Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

How might the attitudes, lifestyles, and experiences of those in the medieval period compare to our experiences today? What was the role of the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages?

Teaching Suggestion: The events of the novel take place in the English countryside during a medieval-like period. The characters in the novel are anthropomorphic animals who either live in Redwall Abbey or in the Mossflower district outside of the abbey. Students may find it beneficial to explore the lifestyle of those during the medieval period as well as the role of the Catholic Church in everyday life at that time to better understand the setting and given circumstances of the novel. The class might approach this topic by first brainstorming a list of subtopics about medieval times (e.g., daily life, social hierarchy, conflict and danger, tools and weaponry, historical facts, structures and living conditions); after brainstorming, small groups might discuss and share known or researched information. These and similar resources can be helpful in exploring the medieval period.

• This article describes the Middle Ages including the attitudes of the time, the role of the church, and art.