stop to stay calm. He was also a peasant, so the upper class people who were chasing him and no respect for him. Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become frightened, again, because while he was being chased, he encountered a river, that he was not comfortable swimming in. Since he wasn't comfortable crossing it he turned around, "afraid of the river, I chose to turn and work my way back to the millrun" (Avi 54). Since Crispin was a peasant in the Middle Ages he did not know how to swim because he was busy farming all the time and no one during the Middle Ages knew how to swim. So when he is being chased and finds a river in his way, he would be scared. A final way how living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to be scared is when Cerdic lead Crispin right to the soldiers, "I took but a few more steps when a beating sound, as if someone were striking a drum, came from behind. Startled, I halted, and peered into the darkness" (Avi 51). This shows that Crispin is terrified because when he thought that he was escaping the village, about to be free, and then he realizes that Cerdic and lead him into a trap and all of a sudden four soldiers are right in front of him with weapons. Cerdic did this because he wanted to make John Aycliffe happy so that he didn't have to be in the lower class anymore and he has to listen to the John Aycliffe's orders anyways, so he really didn't have a choice. Living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to be frightened because of the three reasons that are stated above.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization in numerous ways--Cripsin became sorrowful, hard-working, cautious of his surroundings, and courageous. Firstly, Crispin had to experience the death of his mother which took away what he thought was left of his soul--this was because Crispin lived life as a peasant, with treacherous manorialism year-round degrading the trembling, hand-held life out of Crispin "Spring, summer, and fall--save certain holy days-my mother and I, worked his fields form dawn to dusk..when winter came, we fed the animals--we had an ox, and now and then a chicken--gathered wood and brush for heat, slept, and tried to stay alive" (Avi 14). Evidently, Crispin knew that he had to stay alive, so he learned how to be hard-working--Crispin worked vigorously, and he was acquiescent. One of the greatest life-changes that Crispin also had to learn how to adapt to was not once living with the freedom he desired to have, "Everything belonged to the Lord Furnival, who held it in the King's name. Indeed, the steward said we belonged to our lord as well. Like all villagers, we were required to ask the steward's permission to be excused from work if ill, to grind our wheat, or bake it, to buy or sell, to travel from our parish, to marry, even to baptize our children" (22). Crispin never had the chance to do things he wanted without inquiry of permission, he never owned a solitary, independent life. Crispin also had to take precautions of John Aycliffe, proclaimed steward, since "In the absence of Lord Furnival he was in charge of some small transgression--missing a day of work, speaking harshly of his rule, failing to attend mass--brought an unforgiving penalty. It could be a whipping, a clipping of the ear, imprisonment, or a cut-off hand" (4), and John wasn't particularly fond of Crispin, as he tried to kill him twice. In conclusion, later on in the novel, it says "I, whose life has become so quickly altered; I, who had never really had to make important choices about anything-now I had to decide everything for myself" (60). Cripsin finally had to learn to make independent decisions, a journey that he would have never guessed he he would have to go through. He always considered his life to be "full of sins", but ever since he was almost twice caught by Aycliffe, Crispin resorted started praying for guidance from God daily, and living more highly with Christianity "Which of the crossroads was I to take? North, south, east, or west? Please dear God, [I cried aloud, my eyes steaming hot tears], chose a path for me" (65). From this, I can deduce that Crispin had a number of things to be sorrowful about in this life--just some consisting of his mother's death, John Aycliffe almost taking away his life, and lastly, manorialism. Additionally, I can make out the fact that Crispin became hard-working, had to be cautious of his surroundings, and that he became independent and courageous.
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Delete(Line 26-27) *almost caught twice *resorted to praying (to the God he thought gave him his shunned, sinful life) (line 27)
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DeleteThe setting of the Middle Ages affects Crispin in many ways. One way he is affected by the setting has to do the social classes during the Middle Ages. Crispin was just a serf, meaning that he was the poorest of people during his time. This meant that Crispin could barely afford food. He exclaims "our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas" (Avi 14). Being so poor also caused people to shun him and his mother. Crispin speaks of the death of his mother and how "they had shunned my mother in life, so they shunned he now" (Avi 2). Since the setting is the Middle Ages, and Crispin and her mother are low class, Crispin's mother becomes shunned. Also, as a lower class, Crispin began to get to get abused by John Aycliffe, a man of higher class. John Aycliffe would inflict pain on him and "reaching down and forcing my head up with a sharp slap..." (Avi 3). This shows that John Aycliffe was abusing him and could get away with it because he was of a higher class. The setting causes Crispin to be of a lower class which causes him to be affected in all these ways just because he lives in the Middle Ages. Crispin's character evolves because he lives in the Middle Ages.
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ReplyDeleteThe Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization in many ways. The setting and social structure caused Crispin to become lonely and cast aside, hardworking, obedient, and sorrowful.
Crispin was all alone and he had no one to trust. He narrates, "I had no father...we were villeins - serfs - bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 14). As a serf, he was at the bottom of the bottom, and that helped creat his character. He became a confused boy who was lonely and poor. Crispin also lived the hard life of being a serf and was obedient. In Crispin, the mother and son had to work the entire day because serfs belonged to the land and they had to work on it. The author as Crispin says, "my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields ~ pm dawn to dusk" (Avi 14). Since he was a serf during this time period, he had to do thorough work for long hours. This caused Crispin to be an obedient and hardworking. In addition, Crispin did not object to his lifestyle as much. He understood that he was helpless. After explaining about his hard life as a serf, he narrates, "with all my heart I believed that we would continue to live the same" (Avi 14). This shows that he believed that he would stay this way, and even though he was so poorly treated, he did not dare lift a finger to object. He was also very depressed and confused. During the Middle Ages, Christianity and obedience were very important. Confused on how he had become a serf and not someone else, Crispin blamed himself. He said, "I was convinced there is some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out" (Avi 13). He does not blame others, but thinks that he is the one at fault, and that he is the one who deserved this conflict. Furthermore, Crispin blames himself for the death of Father Quinel. He thinks, "the death of Father Quinel had to do with mother and me, I don't doubt" (Avi 56). This shows that he is slowly getting more sorrowful and plaintive as conflict becomes worse and worse in the society that Crispin lives in. Clearly, Crispin had no one to trust, especially after the death of his mother. He narrates, "I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, I lived the life of the shunned forever cast aside, yet looking on" (Avi 13). Living as a poor boy, Crispin was teased constantly, because he was a serf, and he had no friends. He had only his mother, and when she died, he was very lonely and scared.
In conclusion, Crispin's character was impacted by the Middle Ages in many ways. His character became lonely, obedient, confused, and forlorn with depression.
Nice choice of quotes! It supports your thesis statement perfectly. They show how the conflict affected him as well as how the setting affected him. Great job, Haleema!
