Catherine, Called Birdy

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Medieval Diary”

In this activity, students will assume the persona of a character from the novel and create their own medieval diary entries.

In Catherine, Called Birdy, the reader sees all the events through Birdy’s eyes. However, there are many other characters in the novel who might have viewed the events quite differently than she did. In this activity, you will have the chance to step into another character’s shoes. Your task is to write a series of diary entries for one month from this character's point of view. Think about how their experiences, feelings, and reactions to the events might differ from Birdy's.

• Choose a character from the book other than Birdy. You will be writing diary entries from this person’s perspective.
• Write a series of diary entries over a month from your character’s perspective. Your entries should reflect daily life, challenges, and events from the novel.
• In your diary entries, consider how their perspective would differ from Birdy's based on their role, relationship to her, and societal position.
• Include reflections on how this character might view the significance of the saints' days mentioned by Birdy, offering a different interpretation or significance based on their own experiences and beliefs.
• Include historical details from the novel to enrich your entries, such as references to medieval customs, clothing, food, or societal roles.
• Conclude with an entry that provides insight into your character's overall view of Birdy and her actions during this month.

Find someone who chose the same month as you. Share your diary entries from your month and compare and contrast your entries with your partner’s and with Birdy’s.

Teaching Suggestion:  Instead of choosing a partner that had the same month to compare, this discussion could also work if the students paired up by character. Students could compare how they wrote the character and their interpretation of Birdy’s actions. This activity could lead to a discussion on narrative reliability, as there are many different interpretations of the events.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students with executive functioning differences, consider choosing the character and/or the month for them. This could provide some structure while still prompting the students to use critical thinking. You may wish to provide these students with a graphic organizer with the different days in that month that Birdy wrote entries. Students can use that organizer to write the alternate perspective for each event. You may wish to shorten the assignment for these students by having a set number of entries, instead of having them write a diary entry for each of Birdy’s.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the text over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. The many superstitions and beliefs woven into the fabric of medieval life illuminate the characters' understanding of their world and its challenges.

• How do the superstitions and beliefs in the story represent the understanding of the world during the medieval era? (topic sentence)
• Identify and describe 3 specific superstitions or beliefs mentioned in the novel. Consider how these superstitions influence the characters' decisions, actions, and interactions.
• In your conclusion, explain how these superstitions demonstrate The Dominance Of Religion and the Promise of Hope in Medieval Society.

2. Birdy’s interactions with her family members play a crucial role in shaping her personality and the choices she makes in her journey toward self-discovery.

• How do Birdy’s relationships with her family members shape her personality and decisions? (topic sentence)
• Examine Birdy's relationships with three specific family members. Discuss how each relationship influences her views, behavior, and choices throughout the novel.
• In your conclusion, reflect on how these familial dynamics contribute to Birdy's growth and her quest for autonomy within the constraints of medieval society.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by text details, and a conclusion.

1. Explore the meaning behind Catherine's nickname, "Birdy," in the novel. How does this nickname reflect her personality, her dreams, and how others view her? Consider the symbolism of birds as representing freedom and how this relates to Birdy's own life. Choose three moments from the book where the name "Birdy" or bird imagery is used to shed light on Birdy's character. Explain how these moments reveal her desires and her struggle with the expectations of her society. Reference specific examples from the text to support your points.

2. Birdy’s suitors are exclusively portrayed through Birdy's perspective, shaping our understanding of them based on her perceptions and biases. Are there instances in the novel where you suspect Birdy's descriptions of the suitors are exaggerated or influenced by her personal biases? In what ways do Birdy's interactions with her suitors reveal more about her character than about the suitors themselves? How does Birdy's portrayal of her suitors reflect her feelings towards the institution of marriage and her desire for independence? In your response, analyze at least 3 different suitors.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer Questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, exams, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What does Birdy's attempt to alter her appearance to dissuade suitors primarily reveal about her character?

A) Her vanity and concern with her physical appearance

B) Her creativity and resourcefulness in facing unwanted situations

C) Her misunderstanding of what attracts suitors

D) Her rebellion against societal norms for women

2. How does the portrayal of May Day celebrations contrast with Birdy’s struggles in the novel?

A) She openly defies traditional roles by leading a typically male-dominated activity.

B) She uses the anonymity of the festival to express her true feelings about marriage.

C) She subtly undermines societal expectations by altering the rituals in small, significant ways.

D) She embraces traditional female roles during the festival to gain more freedom in her personal life.

3. What can be inferred about Birdy’s values concerning friendship and loyalty based on her interactions with her peers and servants?

A) She values loyalty above all else and expects absolute fidelity from her friends and servants.

B) She manipulates relationships to her advantage, showing little regard for genuine loyalty or friendship.

C) She is indifferent to forming deep bonds and views relationships as temporary and convenient.

D) She cherishes genuine connections and does not let social class dictate her friendships.

4. Which traits best describe Uncle George as seen through Birdy's eyes?

A) Adventurous and open-minded, inspiring curiosity

B) Stern and conservative, emphasizing obedience

C) Detached and indifferent, rarely interacting with her

D) Humorous and light-hearted, but lacking depth

5. How do the changing seasons and Birdy’s interactions with nature serve as symbols in the narrative?

A) They reflect Birdy's growth and the cyclical nature of life and traditions.

B) They represent the monotony of daily life in the Middle Ages.

C) They underscore the isolation Birdy feels from the outside world.

D) They highlight the contrast between Birdy's youthful spirit and the aging world around her.

6. In what way does Perkin's perspective on life and his status in society influence Birdy's views and actions?

A) Perkin's adventurous tales and desire to explore the world beyond their village ignite Birdy's curiosity and wanderlust, pushing her to dream of travels and adventures.

B) Perkin's struggles as a goatherd make Birdy more aware of the hardships faced by peasants, leading her to take action to improve their conditions.

C) Perkin's contentment with his simple life and his kindness despite his low status inspire Birdy to question societal norms and her own prejudices.

D) Perkin's artistic talent and appreciation for beauty in nature lead Birdy to develop a greater appreciation for the arts and the natural world around her.

7. How does Birdy use the stories of saints' days to reflect on her experiences?

A) As strict reminders of her religious duties

B) To draw parallels between their stories and her own life challenges

C) As outdated traditions with little relevance to her daily life

D) To find suitable dates for her pranks and adventures

8. How do the following events occur in Birdy's journey of personal growth?

A) Birdy questions her future, rebels against her father's decisions, and then reflects on her identity.

B) Birdy accepts her societal role, questions her future, and then rebels against her father's decisions.

C) Birdy reflects on her identity, accepts her societal role, and then questions her future.

D) Birdy rebels against her father's decisions, questions her future, and then reflects on her identity.

9. How do Birdy's dreams for her future contrast with those of Lady Aelis?

A) Birdy dreams of freedom and adventure, while Aelis aspires to fulfill her role within the societal expectations of nobility and marriage.

B) Both girls share similar dreams of escaping their predetermined roles and traveling the world.

C) Aelis is rebellious and seeks adventure, whereas Birdy is more concerned with fulfilling her familial duties.

D) Birdy and Aelis both aspire to join religious life to avoid the constraints of marriage.

10. How does Shaggy Beard's role contribute to Birdy's struggle for autonomy?

A) By showing kindness, he teaches Birdy to adapt to her society.

B) By ignoring her, he downplays the significance of her struggle.

C) By opposing her, he highlights her fight against restrictive social norms.

D) By adding humor, he lightens the story’s tone.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. What does Birdy's decision to help the bear reveal about her character and values?

2. How does Birdy's observation of the Jewish refugees challenge the common stereotypes held by others in her society?