3-4+Ira+S.

Well, here goes nothing: **__A Proud Taste for Scarlet & Miniver__**

**FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012**

1.)

**Eleanor and Louis were betrothed to each other later than the typical betrothals.** **The typical betrothal is when one is an infant and Eleanor's and Louis's betrothal is later than usual.** **Eleanor was betrothed later** **because Eleanor's father****,** **William of Aquitaine,** **and grandfather,** **William of Troubadour,** **and father thought they were immortal. Abbot Sugar tells Prince Louis, "'...that the fair Eleanor was saved because her father** **and her grandfather thought they would never die'" (e. l. konigsburg 20). The grandfather passed down his belief that he and his son were immortal. This shows how they thought they were better and stronger than anyone else. William of Troubadour and William of Aquitaine were both arrogant and self-centered and these traits shows up a little in Eleanor.** **Prince Louis was betrothed late because he was the second son.** **"'I am second son and second choice, that is why I have not been promised in marriage'" (****20). Louis was not betrothed because he was the second son to the king. He became the prince when his brother, Philip, broke his neck riding his horse.**

**2.)**

**Duke William of Aquitaine's choice to betroth his daughter to Prince Louis changed the lives of Louis and Eleanor. Louis adored her and was quick to please her. In doing so, he made many choices he never would have without Eleanor. Because of Eleanor, Louis heart was hardened to try and impress Eleanor and he made the decision to try and appoint bishops to the church."Louis decided that he, not the Pope, should be the person to appoint bishops to the churches that stood on his soil" (e.l. konigsburg 20). This g ot Louis excommunicated from the church. Then, during his battles with Champagne, he set the houses of Vitry on fire to get the people to surrender. The villagers went into the church and the room collapsed killing all 1300 of them. Because of these events, Louis decided to go on a crusade to make up for his wrong deeds. During the crusade, Eleanor made a decision to spend the night in the green valley and not on the top of the mountain where they were supposed to be. The rear party could not find them and the Turks, lurking in the mountains, came down and attacked the rear party. "It was a slaughter. Louis's men were caught unarmed, unarmored and exhausted from their climb" (59). Almost every man died. Both Eleanor's and Louis's decisions affected themselves and the people around them.**


 * THURSDAY, MARCH 29th **

1.)

The idea of Divine Justice is like karma, if you sin in the eyes of the lord you will receive a consequence. Abbot Bernard thinks Geoffrey died from Divine Justice because Geoffrey kidnapped King Louis's steward. Geoffrey kidnapped the steward because the steward was attacking the Vexin during the absence of King Louis. Abbot Bernard says, "No one, he said, could treat an officer of the king that way" (konigsburg 80). Geoffrey returns the prisoner so his son can collect taxes in his land. Because he returns the prisoner, he gets the ban of excommunication lifted. On the way back from court, Geoffrey caught the fever. He died soon after. Immediately, Abbot Bernard suspected Divine Justice because Geoffrey was holding the steward and he must die. If Divine Justice really exists than any cruel, evil, or bad actions or actions against the Lord will cost in a punishment. Henry's action to try and make his laws work and not the church's laws was like Divine Justice because his loyal Thomas Becket turned against him and dashed Henry's big plans. Divine Justice is the idea of God giving punishment. Some natural events can be said to prove Divine Justice and some will not. It is all a matter of opinion.

2.)

Eleanor and Matilda are both against Becket being appointed archbishop because they think that Becket will follow the Lord and not Henry. Henry thinks Becket should be Archbishop of Canterbury because Henry thinks Becket will never give up his splendor and he thinks Becket will always follow Henry. Matilda Empress says, "Thomas will do whatever job is set before him, and he will do it well. Too well. He will always give his best to the higher sovereign. And, Henry, my son, as much as I love you, you are no match for God. Thomas will choose to serve God rather than you" (konigsburg 80). Matilda Empress and Eleanor are both against Becket being the archbishop because Becket will not serve Henry. Henry shows his confidence in Becket when he says, "He is not about to quit wearing brocade. By making Becket Archbishop of Canterbury, I am saving myself the trouble of finding another friend at court" (115-116). Henry thinks Thomas Becket will always love splendor and choose serving Henry over serving God. Also, it saved Henry from trying to make allies with a different court member. Appointing Becket as Archbishop of Canterbury had two possible outcomes. Becket could choose to serve G od and not Henry or Becket could choose to serve Henry and not God. The real outcome is that Thomas Becket chooses God and gives up his fancies and becomes humble, and later he becomes a saint. "The world well knows the story of the feud that developed between my son, King Henry, and his Archbishop, Thomas Becket" (117). It was a bad decision for King Henry to make Becket archbishop and Henry should have not have done it on a whim.



Elean or and King Henry's ways of teaching their sons for ruling are very different. Eleanor has Richard learn by following Eleanor everywhere she went and was introduced to the people of Aquitaine. "He took part of every ceremony. He sat by his mother when she held court and when she collected taxes. He learned everything from government on her side" (k onigsburg 139) King Henry teaches Young Henry by giving him the jobs of an errand boy and when Young Henry gets restless, King Henry gives him land. "Young Henry saw how mother taught Richard...and his anger at his father grew...He went on a feverish round of tournaments...He tried to lure Young Henry back with gifts and other bribes" (140) Teaching Young Henry by having him do the jobs of an errand boy and not having him learn government helped to destroy the family. Henry ends up fighting his own father and loathing his brother Richard because he is jealous on h ow Richard is taught in government. These teaching methods destroyed the family and changed the relationship between two brothers for the rest of their lives.
 * DUE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4th **
 * Consider the EQ: To what extent can a person's decisions and/or actions change his/her life or the lives of others? Now, how do Eleanor and King Henry's methods of teaching differ? How do their methods connect to the EQ and affect the lives of Young Henry and Richard? Be specific in your responses and discuss BOTH characters.


 * Consider the Courts of Love established by Eleanor and Marie. Also consider the articles read in class based on the rules of courtly love (the WebQuest). How have those rules affected how men treat women today? When/where do we see these played out the most?

The Courts of Love, established by Eleanor and Marie, brought a different meaning to how women were treated. Many of the courtly love rules survived until today. Men treat women with respect and as people not property. Not only are marriages based on love today, but men also treat women with chivalry. One of the rules of courtly love state, "Marriage is no real excuse for not loving" (De Arte Honeste Amandi). This means that marriage should not be a substitute for love. Men follow this today by marring out of love and both women and men can get divorced when the love is not there anymore. Also, men usually perform special acts of kindness to women and some good men treat women very well. We see chivalry mostly in movies and books. There are many romantic movies and novels. This genre of movie and novel depict love scenes and follows many of the courtly love rules like "One who is jealous cann ot love" (De Arte Honeste Amandi). The Courts of Love established by Eleanor and Marie have changed the way women are treated throughout the ages. They even made a new genre called romance.