Biography/Informational Text

"Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction"

David Macaulay 

Bibliographical Info: Macaulay, D. (1973). Cathedral:The Story of Its Construction. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Genre: Informational Texts: Science, Mathematics, and Technical Studies.
Age Range: Grades 6th-8th

Response: This richly illustrated book shows the intricate step-by-step process of a cathedral's growth. The plan is agreed on; the site is chosen; each craftsman's contribution is presented; his tools and materials are described. The details of the construction are graphically explained from the building of the foundation and the erection of the walls through the details of the flying buttresses, vaulting, and roofing, on to the completion of the towers and the casting of the bells. the grandeur of the cathedral unfolds through the book until finally the reader shares with the townspeople of Chutreaux as sense of wonder at the power of their creation. At first, I really didn't think this book would be very engaging, but the illustrations and the amount of detail that went into each picture amazed me and the text never felt like too much. The author did a fantastic job of putting everything into perspective, especially in regards to the time period. This book reminded me of the time I traveled to Mexico during the summer of my junior year and all the beautiful architecture and land marks that just took my breath away. Reading this brought me back to the feeling of  awe and just utter astonishment when walking into one of the cathedrals located in Mexico City. It just goes to show the amount of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that goes into making something like this possible.

Critique:  Cathedral begins when people from Chutreaux, an imaginary town in France resolve to build one of the highest, widest and beautiful cathedrals following the the lightening disaster that struck their church guided by the Flemish architect William of Planz (followed by an array of other architects). The author first introduces us to the constructors, their tools and plans. Then gradually, it  follows the step by step construction of the cathedral for a period of 80 years. After reading this book, I kept trying to figure out how such a magnificent structure could be built with such fundamental equipment over 800 years ago. The author is realistic in the sense that he brings out the worries of the constructors, and architects who were afraid that they would be dead before they could complete building the cathedral. The language used is simple for younger children to understand. I would recommend this book because it is a useful resource in the sense that it gives the reader a rough idea of engineering in the middle ages. The glossary at the end of the book helps guide readers in how to read the book and gives diagrams and picture that show how the cathedral was erected from its foundation. By the end of the book, we are able to share in the joy of the town people and their collective efforts to build their house of God. I thought the black and white pictures would take away from the aesthetic appeal of this work however, the detailed textured illustrations bring the story to life and engage the reader. The level of knowledge and care that went into each picture is awe-inspiring, and yet instantly legible. Some examples of themes might be: If people work together, they can do something far greater than they could on their own. Competition for glory is a great motivator. True craftsmen can create extraordinary things. 
   

 

Connections: By the end of this lesson, students will know and be able to identify, and explain in a blog, or on paper, at least four techniques people used in medieval times to build cathedrals.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.1 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.7.3 Analyze the interactions of individuals,, events, and ideas in a text (e.g., how ideas influence individuals or events of how individuals influence ideas or events).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.6 Use technology, including the internet, to produce, publish and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology's capacity to link other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. What is the setting of the story? Why is this setting important? What ideas were important to the people?
2. Provide at least two reasons-ideas or events- that influenced the people of Chutreaux to build a new Cathedral.
3. What is the difference between a craftsman, an apprentice, and a laborer? Why was it important to have all three on the job?
4. Examine the illustrations on pages 8-10, and identify who uses the square and what the purpose of this tool is.
5. Which  craftsmen were responsible for getting the stone blocks for construction? Explain their roles.
6. Examining the illustration on page 16, what were two ways that large pieces of stone were carried out of the quarry?
7. What is the main theme of this story? use specific and relevant evidence from the text to support your answers.

Resources: 
http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/cathedral-the-story/#gsc.tab=0
http://video.pbs.org/video/1619317222/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZpOd2pHiI0
http://www.doe.mass.edu/candi/model/units/ELAg7-AuthorsStyle.pdf