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ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become untrusting, lonely, and scared. Crispin and his mother, Asta, were serfs. They were not free, and belonged to their lord. Serfs had to pay money to have possession of land. Since Crispin was so young when his mother passed, he had no money to pay for the land. Crispin had no home, no land, no family, and nowhere to go. Crispin's father died before he was born leaving Asta to raise Crispin alone. Crispin knew that "it would have been a rare man who would want so frail and impoverished a woman for a wife". Because Asta and her son are serfs, nobody really cares that they exist. After Asta passes away Crispin really has nobody to turn to. They were so poor that when Asta's husband passed away nobody wanted to marry her, leaving Crispin all alone. Since Crispin knew that serfs were considered property, he didn't think anybody would like him or be kind to him leaving him untrusting of the people that were. Crispin knew many people did not like him. The steward, John Aycliffe, was one of those people. Crispin states that John "never lost an opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were villeins — serfs — bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village". Because Crispin was treated so badly by the steward, he believed nobody liked him and that nobody could be trusted. Since Crispin did not trust anybody he wandered around alone and scared. John had falsely accused Crispin of theft but it doesn't stop there. Crispin later learns from the priest that "'the steward...has declared you a wolfs head'". A wolfs head is someone not considered as human. Crispin must hide from everyone in Stromford Village, because they may kill him or turn him in. He has no one to trust besides the priest, who will be murdered in a short while. While Crispin is trying his way to a new land he comes across a body. This body ends up being the priest, Crispin is so devastated because the priest was the only person left he trusted. When Crispin finds him he fell to his knees "and prayed with deep-hearted, sobbing words". Religion makes Crispin feel safe, when he is alone but it doesn't solve everything, Crispin is still very lonely and scared.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you used the word "untrusting" to describe Crispin, because it really works! It shows exactly how the setting caused him to become shy.
DeleteLiving in the Middle Ages, causes Crispin to go threw some tuff and difficult situation's, this impacts Crispin as a character because it make's him extremely religious and timid. In the Middle Ages the religion was a big part of life especially to the serf's, the religion in the Middle Ages was predominantly Christian. Since Crispin was a serf he often prayed a lot for a better life and to be free, Crispin payed "long and hard to [the] Savior Jesus, to His Sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). Crispin would not pray for his fave and worshiping reasons, when ever in he was in desperate times he would pray for God to protect him. When Crispin was on the run and hiding from John Aycliffe he often prayed for protection, when Crispin was in the woods he noticed that "three [men] went racing by, sweeping quickly out of sight. "Thank you saint Giles for protecting me" ( Avi 59 ). One of the men on the horses was John Aycliffe, he was looking for Crispin, Crispin prayed for protection and received it because the men went right past Crispin. Not only was Crispin a very religious person he was also very timid. Being a timid person means that you are fearful and cautious. During Crispins escape and journey he was accused of theft so he was very timid during his journey. Crispin always proceeded while traveling with "caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, [he] lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious to how others lived" (Avi 13 ). During Crispin's escape he heard that he was a wolfs head, meaning anyone could kill him, this impacts him because as a timid person because at any given point if spotted he could be killed. Since Crispin could not trust anyone he often visited a father Quinell, he was a priest that he had known for years, father Quinell explained how John Aycliffe was telling everyone that you ( Crispin ) stole money from him, and that you are considered a wolf head "a wolf's head' [he] gasped, horrified... 'I'm considered not human,' [he] said" (Avi 36). A wolf head is one of the worst things you could call someone in the Middle Ages it men't you where not human and anyone could kill you causing Crispin to be timid. This explains how living in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become deeply religious and timid.
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ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become dependent on God and desperate for many necessities. Crispin attended numerous confessions, "These confessions were numerous, since I had become convinced there was some sin embedded in me, a sin I was desperate to root out"(Avi 13). These confessions show us how Crispin relies on God for help because of the many challenges he faced during the Middle Ages. We can also see how much Crispin relies on God when he begs for God to choose his fate, "'Please, dear God,' I cried aloud, my eyes streaming hot tears, 'choose a path for me'"(Avi 65). Crispin can't choose for himself, so he begs God to choose it for him. This choice could decide where Crispin ends up in his battle for freedom in the Middle Ages. Crispin also becomes desperate because he is alive during the Middle Ages. We know how needy his family is, "Our food was barley bread, watered ale, and, from time to time, some cooked dried peas. If good fortune blessed us there might be a little meat at Christmastide"(Avi 14). From this, we can see how Crispin's family barely had any food to eat even when his mother was alive. When Crispin is alone, he even prays that he can get a bag that he hopes is filled with food, "On the ground by his side lay a fat sack, which contained, I prayed, food"(Avi 72). From these quotes, we can glean that life for Crispin in the Middle Ages was very tough, and from these difficulties, he became reliant on God.
I like how the majority of your quotes are from a bunch of different places. It shows how conflict impacts Crispin over time! Great job!
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ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages has impacted Crispin's character because he has many hardships due to his social class. "I had few friends and none I completely trusted. As 'Asta's son,' I was oft the butt of jests, jibes, and relentless hounding. [...] I had become convinced there was some sin embedded in me," (13). Crispin has a low self esteem. The Middle Ages were a depressing time where there was a big gap between the rich and poor people. Crispin's is one of the poorest people in the village and he is made fun of. He also has not control over what it said and done to him. Crispin is so depressed about his situation, he mopes around a lot. "All in all, I spent my time in an aimless, crushing sadness, consumed by an alternating dread and desire that I might be caught. If I were caught, at least my misery would have ended" (61). Living in the Middle Ages has impacted Crispin's character in a way were the is not confident and wishes to die.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages for Crispin would be impossible if he didn't rely on God. Crispin relied on god throughout the book and always prayed to God for direction in his life. Through his journey when running away from his life in his village he came through many struggles like dealing wth the loss of his mother and the priest and surviving alone in the woods. Crispin says in the book "Please dear God!" I cried aloud my eyes streaming hot tears "Choose a path for me." This clearly shows how he needed god during his tough times. Also considering Crispin is a Serf he does t have a good life and only needs god to survive so when his time comes he knows he will be safe in heaven. Crispin is alone and scared and doesn't dare trust anyone In His village because he feels they don't like him. He decided to leave because he had no other choice when the Knights and serfs were chasing after him. He could only rely on the priest who dies and his mother who is also dead. In conclusion Crispin is very alone, scared trying to live life only relying on god.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become poor, determined and religious.
ReplyDeleteTo start, Crispin is poor. Since he is a serf, he barely afford anything, even food according to this quote. "Our food was barely bread, watered ale, and,from time to time,some cooked dried peas"(Avi 14). A lot of people could afford food, but since he is a serf who has no money and their life is hard, he is poor so far in the book.
