Medieval books

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

Medieval books

Types of writing

In the Middle Ages, you had different types of writing:

• Religious (bible, hymns, etc.)
• Secular: texts about "worldly" topics (Beowulf, Canterbury tales)
• Women's literature (Clare of Assisi, Hildegard of Bingen)
• Allegory: texts that are symbolic for something (the Divine Comedy)

What is a characteristic of a Medieval book?

Medieval books

• Made by hand (usually monks)
• Written by hand
• Decorated
• Unique
• Very expensive 

What was the parchment in medieval books made of?

1. Papyrus
2. Paper
3. Animal skins
4. Wood

The text

• They made horizontal and vertical lines for the margin
• They left space for miniatures (small images)
• They used a quill to write
• The first type of ink was made from soot (roet)
• Later they made ink from gall 

Illustrations

• Initials
• In the margin
• Miniatures 

Books of kells

Colours and pigments

• Red was made by heating lead 
• Green was made by boiling copper plates in vinegar
• Ultramarine was used for blue (which was made from a type of stone)
• Saffron was used for yellow

Homework

• At home look for your favourite book /favourite quote and choose a scene that you like (max a third of a page). Think about a good miniature you can make that goes along with the content of the scene. 
• During the next lesson, you are going to copy this scene/quote on a blank piece of paper in "medieval style." 
• Bring: the scene (or the book), a ruler and coloured pencils/pens with you to school
• This is not for a grade, but for fun!

Assignment

Copy the scene that you've chosen by hand on a blank piece of paper.  

Steps:

1. Decide the margins and draw a square/box --> you will write in this box
2. Draw straight, horizontal lines for you to write on in the box
3. Copy the scene by hand. Don't forget to decorate the first letter of the first word! 
4. Draw a picture / multiple pictures for decoration.
5. Upload a photograph of your work on Padlet after the break (deadline = 17th of May) The link + instructions will be on magister (homework 17-5)
6.