(Get Answer)

Read an excerpt from Andrew Latham's The Holy Lance and answer a series of questions . Additional research is not necessary, and should not be included. DO NOT take material from the Internet to use as answers; these questions are asking for YOUR reflections on the assigned text. As a work of historical fiction, The Holy Lance is meant to portray the Middle Ages in a realistic way. Discuss three details from this chapter that seem realistically medieval to you, and explain why they seem realistic. If you had to apply one of Umberto Eco's 'Three Little Middle Ages' (see "How Is Popular Medievalism Constructed?" from Week 2) to The Holy Lance, which one would you choose--the Middle Ages as a pretext, the Middle Ages as a barbaric age, or the Middle Ages of Romanticism? Explain the reason for your choice. Christianity plays a major role in the lives of Latham's characters, but not all of them are depicted as sincere believers. This is clearly a deliberate choice on Latham's part. Why do you think he chooses to portray some of his characters as cynical or political about their faith? Do you think this depiction is a realistic reflection of religious feeling in the Middle Ages? Why or why not? Latham's academic career means he is deeply interested in the modern Middle East and its conflicts. How do you think this academic background shapes his portrayal of the Crusades? (Note: to be able to answer this question, you need to read the biography provided about Latham!)