Crispin is also determined. He tries to escape as fast as possible and so far he has. He has escaped from a person named John Aycliffe multiple times putting all his hope to the test."I forced myself along, keeping to the road, though to speak of the muddy path I took as a road was a gross exaggeration"(Avi 57). He has been very tired but he kept on going just to survive from people trying to hunt him down.
And finally he is religious. He relies on god for pretty much everything asking for help. Since his religion is Christianity it makes sense he is going to church and praying a lot."'Please dear God,' I cried aloud, my eyes streaming hot tears,'choose a path for me.'" He asks God for everything for hope and asks God of what to do next to survive.
Crispin is character with traits that the setting had affected him. Being poor, determined and religious is some of the traits the setting has given to him and there are many more that the setting has affected him.
Your organization is cery clear and easy to understand! You have a good amount of quotes, too!
DeleteLiving in the Middle Ages greatly impacted Crispin's life because it made him hard working and insecure. Crispin and his mother were serfs, the lowest class of peasants who all they did was work the fields and serve their Master. "From dawn to dusk, all we did, like every other villager, was work." All Crispin knows to do is work and it has made him very hard working. He does everything he is asked right away and doesn't complain. Crispin is insecure because as "one of the shunned, cast aways" of the village, "he doesn't have many friends." He doesn't have any one to talk to or trust if he needs to. After his mother dies, he has no one he can fully trust other than the priest, but after he is accused of steeling, he is forced to leave the village and everything he knows. He is also hard working because to get the basic essentials he needs in life, he needs to work for them. Nothing is given to him easily. There aren't machines in the Middle Ages to make stuff, everything from pouches to houses needs to be made by hand and that is a lot of work. This is how living in the Middle Ages affected Crispin's characterization.
ReplyDeleteThe way the middle ages are affected Crispin a lot. The book tells how a little bit and the non fiction part backs it up. He is a serf but he is the lowest serf. His ruler hates him and hates his mother (until she died). They are the lowest ranking people in society and that affected Crispin a lot. "I did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked" (the book). He hates it there but he can't leave the land because he is tied down to it. He is shunned by the whole town. He is forced to work just like the article says. The lord has full control over everything the villagers do. Yes, they have a little freedom but the lord can do anything he wants to the people living in his manor. The lord has a steward in the book who does anything to make Crispin's life miserable. And he can do that because he helps the lord. He is the lords assistant. John Ayecliffe (the steward) never misses an opportunity to remind Crispin and his mother they are worthless. They bust their butts like everyone else but yet, nothing. No one likes them. No one talks to them (except the priest). "Mother and I, like every other Stromford villager , worked his field from dawn to dusk" (book ). Crispin does not know why everyone hates him, he is curious (the real meaning, not what his mother calls satin meaning) and wants to know. Crispin and his mother barley have rights like everyone else.
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ReplyDeleteLife in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin by making him very doubtful and miserable, he is
Burdened by the life he has. He is fearful of trying to change his life, because he thinks he will go down to Hell. Back in the Middle Ages, something that played a big role, is religion. Religion back then controlled governments, and even how you lived your life. Crispin in the book, sees this as a opportunity to try to get into the heaven above. "Then gods terrible gaze would fall on us and lift us to Heaven's bliss, or throw us down to the everlasting flames of Hell" (Avi15). Crispin is not standing up for himself, and will not try to do anything because if he does, he's trepidatious that he will be dragged down/go down to hell. Crispin, is very sad right now that he exists and that he was born. Back , in the Middle Ages, there was a social pyramid that ranks others on life style. Kings were at the very top, they had all the power to do anything. Kings were also rich. But the lowest of low, the weakest of the we weak, are what Crispin is, a Peasant/Serf. Serfs, have tough lives, they get little to no freedom, and they are controlled by their cruel lord. "There was little that my mother or I could do about our plight. We were not slaves. But neither were free" (13-14). Back then, Serfs, were forced day and night to work without stop, job after job. Crispin, was also treated like he was a slave to work 24 hours a day 7 days a week, but he work on a field. After all of his work is done, what do the lord and his evil indifferent steward do to this poor kid, they abuse him and taunt him. Crispin is also bossed around by the lord, and he's being bullied by the lord and his Steward. All Crispin wants is a better life, and he no longer wants to be abused. To summarize, Living in the Middle Ages, caused Crispin to become doubtful, miserable, and hopeless.
Living in the Middle Ages has heavily impacted Crispins character. He has become very cautious, hopeless, and very secretive knowing he is the only one that can save himself. Crispin was recalling visiting the priest and he remembered saying "I did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion". Pg 13. Crispin was very poor and that made it hard to trust many people because they really didn't care much about him. He knew that many people couldn't be trusted except the priest. When Crispins mother died, Crispin was very upset because his mother was one of the only people he had in his life. After Crispin found the priest dead, he became hopeless and said "God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me". Pg 56. Crispin didn't expect to see the two people that cared about him dead in such a short time. By this happening, Crispin knows that he is on his own now that his mother and the priest are dead. After Crispin overheard the Knights saying that he was accused of stealing, he knew that he couldn't show his face around or else he will be killed. He had to figure out why this happened, so instead of instantly fleeing, he stayed in the nearby forest until he could meet with the priest. When he was about to go back to his house he saw people. He felt "unsettled" and he recalled "I drew back quickly and concealed myself behind some bushes to observe their intentions,"(pgs 17,18). He used the forest as a hiding place while he tried to figure out what was happening. He made sure to be very secretive in the woods so he didn't get found and killed. Living in the Middle Ages has caused Crispin much conflict, this was mostly caused by the fact that he was a serf.
ReplyDeleteYour explanations are very easy to understand!
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ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become hard-working, religious, depressed, and lonely.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become hard-working because of the long hours he spends on the fields working for the the lord. In the Middle Ages the serfs were tied to the land and were to work as the lord says. Crispin, "...worked his [lord Furnival's] fields from dawn to dusk...fed the animals...gathered wood..." (Avi 14). This is an example of how even though Crispin is only a little boy he becomes very hard-working by his surrounding environment. Living in the Middle Ages in England meant that the religion practiced was Christianity. This means that Crispin was raised in a very holy place and taught him to be a very religious person. "Think...[of] our Blessed Christ...The Holy Church told us..." (Avi 13,15). The Church was always put first in the Middle Ages. Along with the good traits that Crispin develops from living in the Middle Ages, there is also bad traits he develops. Crispin is usually very depressed by a serf and having no family of his own especially after his mother and the priest died. Crispin says, "I did try to accept my life...of the shunned, forever cast aside...There was little my mother and I could do about our plight." (Avi 13). Crispin wanted a life that was complete and had no holes, but for a serf that was not very likely. In addition to being depressed, Crispin was also very lonely. He, "...existed in a shadow..." and had, "...few friends and none I completely trusted." (Avi 12,13). Since Crispin had no immediate family that he knew or were alive and very few friends, Crispin becomes a very lonely person. Life in the Middle Ages for a serf is no walk in the park. This tuff life shapes Crispin into a hard-working, lonely, depressed, and religious person.
