Part 22 (1/2)

NOTES TO THE BOOK THE BOOK.

WITHOUT WORDS.

FABLE: I have called this book a fable, a word that came into the English language in the fourteenth century. Deriving from the Latin word fabula fabula, meaning a story, its English usage has come to suggest a supernatural tale in which animals speak and act like human beings. A fable is meant to exemplify a useful truth.

THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLES: Brother Wilfrid's description of the events in the year of Thorston's birth is based on the entry for the year 973 in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. Chronicles. This extraordinary work, a compilation by many hands, provides the history of Britain from the start of the Christian era until 1154. It is believed to have been originally commissioned by King Alfred the Great. This extraordinary work, a compilation by many hands, provides the history of Britain from the start of the Christian era until 1154. It is believed to have been originally commissioned by King Alfred the Great.

ALCHEMY: The best way to describe alchemy is to think of it as early science, in particular the science of chemistry. Its pract.i.tioners sought a physical and spiritual understanding of the nature of existence. Much of their work focused on the making of gold and the finding of the ”philosopher's stone,” which would restore youth and prolong life. From a modern perspective, alchemy seems full of magic and superst.i.tion, but while there were no doubt charlatans in the field, there were many who were serious students of the natural world. While alchemy might have been viewed with suspicion and even fear, it would not have been illegal. Alchemists discovered alcohol, and nitric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acids. The Book Without Words is sometimes referenced as a source of alchemic knowledge.

FULWORTH and NORTHUMBRIA: Though the town of Fulworth is imaginary, as is the monastery described in this story, the Kingdom of Northumbria did exist. Founded in the seventh century by Anglo-Saxons, it lies in modern-day northern Great Britain, between the Humber River to the south, and the Firth of Forth to the north. As a kingdom, it existed in one form or another until the tenth century.

SAINT ELFLEDA was a real person. Born in 714, she was the sister of King Osway of Northumbria. A nun, she eventually became abbess at Whitby convent and played an important role in church affairs.

For information about the saints referred to in the story, see e into your mind as you think about Fulworth, Thorston's workroom, the apothecary's shop, and the churchyard?2. ”It is not death I fear, but life,” says Sybil in 3:9. What does she mean by this statement? Avi's central theme is clearly stated in the proverb at the beginning: ”A life unlived is like a book without words.” Describe how Sybil's att.i.tude toward life changes throughout the book.3. Odo and Sybil learn that ”magic takes what it gives.” What is another way of saying that in today's terms? Why is this point so important to the story? How is this idea of magic different from magic you have encountered in other stories?4. Reread the monk's tale in 3:16 about the Book Without Words and how the book came into Thorston's possession. Where do you think Brother Wilfrid spent the intervening years? Imagine how he must have searched for Thorston, where he must have gone, and what he must have had to endure.5. Compare Alfric and Damian. Both have green eyes, but they respond to the temptations of the Book Without Words very differently. What do they have in common? Why do their fates differ so much?6. ”The law is hard, it is the law.” Why is this phrase repeated so often by Master Bashcroft? How does he use its message in his interactions with the community and how he sees himself?7. Language has a power all its own in The Book Without Words. The Book Without Words. Latin from the mouth of the reeve justifies his actions. Magic words from the beak of a talking raven cause skulls to rise and hard objects to turn into water. What are other examples of the power of words? Latin from the mouth of the reeve justifies his actions. Magic words from the beak of a talking raven cause skulls to rise and hard objects to turn into water. What are other examples of the power of words?8. What were your first thoughts on seeing the name of the book? What expectations did it raise? How did the story meet, change, or dash those expectations?

ACTIVITY ONE: PROVERBS PROVERBS.

Proverbs are brief adages that speak truths. Odo, in particular, is given to saying proverbs at both appropriate (and very inappropriate) times. Alfric offers the occasional well-timed proverb as he becomes more at home. Review the proverbs below, find more, and then try to create your own proverbs. A proverb has these three elements: brevity, relevance, and cleverness.

”A fool is the first to think himself wise and the last to know it isn't so.”-Odo (Chapter 2:1)”The lengthier the life, the more locked the lip.”-Odo (2:9)”Death is part of life.”-Odo (3:11)”Live long enough, and all become orphans.”

-Odo (3:11) ”The shorter the sermon, the longer the truth.”

-Alfric (3:11) ”Time is like an oxcart wheel-it has no end or beginning but only rolls.”-Alfric (3:18)”A sniff of gold makes all noses sneeze.”-Odo (3:18)”A life unlived is like a book without words.”

-Epigraph

ACTIVITY TWO: FABLES FABLES.

Fables have been a popular and powerful way to tell stories since ancient times. As Avi describes in his notes, a fable is ”a supernatural tale in which animals speak and act like human beings ... meant to exemplify a useful truth.” The most famous fables of all were written by Aesop in ancient Greece. Review one or two of Aesop's fables and discuss how The The Book Without Words Book Without Words fits the definition of a fable. Ask students to write a fable of their own by first coming up with the useful truth and then devising an appropriate story. Have the students either read them aloud or work in small groups to present their fables dramatically. fits the definition of a fable. Ask students to write a fable of their own by first coming up with the useful truth and then devising an appropriate story. Have the students either read them aloud or work in small groups to present their fables dramatically.

GLOSSARY.

ALCHEMY: a medieval science devoted to the transformation of base metals into gold, the discovery of the cure for all disease, and the discovery of a means for indefinitely prolonging life a medieval science devoted to the transformation of base metals into gold, the discovery of the cure for all disease, and the discovery of a means for indefinitely prolonging life APOTHECARY: one who prepares and sells medicines BRAZIER: a pan for holding burning coals FULWORTH: a fictional town in Northumbria MANX CAT: a breed of cat distinguished most by its lack of a tail MONASTERY: a house for members of a religious order MONK: a man who is a member of a religious order MORTAR AND PESTLE: tools of an apothecary for the preparation of medicines NORTHUMBRIA: one of the ancient realms of Britain, often besieged by the Vikings. Northumbria lies in modern-day northern England one of the ancient realms of Britain, often besieged by the Vikings. Northumbria lies in modern-day northern England REEVE: a local administrator of an Anglo-Saxon king (the word ”sheriff” derives from ”s.h.i.+re reeve”) SPIKENARD: a fragrant ointment of the ancients a fragrant ointment of the ancients

AN INTERVIEW WITH AVI.

What was most challenging about writing this book?

This was an extraordinarily difficult book to write due to a number of things. It had to do with, in part, one of my first thoughts on winning the Newbery: the next one must really be good! Then I showed my publisher the book too quickly-I do so many revisions and so many changes. For example, when I first wrote Crispin: The Cross of Lead Crispin: The Cross of Lead, there was no lead cross in the story.

Since the rewriting is so important, what is the most vital thing you added late in the process?