THE WANDERING MINSTREL
The tales told by minstrels during the Middle Ages are called romances. At that
time, the nobles of Europe lived in desolate castles. There were few books to read,
and travel was difficult. In such a life, visitors were eagerly welcomed, and most
welcome of all was the minstrel. The family would gather around the fireplace of the
great hall to hear the minstrel chant his thrilling tales. Through the minstrels' songs
ran the theme of chivalry. Chivalry taught knights to defend the church, to make war
against infidels, to be courteous and to keep their word. Around these ideals, and
around the stories of history and legend that exemplified them, the minstrel built his
ballads. They were called romances because the minstrels used one of the
Romance languages. The theme of all these early romances is a quest or search.
The knight in the story may be seeking the Holy Grail, a lost mistress or mother or
father, forgiveness for a sin, or simply adventure for its own sake.
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A COLUMN B
a) a musician who used to travel around the
country playing and singing songs
b) a person who belongs to a high social class
and has a title
c) lonely; far away from anything else
d) keenly; enthusiastically
e) come together
f) sing or speak rhythmically
g) very exciting
h) a code of good behaviour in the Middle Ages
i) a person with a different religion from the
speaker's own or with no religion
j) polite and respectful towards others
k) do what one has promised to do
(phrase)
I) be or give a typical example of something
m) a simple song or poem which tells a story
n) the state of being no longer angry with one for
doing something wrong
o) an offence against God or against a religious
law
p) not for any other reason or purpose
(phrase)
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