Living in the Middle Ages led to Crispin having a heavy hearted and a very religious personality because of the events that occurred at that time. During the Middle Ages, the majority of the people were Christian, and they prayed to their sacred Jesus. Related to Crispin; who is also Christian. He always prays to God whenever he gets the opportunity to. He prays when he is out venturing the forests, or whenever he is suddenly reminded of his miserable plight. In the novel it states, " Late that day, besieged by fears, very lonely and quite famished, I fell to my knees and prayed with sobbing words. In these prayers I acknowledged my great unworthiness to my Lord Jesus and searched my heart for every sin to which I could confess" (Avi 62). Crispin seems to be extremely hopeless and deeply wishing for God to help him. Crispin says "Please, dear God,' [he] cried...'choose a path for me'" (65). While also sounding desperate, Crispin is showing that he does not know what he is doing and questioning himself, and God, of what the purpose is of him living, after all from his mother dying and abandoning him, to aycliffe wanting him dead, the Plague overhanging him, and many unraveled secrets, Crispin does have the right to feel and question his life. Crispin's character is one that feels as if God is the one who controls you. He feels as if he has no right to make his own decisions. Therefore, living in the Middle Ages led Crispin to have a heavy hearted and holy personality.
ReplyDeleteI really like your quotes! They show how the conflict affected him as well as how the setting affected him! I also like your profile picture. Great job!
DeleteLiving in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin characterization greatly. The setting caused Crispin to feel despondent. In addition, the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become very religious.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the first sixteen chapters of the novel, Crispin feels like his life will never be able to change. In the Middle Ages, the social structure played a large role in the way one lived in the future. Crispin was born as a peasant, the lowest position in the feudal pyramid. Around the time the book took place, peasants had little power over their own lives, barely any freedom, and were forced to do labor for several hours each day. During the novel, "the steward, John Aycliffe, never lost an opportunity to remind us of the fact that we were villeins- serfs- bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village" (Avi 14). As one can see, Crispin had no choice but to follow the directions that the steward demanded of him. The steward repeatedly reminded Crispin that his life would never be altered and that he would stay a serf for the rest of his life. John Aycliffe wanted to let Crispin know that he was not an important figure, and that he was just an insignificant serf. Crispin "did try to accept [his] life, but unlike our perfect Jesus,...expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, [he] lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside,..." (Avi 13). Crispin always felt like he did not fit in with the others. Crispin was often taunted and was known as a jest and jibe to others. He was not treated as fairly as some of the other people in his village, and he felt like he was constantly left out.
Not only did the Middle Ages cause Crispin to feel forlorn, but the setting additionally caused Crispin to use religion. In Europe, during the Dark Ages, the majority of the people were Christian. But despite the way most people prayed, Crispin depended on Christianity as a way to solve all of his misfortunes in life and to find answers to all of the decisions that he had to make. When Crispin was walking away from Bromsford Village, he made his way at an intersection of crossroads. "But which of the crossroads was I to take? North, south, east, or west. 'Please dear God', I said ... 'choose a path for me.' " (Avi 65). This quote shows that Crispin looks toward God when he needs response to all of the questions that he does not have a confident solution to. However, Crispin also uses Christianity as a way to find some hope. Once, Crispin prayed for help by saying these specific words, " 'O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to do, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help, or I'm undone' "(Avi 65). In this quote, Crispin is begging God for help, when his life was very melancholy. Even though Crispin has a strong feeling that his life will never change, he utilizes Christianity as the only source to find a little bit of aspiration in his life when times get very rough.
The time and place in which the book takes place resulted in variety of character traits for Crispin. It caused him to become very hopeless and believe in Christianity.
Crispin's personality was of a dependent coward. Most people in the Middle Ages were Christian, so was Crispin. " ' O Great and Giving Jesus, I,... who do not know what to do, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implode Thy blessed help, or I'm undone. ' " (Avi 25). Crispin always looks to God for help, he does not make any for himself. Crispin lets God choose what ever he will do. He becomes dependent on God. Crispin does not know how to make his own choices because he is a serf. All serfs fear their lord and obey whatever order they give. Crispin did not learned how to make his own choices, for he was a serf. Crispin becomes a coward after his mother's death. "If I were caught, at least my misery would have ended." (Avi 61). Crispin stays as a coward because his mother died and he had no one to take care of him and keep him safe, he was out on his own. Crispin had feared his lord, he had lived in fear his whole life and he had not known what to do on his own.
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ReplyDeleteThe Middle Ages effected people greatly, especially people like Crispin. Crispin is a very poor peasant, as stated on page 13: "For in the entire kingdom of England, there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi 13). Peasants, who have no class or royalty and are at the bottom of social class, will do whatever the king, or someone with royalty, says. Peasants struggled everyday to live, gathering what they could, as Crispin says "...gathered wood and brush for heat, slept, and tried to stay alive" (Avi 14). The general life of a peasant was hard and depressing. Most believed only God could help them. Crispin knew where he stood in social class, and this made him feel unworthy. "Asta's son, come here, he said to me. Head bowed, I drew close. Look at me he commanded" (Avi 3). Upper class men, Like John Aycliffe, expected respect from lower class people, simply because he thought he was better than all of them. As John says on page 4: "With your mother gone, you're required to deliver your ox to the manor house tomorrow. I said... If I do...I...I won't be able to work the fields. Then starve he said" (Avi 4). Being a poor peasant to upper class people, it doesn't even matter if he lives or not. He's not worth anything to them, which is why they took his ox so he will starve. The Middle Ages effected Crispin's life is a negative way.
