Copyright 2002

Created by Brian Thornton

Capo Creations, Box 1411, Haileybury, Ontario, CANADA. POJ 1KO Phone: 705 672-5737 Not to be used or copied in any manner without specific written consent of the publisher All Rights Reserved

1. Who is telling the story?

Catherine is telling the story through her diary or journal
2. What is the setting for this story?  Locate the area in an atlas.

The story takes place in medieval England in 1290 in the fictional village of Stonebridge in Lincolnshire (county, England.
3. Design a title page using a medieval theme.

This may also be turned into an art lesson.
4. What is the origin of the expression "corpus bones"?

According to Karen Cushman the exact origin is uncertain.  Cushman states, "It apparently refers to the body of Christ.  Or, if it's a corruption of the Latin word for good, it might mean "good body".  I did not document my source for "corpus bones."
Cushman's explanation however, might be misleading.  It appears that the expression may be the result of confusing the separate expressions: corpus Domini and Goddes bones.  Goddes refers to God while the expression Goddes bones can be found in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, "By Goddes bones, whan I bete my knaves".  Corpus on the other hand originally comes from the Latin meaning body although it is used presently in a rather gruesome sense.
5. Why does Catherine have to keep a journal?

Catherine's brother Edward, a monk, commands her to keep a journal so she will become more learned and less childish.  By narrating the novel through the first person we gain some insight into Catherines true feelings and therefore experience her true personality first hand thus adding a sense of realism.  However, first person can be a disadvantage as the views expressed are very subjective and not surprisingly very biased.  First person narration is commonly used in children's literature.
6. List some of the other people in Catherine's life and their relationship to her.

Some people in Catherine's life are her parents, Lord Rollo Lady Aislinn, her brothers Edward, Robert, and Thomas, Morwenna her nursemaid and Perkin her friend who herds goats.
7. Describe Catherine's first plan to drive away unwanted suitors.

Her first plan is to black out her teeth, dress her hair with mouse bones, and wiggle her ears at the suitor whenever he speaks.
8. What cure does Catherine mix for Perkin's bound liver?

Catherine mixes Perkin a tonic of cumin seed and anise.
9. Describe Catherine's best friend.

Perkin is a goat boy who lives with his grandmother in a tiny cottage in the village. He has one leg that is much shorter than the other so he limps badly. Catherine says "He is very thin and goodly looking with golden hair and blue eyes just like the king."

1. Tell what Catherine used to believe about Jews and what she believes now.

Catherine had always been led to believe that Jews had horns and tails because they were "hell born, wicked and dangerous." Having seen them in her own great hall, she now realizes they are normal friendly people "much like Christians."
2. Why does Catherine throw her mother's ruby ring into the pig yard?

On Saint Faith's Day young girls are supposed to hang a ring from their bedsteads and dream of their future husband. When Catherine dreams only of the local miller's farting apprentice she is so disappointed that she throws the ring away.
3. How did Catherine get rid of the suitor Rolf?

When Rolf asks Catherine for directions to the manor thinking she is a villager, she wishes him good luck dealing with Lady Catherine who is lacking wits, has a stooped back and terrible pits on her face.  Rolf gets so put off by this description he rides away.
4. Why do you think Catherine wants to be a monk?

Catherine thinks that the life of a monk "making pictures instead of mending and weaving would be Heaven indeed!"
5. Explain why Catherine treats herself with wormwood and mint.

This remedy is recommended to cure jealousy and she is very envious that her crusader uncle George likes her friend Aelis.

1. What bold advice did Catherine give Father Huw the priest?

She told him he could get rid of his boils and blotches with an ointment of oil of bay and a bath once in a while.
2. What is causing Catherine's rash and will she be able to correct it?

Her rash is due to lack of washing but she will have to wait to correct it because the bath tub has been turned upside down as an extra work table in the kitchen.
3. Summarize how Catherine's parents met.

Lord Rollo came to the manor of Lady Aislinn's guardian claiming the baron had cheated Lord Rollo's father of some land. He pounded on the door of the manor for many days through all kinds of weather. When the baron finally let the knight in, Lady Aislinn was so impressed she immediately packed and married him three days later.
4. How did Catherine ruin her saint's day party?

Catherine put small bits of lute string on a hot dish as it was passed around the feast. As it heated up the string appeared to wiggle making the guests assume there were wiggling worms or maggots in their food.
5. Where did Catherine learn the string trick?

She learned this trick from a traveling musician.

1. What effect does the funeral procession have on Catherine?

She is at first afraid because she thinks the king himself has died. Later, she feels terribly sad knowing it was the king's beloved wife and says "I cried with the king".
2. Research why Jews were expelled from England and be prepared to explain in class.

In 1291, Jews were expelled because it was widely believed that their strong financial sense and willingness to loan money with interest is what led non Jewish farmers to be so poor and in debt. The king ordered all Jews out of the country. They did not return for almost 400 hundred years.
3. For three months we hear Catherine use "Corpus Bones" as her cursing words. What curses does she use in December? Which one is her favourite?

Catherine tries out God's breath, God's face, God's ears, and God's feet as curses but her favourite is God's thumbs.
4. How did Catherine get rid of suitor number three?

Catherine knows her father does not like greedy suitors and does not want to pay a dowry for her.  She tells this suitor that her father is very rich but that he hides his wealth.  This makes the suitor practically run to Lord Rollo to demand a dowry.  Lord Rollo explodes and the suitor runs away.
5. Describe two Christmas games or traditions you had not heard of before.

1. How did Catherine get her puppy back?

After Catherine lost her favourite pup to Robert she got him back because the pup "made water" on Robert's lap.
2. What drove away suitor number four?

