Catherine, Called Birdy

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What freedoms and restrictions did women have in Medieval Europe? How did these freedoms and restrictions vary by class? Were there some women who had more freedom than others?

Teaching Suggestion: This question connects to the theme The Restrictive Roles of Gender and Class in the Medieval Era. The novel gives the reader a glimpse into Birdy’s upper-class status as a woman, but women in higher and lower classes had their own set of freedoms and restrictions. Students might benefit from a graphic organizer to help them categorize the different aspects of life for women in different classes.

• What Was Life Like for Women in the Middle Ages? Is an interview with medieval scholars from the Getty Museum that provides insight into medieval women’s lives.
• “Women in the Middle Ages” from World History Encyclopedia discusses many aspects of women’s history in Medieval Europe, including the differences between women in different social strata. It also includes information on some of the most important women of the medieval era.

2. What are some religious celebrations or festivals that take place around the world today? Have you taken part in any?  

Teaching Suggestion: This question prepares students for the theme The Dominance Of Religion and the Promise of Hope in Medieval Society. The novel is written as a series of diary entries, marked by the different saints’ days. This question gives students some context on the festivals that Birdy comments on. You may wish to have students create their calendars for the different festivals, which they can reference and add to as they read the novel.

• “The Past Is A Gift: How The Medieval Calendar Still Shapes Our Lives” from Forbes sheds light on how medieval religious festivals were useful in making sense of time in an age before modern calendars, clocks, and apps. 
• This article from the Museum of Oxford shows how that city continues to celebrate the feast day of its patron saint, St. Giles. 

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

As you're growing up, in what ways are you seeking more independence? How do you balance your desire to make your decisions with your need to follow the guidance of adults in your life?

Teaching Suggestion: This question connects to the theme The Importance Of Identity As Young People Come Of Age. It may be helpful to define the word “independence” and give examples. If students are struggling to understand this question, you could give examples of situations where young adults typically seek independence, such as maintaining their appearance, managing their time, selecting extracurricular activities, or making decisions about their friendships.

Differentiation Suggestion: For visual learners or those with artistic inclinations, consider allowing them to create a comic strip that represents their journey toward independence. They could pinpoint a specific decision or moment when they became more independent and base their comic strip from that moment.