ReplyDeleteThere are four main aspects of life in the Middle Ages; feudalism/serfdom, village life, the Black Death, and religion (Christianity). These definitely impacted Crispin's characterization. Crispin lives an impoverished and challenging life, "bound to Furnival, Lord of Stromford Village... [working] his fields dawn to dusk." (Avi 14) The houses were constructed poorly, made of "wattle and daub, thatch and wood, dirt and mud, all in varying shades of brown." Crispin and the other paupers were accustomed to feeling lowly and small instead of proud or respected. His father dies of the Black Death (aka the Great Mortaliy, or the Plague), which greatly impacts his life. "In a world in which one lived by the light of a father's name in rank, that meant— since I had no father— I existed in a shadow." Crispin, by now an orphan, is shunned because of his incredibly low rank. This makes him timid and fearful. Lastly, religion has hugely impacted Crispin. In fact, the Roman Catholic Church dominated the peasants' lives, including Crispin. There are many instances in the book where Crispin mentions God or stories from the bible. "This was the life we led... As had all the men and women since the days of Adam." (Avi 15) He ponders the meaning of his life and concludes that he would "continue to live the same until Archangel Gabriel announced the end of time." (Avi 15) He is always praying, night and day, and visited the church as much as possible, even as he was a wanted 'fugitive' in chapter seven. "The night was intensely dark... Only then did I creep toward the church, alone, uncertain, and very full of fear." (Avi 30-31) Religion conquered Crispin's life, and other than Father Quinel, God was the only thing Crispin could depend on.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages caused Crispin's character to become sad, depressed, lonely, and extremely religious because Crispin's mother died and she was the only parent that Crispin had besides his Dad but, he wasn't part of his life because he died before Crispin was born. He is depending on God to make his life better and bright for his future."The Serfs of the Middle Ages worked the land independently. They might directly own property, such as tools or household goods, and they grew their crops and raised their own livestock for food. Serfs were not free to move however, and could gain their freedom...." Serfs weren't free to do what ever they wanted to do. They weren't free from the Lord. They had to work but, they can gain their freedom. "I did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked" (pg. 13). Crispin knows his life is going to be hard but, he is trying to stay positive about it. "Legally, they were considered property that could be bought, sold, and traded among different masters. The master held the exclusive right to try them crimes and dispense justice among them." Serfs will get blamed for a crime they didn't commit. The master has power over them and can blame them for everything. Serfs doesn't have freedom over themselves, the masters has power over them. "This was the life we led. It was no doubt the life my forefathers had led, as had all men and women since the days of Adam" (pg. 15). Everyone before Crispin had his life and that is how the Middle Ages caused him to become this way. Peasants have the same life forever. In conclusion, life in the Middle Ages for Crispin caused his character to become unhappy because Crispin's mother, Asta, died and she was the only gradian that he had besides his father but, he really wasn't part of his life because he past away before Crispin was even born.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages was rough and hard, for over 80% of all people living in Europe in those times. the over 80% were peasants and they had to work their entire lives, and even if they did work non-stop they still barely made enough money to survive. The under 20% were all land owners and were very wealthy compared to the peasants. When Crispin's mother was alive, they both knew to themselves "we were not salves. But neither were we free...we were villeins-surfs-bound to Furnival, lord of Stromford Village"(Avi 13-14). Crispin was born into a surf live, and the surfs were bond to the land they were born into which made them unable to leave and unable to be free. When Crispin was hiding from hunting parties, he over heard two people talking of why they were hunting him and told himself I could not believe I "was being accused of a theft I had not done"(28). The lord of Crispin's manor can do anything he wants to the peasants of his land, even falsely accuse someone of a crime they did not commit, and can also get away with it because of his wealth and ownership. Crispin is 13 years and knew "It did not matter. Spring, summer, and fall, my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk”(14). Crispin, when he mentions his field is talking about the Lords fields and everyone including him working all day, every day on the fields. Peregrine told Crispin the steward is "offering twenty shillings reward for you"(47). Crispin was shocked of what he heard and could not believe he was wanted for that much and explains it has "the amount was half a year's wages. No one in the village had such a sum"(47). Peasants in the Middle Ages would do anything for that amount of money because they were all extremely poor. Crispin, knowing he was wanted for 20 chillings brought fear to him, because he knew how high that amount of money was, and knew most of the people wanted to bring him in for the desire of a lot of chillings. Overall, Crispin is characterized as a surf turned criminal, with the haunting of fear and hopelessness over him, but believes God will guide him to safety.
ReplyDeleteBecause of his time period and position in society crispin is very pathetic, and has too much faith in god. Because he is peasant his life is very miserable so he has started to think that god will solve all his problems. This is implied from various statements he makes wich all include some sort of reference to the bible or his faith in god such as "Except- as jesus is my savior- as sure as my heart understood anything- i knew then how much i wished, not to die, but to live". He always says things like this and has way to much faith in god. Another thing he says is "later that day , besieged by fears, very lonely and quite famished i fell to my knees and prayed with deep hearted sobbing words........this time i begged him to gather me that i might join my mother in his holy heaven." This shows that he is always praying and has faith in god that his condition will get better but he doesn't do anything to make it better. He is very pathetic and weak as well. Since he is on the bottom of the social chain he is used to being taunted, beaten, and forced to work. On page 63 when he sees a man "hovering in the air" he says "was it a mortal? My first thought was that it was the steward. Or was it a ghost? A demon perhaps? Or was it an angel come from heaven to take me to safety of gods sweet embrace?". Things like this show that even though they couldve been a variety of reasons why the man appeared to be hovering in the air he still started to think of the worst possible and most unlikely things that the man couldve been. He also says "i did try to accept my life, but unlike our perfect jesus, i was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, i lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on curious as to how others lived". As it is shown crispin is a very pathetic and weak person because of the fact that he always expects to be mocked. He also lived a life cast aside so he is very unpopular and unknowing of how to take control of his life. If the fact that he is a peasant means he is on the bottom of the social pyramid isn't worse enough he doesn't have a father wich means his own people shun him as well. He is such an unpopular person because of his status that he didn't even have a name. With crispins life being very miserable he looked towards religion as an outlet for all his problems and never learned to man up and take action wich made him turn weak and pathetic. With all these reasons stated it can be concluded that crispin is very pathetic and weak at this point of the story.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages causes Crispins character to become sad, lonely, and scared. When his mother dies, nobody even cares about Crispin, and nobody helps him. "'With your mother gone you're required to deliver your ox to the manor house tomorrow. It will serve as the death tax.' 'But sir if I do I won't be able to work the fields.' 'Then starve'."This is because of his social ranking, which is peasant. He has no respect, because he has no father. "In a world in which one lived by the light of the fathers name and rank, that meant since I had no father I existed in a shadow." This shows that living in the middles ages causes people to be treated very differently. Crispins religion also impacts the way he acts. Since he believes in Jesus, he believes that he is a sinner, and that God will not protect him. Also because of his social class, he doesn't have friends who respect him because he's so poor. "I had few friends that I completely trusted. I was often the butt of jests, jibes, and relentless hounding." This shows Crispin in lonely because his mom is dead and he has no friends. Because he lives in the Middle Ages, the way he is treated impacts the way he acts. Because he's a peasant, he isn't respected which causes him to become sad and lonely.