This suitor left because he was offended that Catherine's father belched, passed gas, and scratched his chest with his knife.
3. Describe how Edward the saddler's apprentice was lost and saved.

Edward lost his way to the privy in a storm. He took shelter in an old shed that got snowed under. He was able to push a stocking tied to a stick out through the snow and signal for help.
4. What kind of things does Catherine paint into her mural?

Catherine painted herself as a warrior on a stallion eating fruit.
5. Research the history of ice skating. Does it refer to bones on shoes?

Skates date back to about 3000 B.C., and were made from the leg bones of large animals. Holes were made at each end of the bone and leather straps were used to tie the skates on. The Dutch word for "skate" is "schenkel" which means "leg bone".

1. How does Catherine get rid of Fulk?

Fulk leaves because Catherine set fire to the privy while he was inside it.
2. What worries Catherine?

She is very afraid that her mother could die because of this pregnancy.
3. Describe the girls reaction when they see Madame Johanna after imagining great things.

They were shocked because they expected an elegant, regal woman but instead saw a gray, puny, wrinkled old lady who looked one hundred years old.
4. What do you think about Madame Joanna's fortune telling?

Answers will vary.
5. What plan does Catherine have for Shaggy Beard?

She plans to drive him away by calling him a pig until he turns red in the face. She hopes he will burst and that she could then sweep him out with the dirty rushes.

1. Why doesn't Catherine like Agnes?

Catherine thinks Agnes is a prude who looks like a "weasel in blue silk". Agnes would not gossip, tell stories, or dance so Catherine says she is boring.
2. Describe Catherine's thoughts about Geoffrey.

Catherine has a crush on Geoffrey and wishes he was the one she could marry.
3. Why does Catherine panic on March 20th?

Catherine panics when she realizes that Shaggy Beard, whom she considers to be a pig, actually wants her for his wife.
4. Who do you think Catherine wrote her new song about on March 29th?

Answers will vary although it is likely about Geoffrey.

1. What changes Catherine's mind about Geoffrey?

Catherine suddenly dislikes Geoffrey because she sees him making fun of the way Perkin walks with a limp.
2. Why does Catherine refer to her betrothal as a "sale"?

Catherine refers to her betrothal as a sale because there are negotiations about how much dowry her father will pay her future husband.
3. What do you think really drives Shaggy Beard away?

Her father's greed drives Shaggy Beard away.
4. How does Catherine attempt to ease her mother's headaches?

She made her a tonic of chamomile and honey.

1. Explain May Day traditions of 1291.

People would gather flowers at dawn to decorate a May Day Pole. They would elect a king and queen for the day and dance around the Maypole.  Later they would dance with a leaf covered person called the Jack o' the Green who sang about love.
2. Tell what is happening with Shaggy Beard.

Catherine is surprised to learn that Shaggy Beard's agents returned to continue negotiations about taking Catherine as a bride and her father settled with them. An agreement was reached for the two to wed.
3. List how a lady must act in Catherine's day.

A lady had to walk erect with eyelids low without running or laughing. Her hands had to be folded under her cloak while lifting her dress and at the same time covering her mouth in case her teeth were unattractive.
4. Why did Catherine have to improvise a remedy for her mother's headache?

Catherine had to substitute ingredients for her mother's remedy because she was out of goat dung.

1. Explain why helping the ant meant so much to Catherine.

Catherine feels like no one is helping her and that she has no control over her own life. She knows the feeling of being helpless. Helping the ant made her feel less helpless and more in control.
2. What is wrong with Catherine's father's health? List all the steps he takes to deal with the problem.

Lord Rollo has a toothache. He tried blood letting, breathing in smoking sheep fat and rubbing garlic on his tooth.
3. How does Lincoln differ from Catherine's village?

It is a busy city with many streets and lots of merchants.
4. Describe how Catherine intervenes in Meg's life particularly her marriage plans.

Catherine convinces her father to let Meg and Alf live in Perkin's grandmother's vacant cottage.

1. Describe Meg's wedding and all its traditions.

The couple led a walk to the church where they were wed on the steps. Then there was a mass inside the church and Alf gave Meg a half penny and kept the other half for himself stating that would help them remember they were two halves of one soul. The wedding was followed by a feast outdoors.
2. What was Catherine's father's reaction when she asked why the villagers could choose their husbands and wives?

He explodes in purple faced anger.
3. Explain what Brother Norbert and Brother Behrtwald are doing.

The monks were sent to Rome to locate the remains of saints for Lord Rollo's abbey.
4. What does Catherine pray for on the 29th of July?

She prays that the monks will help her get rid of Shaggy Beard.

1. Describe the Bartlemas Fair.

Catherine describes the fair as "the busiest and merriest days of the summer". It has booths with toys, games and food. It also has acts like tumblers, magicians, minstrels and dancers.
2. Who is Catherine trying to save now and why?

She is trying to save a pathetic dancing bear from the fair because it appears to be starving and flea bitten.
3. Explain how Catherine's bear is saved in the end and why is she so surprised by what happens?

Catherine's brother Robert rode through the night to an abbey and charmed the abbess into taking the bear.

1. Explain the steps Catherine and Morwenna take to save Catherine's mother.

They bathed her face with cool linen, poured wine down her throat and rubbed her back with ointment.
2. How does Catherine "escape" before her wedding?

She walks all the way to her Uncle George's and Aunt Ethelfritha's home.
3. On September 18th the year before we learn that Catherine is commanded to write this account of her days in order to grow more learned and less childish.  Explain using examples from the book whether the journal did its job or not.

Answers will vary.

 

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Copyright 2002

Created by: Brian Thornton, Capo Creations, Box 1411, Haileybury, Ontario, CANADA POJ 1KO

Not to be used or copied in any manner without specific written consent of the publisher All Rights Reserved