Lesson 30 Essay
It begins with a boy
named Wulf. He is a Saxon thane in the service of Harold. In the
first chapter, Wulf crashes into a young man named Walter Fitz-Urse.
Walter, a Norman freeman in service to the bishop, demands an
apology. Wulf gives his apology, but, when Walter doesn't accept it,
Wulf exclaims that he wished all the Normans were out of England.
Harold punishes Wulf for being rude by banishing him to his lands for
a while.
Osgod, Wulf's man,
accompanies him. Leof, Wulf's teacher, teaches Wulf about keeping his
lands and people in good condition. He is taught how to throw an axe
and to fight. Wulf grows to be a strong man and wise battle planner.
It is a year before Wulf is called back to court. Sometime after
Wulf's return, Harold is captured by Duke William and held captive.
Wulf is able to get back to England and free Harold with the help of
a friend named Guy de Burg. Wulf starts suspecting that his old
adversary, Walter Fitz-Urse is plotting to kill Harold so William
could become king instead. He sends one of Osgod's friends to watch
Walter. Wulf's suspicions come true as he sees Walter sneak up to
Harold's room at night. There is a fight and Walter dies.
Battles
continue to happen after this, and these such battles eventually lead
up to the Battle of Hastings. (This is a very important and very true
battle in history.) Off in another mini battle, Osgod loses his arm.
Wulf tells him to stop fighting and
wait until he's needed.
Harold, who is king by now, is shot with an
arrow and is killed. Wulf and Beorn are about to be killed as well
when the Lord de Burg jumps in front of them. He pleads for their
life, and in exchange William will become king. William agrees and
he is made king. Wulf, Osgod, and Beorn are
made prisoners and are put in the care of the de Burgs. Once the
Lord de Burg has them under his roof, he tells Wulf that he can marry
his daughter, Agnes. Wulf accepts the offer, and they get married and
have a son. But after this, sadly, Wulf attends the burial of Guy de Burg. Guy
had been badly injured at a previous raid on Harold's camp, and had never
recovered fully.
This
book is indeed very sad, but also has a very good look on Saxon and Norman
culture and lifestyle.
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