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ReplyDeleteI think living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's Characterization because in the middles ages there was social rankings, Crispin was at the bottom of these rankings. Crispin along with his mother, Asta were not accepted by the towns folk. What Crispin is, is a peasant. Peasants work for a manor lord or steward, who takes care and rules over a certain plot of land. These lords or rulers enforced strict rules and laws, which were not passable. They were slaves and "For the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi 13). Crispin's lord was John Aycliff, a man who treated Crispin and his mothers like scum. John Aycliff would make all these people work for hours a day and pay them very little. For them "It did not matter. Spring, summer and fall--save certain holy days-- my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn til dusk" (Avi 14). No one gave them any respect. No one befriended them. Besides one person. The priest. The priest was very nice and helpful to Crispin and his mom. They would go to him for any problems, they would then turn to Christ. "O great and giving Jesus, I who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to o, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help, or I'm undone" (Avi 25). Crispin may of developed some loneliness because he didn't have a friend to turn to. He could sometimes block things out or be disconnected, when his mother died he ran away and got scared. He would run away or hide from his problems, "My day was spent in a hiding game. Even though I was hunted in many places, the merciful saints were kind. I was not caught"(Avi 27). I think living in the Middle Ages was very hard on Crispin which sort of led him to be a bit scared maybe even independent. Also, he was put to work and he might of feared something bad was going to happen to mother.
The book, Crispin, by Avi, is based in the Middle Ages. Asta and her son are serfs, which are peasants. This impacts their life in a big way. When Crispin was a child, his dad had passed before his birth from the "great mortality" (Avi 12). This means that many kids would have grown up without a relative, friend, or maybe have not grown up. If Crispin had a father to grow up with and protect him, he would have been different. They had lived in a "one room dwelling" with a hay roof that hardly kept out the rain. Though they "were not slaves" (Avi 13), they had to live in poor houses, and we're nothing if their animal was dead. They were owned, so if you had to give up an animal like Crispin did, you were practically dead. Since they were owned, they were in trouble if the lord didn't like them. They were able to choose their punishment for nothing and make what they did up. So when Crispin overheard a conversation it's the Steward, he was accused for theft. He was made a wolfs head, which means dead. Being a serf in the Middle Ages had a big impact on people's lives, lives that were in more danger.
ReplyDeleteThe time period and setting of the book Crispin affects Crispin's character and makes him hopeless and negative. He is a peasant and doesn't get many meals. He is very poor and is teased. On page 15, "This was the life we led. It was no doubt the life my forefathers led (...) With all my heart I believed that we would continue to live the same" (Avi 15). Crispin thinks there is no way out of this awful life of poverty in which he was born into. He believes this is his only chance in life and is hopeless of anything else because his faith is a peasant. He also shows lots of negativity on page 56 after he found Father Quinel dead, "God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me" (Avi 56). Crispin is negative and is not sure what to do about the fact the only people who were on his side are now dead. He feels he has done something wrong and God is punishing him for it but he doesn't know what he has done. He is a peasant and believes that is Gods punishment for him. Crispin has become negative and hopeless while living in the Middle Ages
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages affected Crispin in a negative way because the were had long barely payed anything, always remember of there place. The had to work from dusk to dawn, a very long hours for only one penny. One fourth of a penny can buy a loaf of bread." At a time when bread a quarter penny a loaf, the value of my mothers daily labor— by King Edward royal decree—was a penny each day."Any chance John Aycliffe had to remind us that we were serfs. Imagine that you are a person back then, and then some guy walks up to you can screams at you, that is what being called a serf feels like.
ReplyDeleteAll info is from page 14
In the novel, Crispins character is impacted by the setting in many ways. One way that the setting of the novel impacts Crispins character is that Crispin is a serf and serfs were at practically the same social class level as a slave making them very poor. In the book Crispin even says "for in the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I"(Avi)."I had few friends and none i completely trusted." (Avi 13) This quote shows how Crispin, a serf, gets treated poorly so he doesn't have many friends and out of those friends he can't completely trust because they might turn on him and be mean to him. Without having any friends he can trust and not having many friends at all will make him very depressed because he has no one to socialize with or talk to. Another way the setting affects Crispin is the Black Death. It caused his father to die before his birth during "A recurrence of the Great Mortality" (12). As crispin's father died before he was born, no one but crispin's mother was able to take care of him, affecting how Crispin survived daily.Crispin is taunted and sneered at by others, including John, the steward, who mocks him because of his social class, which makes Crispin feel hopeless because of his lack of a voice and opinion, and his inability to move up in the feudal system. The steward's poor treatment against Crispin is what influenced some of the other villagers to join him in his dislike of the boy, causing a fear that they will face punishment from the steward
ReplyDeleteI like how you introduced quotes, which helped the flow of the blog. I also liked the choice of quotes, which show how the setting during the Middle Ages affected Crispin.
DeleteCrispins characterization changes throughout the book he becomes more survivalist like and does stuff when he runs away into the wood because of John aycliff coming after him for a crime that he did not commit because in the Middle Ages he could not do a crime but they said that you had a crime that you could be punished for that and he was shunned with his mother then she became ill and then died
ReplyDeleteThe setting or Crispin impacted the book Crispin and especially the main character explained how hard and unfair life was. "We were not slaves but neither were we free" this setting was based of from a long time ago Crispin was born in the Middle Ages the same time period when most people were Christian and so was Crispin. " oh great Jesus" explained who hard and unfair life was. "This was the life we lead no doubt my men and forefathers as and all women and men since the day of Adam" this life is clearly unfair because these innocent people don't get to chose how they want to live it. The different characters impacted the setting as well Crispin himself was always sad, unhappy and lonely after this mother passed away. "With you're mother gone you are required to deliver your ox to the manor house tomorrow. It will serve as the death tax. Crispin was a serf and always has been he spent tireless hours working in the field for the lord. Crispin definitely impacted the settings with so many various reasons.
ReplyDeleteCrispin is not the happiest boy his mother diedd and he is being shund by everyone so he is sad " i lived the life the life of the shunned forever castaside yet looking on curious as to how others live" this is from the book witch tells you that he is being shund and how he is curious
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ReplyDeleteThe setting impacts crispin in many ways, one of those ways is he is very dispersed. He thought that he was living a bad life. "I tried to accept my life, but unlike the perfect Jesus, i was filled with caution and suspicion always expected to upon are mocked" ( Avi 13). Since his mother died and he is a peasant he gets shunned by almost every one because he does not have a farther. His farther died of the black death witch was a deadly disease back in the middle ages. Now he was alone had no one to cheer him up so he was dispersed all of the time. Another way to show he was dispersed is " It does not matter . Spring, summer, and fall save certain holy days, my mother and i, like every other Stromford villager, worked the fields till dusk. When winter came, we had an ox, and now and then a chicken, gathered wood and brush for heat, slept, and tried to stay alive" (Avi 14). He is reflecting back on all the things he did and realizing that he didn't do anything fun it was all work so that he could stay alive. He feels very dispersed when he flashes back to those times when he had to do that stuff
Life in the Middle ages for Crispin caused him to become depressed because they were poor and lived in the shadows. Life in the Middle ages however were harsh for the serfs. The life for the serfs were considered not as important as others. The manor treated them like things and not people. "my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk" (Avi 14). Crispin's life is depressing because he has to work for most of the day and has nothing else to do during his life. Serfs were not to move where they wanted to go and had very limited rights in the manor. "We were not slaves. But neither were we free" (Avi 13-14). Crispin's life is this way because of the Middle ages because serfs had no rights do do what they wanted. They were controlled by the steward and were accused of crimes that they didn't even do. As you can see life in the Middle ages made Crispin's life depressing and getting treated cruelly.
