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Lesson 1 (from Lines 1-26)
Objective
The objective of this lesson is to introduce the historical context of “The Seafarer.” Since works are necessarily products of their time, however they are read later on, historical context matters for understanding what meanings are available to the presumed audiences of those works—and, indeed, who those audiences are.
Lesson
Class Discussion: In notes prefacing the Exeter Book selections, the Broadview editors remark that the Exeter Book—manuscript source of “The Seafarer”—was likely composed in the late 900s in southern England before being given to Exeter Cathedral by Bishop Leofric in the later eleventh century CE (16-17). What was going on in that part of the world at that time? What concerns might that occasion in people then? How might they respond to it? Why might that be their response?
Group Activity: With the class, look up the history of the Exeter Cathedral online...
Aligned to the following Common Core Standards:
- ELA-Reading: Literature RL.9-10.1, 9-10.6, 9-10.10, 11-12.1, 11-12.10
- ELA-Writing W.9-10.1, 9-10.2, 9-10.6, 11-12.1, 11-12.2, 11-12.6
This section contains 4,661 words (approx. 16 pages at 300 words per page) |
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