Good Masters, Sweet Ladies

Schlitz, L.A. (2007). Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

     The spirit of a medieval village comes alive through the monologues and dialogues of Good Masters, Sweet Ladies! This would be an ideal resource for a literature class studying the middle ages. Students could learn what kids their age may have faced as the son of a miller or the daughter of a shepherd. The short monologues would be easy for students to read, or even memorize, and would be an entertaining way to represent their understanding of the medieval England. Some of the stories were sad, like the girl who's family was so poor that her family tried to drown her as a baby. Other stories are humorous, like the two daughters debating the merits of their father's apprentice. Students will find it interesting to see the timeless issues, like bullying, loneliness, a first crush, and jealousy. 

Textbook Assignment #4

There’s a certain honesty and frankness to the world when told through the experiences of the youth. The fictitious voices of the medieval village belong to those between the ages of 10-15 and tell of life in the Middle Ages. Whether viewing life through the eyes of the lord’s daughter or the poor, starving runaway, the bleak reality of the 13th century is evidenced in their circumstances and concerns.  Each child’s story tells of their father’s trade in all its glory, its grievances, and sometimes it’s shame. With the collection of stories, the reader is allowed a complete view into the realities of medieval England. The author’s footnotes perfectly accompany each monologue with historical, factual and sometime humorous additions that assist the readers in their understanding of the life and culture of the Middle Ages. The lives of these young people intersect bringing a sense of connection and community, like the miller’s unpopular son and the friendless half-wit who seem to bond over a lack of companionship. Reading the account of the glassblower’s apprentice followed by the glassblower’s daughters is a comic reminder that teenage emotions and musings are timeless. While the monologues capture the voices of many characters, the setting is represented in Robert Byrd’s watercolor paintings of the town, the fields, and the people. Any classroom studying the Middle Ages would benefit from this series of poetic readings in its teachings of the life, the struggles, and the attitudes of medieval England.

Lesson Plans

http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763615781.btg.1.pdf

Teacher Guide

https://www.teachervision.com/middle-ages/printable/57928.html