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ReplyDeleteCrispin has many different character traits but the one that most stands out is that he is sad or unhappy. He would be unhappy because his mother died, he has no father, and John acliyffe is trying to take his possessions. First one example that shows he's unhappy states "Was death my only hope? Seeking to escape my heart's cage of sorrow, I rushed off toward the forest. Each time I picked myself up and rushed on, panting, crying." This shows he is unhappy because now that John acliyffe is taking his ox he would starve and then he would have nothing. Another example that he is unhappy says"tumbled over a cliff. Though of no great height, it took me by such surprise I went hurtling through the air, crashing hard upon my side and rolling further down a hill." This shows that he is unhappy because he was hurt really badly and acliyffe could have killed him for just being there.
The Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization in many ways. "At a time when bread cost a quarter penny a loaf, the value of my mother's daily labor—by King Edward's royal decree—was a penny each day; mine, but a farthing" (14 Avi). He did not make nearly any money. Because he lives in the Middle Ages, and not in today's world, Crispin does not have as much opportunity as me or other kids who live today. Because there is no possibility of upgrading or going to school and college and actually becoming something of yourself. He just works on the farm all from from sunrise to sunset. "It did not matter. Spring, summer, and fall—save some holy days— my mother and I, like every other Stromford villager, worked his fields from dawn to dusk" (14 Avi). They worked on the farm nearly the whole year! Whether it was freezing cold or burning hot. When the priest told Crispin that he must leave and go to another city to gain his own freedom he was shocked and didn't know where to go. Neither did the priest, he was uncertain as well. If Crispin had been living in today America, he would know exactly where a neighboring town or city was because there are roads leading everywhere! " 'Father,' I said, 'I don't even know where these cities are' 'I am not so certain myself,' he admitted" (Avi 38). There were only few towns but very far away. If it was today world, the Father Quinel could have given Crispin money for a taxi but there were no cars so Crispin had to make the long, difficult journey on foot. Clearly, living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization in numerous ways.
ReplyDeleteCrispin feels neglected and very sad. Part of this has to do with the setting of the book. Crispin was a serf, the lowest "class". They were essentially peasants, and most were extremely poor. Serfs were considered property, and had to do anything the lord of the manor told them to. Crispin received endless bullying from the steward of the manor, who "The steward, John Aycliffe, never lost an pportunity to remind us of the fact that we were vilains—serfs—bound to Furnival, Lord of Strombound Village" (Pg. 14). He was taunted and teased by the other villagers, and claimed he "lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside" (Pg. 13). Christianity was a major part of everyone's life. Crispin is no exception. He felt as though God is angry or ashamed of him, and is convinced that "there is some sin rooted inside of me, one I ws desperate to root out" (Pg. 13 ). In conclusion, it is obvious that these living conditions affect Crispin's character.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin's characterization. In the village he
ReplyDeletelived in the people shunned him because he was poor and his mother had the plague.
"I had few friends and none I completely trusted...I was often the butt of jests, jibes
and relentless hounding". (Crispin Pg 13).In the village their thought was that people
who had the plague were being punished by God so they shunned Crispin and his mother because she had it and their family was poor. The Middle Ages caused Crispin to be very poor. "For in the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I". (Crispin Pg 13). In the Middle Ages there was feudalism which means the lord had people like Crispin who were serf's work and live on their land in exchange for military protection, this caused Crispin and his mother to be very poor. Also living in these times caused Crispin to be very religious. "I bowed my head in prayer: O Great and Giving Jesus, I, who have no name, who am nothing, who do not know what to do, who am all alone in Thy world, I, who am full of sin, I implore Thy blessed help or I'm undone". (Crispin Pg 25). In the place that he lived and the time he lived in people were very loyal to God and worshiped God. There were very strict religion rules and if they were not followed there could be very harsh consequences an punishments.
The Middle Ages impacts Crispin because he is shunned by the very existence of men and society, he is said to be inhuman and has to be put down like a dog. And to go along with that he is left all alone, when father Quinel dies not long after his mothers death, and now he is being hunted by many, and has barely any food, not that he had much before either.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the middle ages causes him to live unequal to the other people and it also made him more timid. "Since I had no father- I excited in the shadows. But he, like so many, had died before my birth during a recurrence of the great mortality (often called the plague)" (Avi 12). He became a serf because he did not have a father so he had no rank. Another quote is "I tried to accept my life, but unlike the perfect Jesus, i was filled with caution and suspicion always expected to upon are mocked" (Avi 13). in the book he is really suspicious because he always thinks he will be mocked.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the Middle Ages impacted Cripsin's life in many ways. First of all, he was afraid to do anything wrong because religion was a huge part of their life at that time period. "There is some sin rooted inside of me. One I was desperate to root out." (Avi, pg 13). He was also treated horribly by other people.
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DeleteIn the book Crispin, Asta's Son has low self-esteem, is religious, and very depressed. One of the main causes of these feelings is the beliefs and social rankings in the Middle Ages. Serfs are descended from slaves and are considered to be the lowest in social rankings. Not only are Crispin and his mother serfs, but they are considered to be outsiders in the community dynamic for reasons unknown to Crispin. This causes them to be shunned, teased, and treated more harshly in comparison with the other serfs. He starts to feel as if he is not worth anything, because he is treated as such. On page 25 he even thinks, "I, who have no name, who am nothing." Thinking of himself as a nobody causes him to become very unhappy. When he runs away, he wishes that he were caught, even though it would mean dying, so at least his, "misery would have ended."(Avi 61). He also thinks on page 62 that, "the truth was- and how great my shame- I no longer wished to live; which was, I knew, a sin." Additionally, This shows how religious he is, since even in his immense state of melancholy, his thoughts were focused around his image in God's eyes. This dedication to religion is common in the culture of the Middle Ages. Most people believed that all occurrences were controlled by God and that all actions would effect whether or not you were allowed into heaven. This made it very difficult for him to feel better about himself because it seemed as though he had sin embedded in him and that God was punishing him. Because of the culture and beliefs of the people in the Middle Ages, this perpetual cycle of sorrow is irreversible.
ReplyDeleteA few of the things that had impacted Cripsin by living in the Middle Ages was that he had to survive on almost nothing and he had relyed on God to be able to get through everything. "I flung myself upon my knees and prayed long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). This shows that when Crispin is all alone on his journey far from his village, and Shem he gets scared, he will go to God for help. "This putting myself in God's merciful hands brought me a little relief..." (Avi 58-59). God helps protect Crispin when he asks for it becuase of the hardships that he is going through. When times had gotten rough, and when he had wanted to give up, he would pray to God and always remember the times he went through with his mother. "More than one I reminded myself of the times when my mother I and had gone without sustenance. If we could survive then-and we did-I could do so now" (Avi 66). To get what he wants, Cripsin will do anything for it, meaning he will never give up becuase he wants to earn his freedom and respect from others. These are only a few of the things that had impacted Crispin by living in the Middle Ages.
ReplyDeleteThe setting in the Middle Ages affected Crispin be because he was a serf. Serfs were "oft the butt of jest, jibes, and relentless hounding"(13). In the book Crispin the main character mother dies and in those times no one cares if your a serf cause your life was meaning less to other people. Serf's in in the middle ages were "not free to move" same like Crispin, in the novel he was tied to the manor of which they could not go into. Crispin had "few friends and none"(13) he completely trusted because he was only close to his mother. Crispin was always depressed because he was always reminded that his mother died because he was called "Asta's son". Crispin could never lead a normal life were he is not look down upon unless he gain his freedom. Overall Crispin was a serf and he was shunned and he didn't cared that much. The setting of tge Middle ages makes Crispin sad and lonely everyday even with or without his mother Asta.
ReplyDeleteLiving in the middle ages caused Crispin's character to be reclusive and depressed. On page 12, it says "Since I had no father, I existed in a shadow." In this quote he says he feels like he is less than human without a father. This can make him feel to like an abomination to his society because without a father figure in his life and a mother that was always working, he would feel like heels a nobody. Also on page 13, it says "In short I lived the life of the shunned, forever cast aside, yet looking on." This is consistent with the last quote because it shows that Crispin is looked down upon in the society by those in higher rankings than him, but this never blinded him from anything. All in all, Crispin reminds us that he keeps a positive overall look on things even after everything that makes him feel down in the moment. Lastly, on pages 13 and 14, it says "We were not slaves. But we were also not free." This can affect Crispin's character because he can make very little choices on his own and causes him to feel trapped and in need of a rescue from a higher power. He is forced to do labor and was not able to own land. Given the evidence, all of these pieces of information have confirmed that Crispin's character reclusive and feel as if he is an outcast. Those are a few of the many ways that living in the Middle Ages contributed to Crispin's many complex character traits.
ReplyDeleteThe setting really affects the character of Crispin. He has to live off pretty much nothing, and has no parents to look up to or go to for help. He relies on god, and believes he will get him through everything. "I flung myself upon my knees and prayed long and hard to Our Savior Jesus, to His sainted Mother Mary, and most of all to my blessed Saint Giles, for mercy, guidance, comfort, and protection" (Avi 58). This shows that Crispin can rely on his savior, Jesus Christ to get him through every problem that he faces. There were also social rankings. Crispin was in the lowest of the low classes, he was a peasant serf. "For the entire kingdom of England there could have been no poorer Christian souls than my mother and I" (Avi 13). This could easily bring along depression and make life hard for Crispin, by being very poor in his community.
ReplyDeleteSome ways of living in the Middle Ages impacted Crispin is the religion, social structure, physical world, and one of the many different conflicts that he faces through his life in the Middle Ages. "Dawn had come, and the Stromford church was announcing early morning prayers, prime." Every citizen prays at least 3 times a day. They pray for Compline, blessing Christ, and Prime. At least three times morning, afternoon, and dawn, they pray for each thing at a certain time when the church bell goes off. "As judge, Jury, and willing executioner, Acliffe had but to give the word, and the offender's life was forfeit. We all lived in fear of him" All the surfs lived in fear of the higher social structure, because the steward controls everyone on the lords land when he is gone in war, or etc. "With stone walls two levels high and small windows, the manor was to me like a castle, high, mighty, and impenetrable." The manor is very well built, because the highest class of social structure lives in better building and they get better treatment. When the serfs have a small home and their conditions are not so great, so usually a serf family tries 12 times to have a child. "God, I was certain, had completely abandoned me." Crispin believes that God is punishing him, and he doesn't know why. "I did try to accept my life, but unlike out perfect Jesus, I was filled with caution and suspension, always expecting us to be set upon or mocked." I chose this quote because it shows that Crispin is always feeling like he is being punished by God, and he tries hard to accept that he is in the world for a reason.
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ReplyDeleteCrispin is living in the time period of the Middle Ages, this impacts his characterization in important ways because of the kind of setting that is described in the story. Because Crispin is a peasant in this time, he found himself to be “filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked. In short, [Crispin] lived the life of the shunned forever cast aside”(Avi 13). Most of the people living in the Middle Ages were peasants. The peasants were mocked or deliberately ignored by upperclassmen. The fact that the story t Ames place in the Middle Ages caused Crispin to become careful and suspecting of others. He never knew when he was going to be hurt again. Crispin is also religious. On page 62 it says “I fell to my knees and prayed with deep-hearted, sobbing words. In these prayers I acknowledged my great unworthiness to my Lord Jesus and searched my heart for every sin to which I could confess” (62). Religion is big part of his life especially when living in the Middle Ages because some people in poverty had only God for hope, like Crispin. This shows that living in the Middle Ages impacts his characterization because the tough times that he is having makes him turn to religion for hope. Another way that the setting impacts Crispin's characterization is the setting makes him curious. In chapter three it states that Crispin “lived the life of the shunned forever cast aside, yet looking on, curious as to how others lived”(13). This shows Crispin is curious because he lived in the Middle Ages. Crispin is a peasant in the book and was laughed at by many, but he knew not everyone lived like he did. Living in the Middle Ages impacted his characterization because it impacted his suspicion, his need for religion and his curiosity.
ReplyDeletefrom how he is treated in his village and how low they are compared to other people Crispin and his mother were peasants they were serfs from what they were called. " I was filled with caution and suspicion, always expecting to be set upon or mocked, in short I lived life of the shunned. There was little my mother or I could do about our plight, we were not slaves, but neither were we free"(AVI 13-14). Crispin is a serf in the novel it clearly explains how him and his mother were treated in their village and what the lord was like. Being a serf is a difficult life and from reading the book you can see the way Crispin has been treated and used by the people in his village. In the middle ages there were levels of rankings for people like serfs, peasants, kings, lords and knights, and for the lower ranked people it was difficult to live like the other people which what crispin was. " Thinking of himself as a nobody causes him to become very unhappy. When he runs away, he wishes that he were caught, even though it would mean dying, so at least his,"misery would have ended."(Avi 61).
ReplyDeleteEveryone would pick and taunt Crispin and it was misery living a serf's life like Crispin and you would wish your life would have ended just like Crispin. Which explains the impact on Crispin's characterization in the middle ages.