Mr. Dunbar
AP European History/Summer Assignment
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Pillars of the Earth
Pillars of the Earth is one of my personal favorites and I’m looking forward to discussing and analyzing
it with you in the fall. You can find it at local bookstores, the library or online (I buy many of my books
at half.com at discounted prices). While this book is very long, you will find yourself entranced by the
characters, suspense, and themes (like power, human nature, how humans make meaning in life). This
assignment is a means to introduce students to the basic political, social, intellectual, and religious
structures of the Middle Ages. A focused reading of this novel will give students an array of information
and an overview of the most important elements of this period of history in a way that I hope will be
interesting and enjoyable. This is a college level class and students are expected to be aware of and to
discuss mature issues. This book has violence that reflects the realities of the struggle for power in the
Middle Ages. It also has a rape scene that represents in raw form the way society treated women and
perceptions of women during this period. If parents object to this content there is an alternative
assignment available (please contact me at richard.dunbar@rtsd.org for details regarding the alternative
assignment).
As you read the novel:
You are reading this novel to understand the structure of society, the church and the monarchy. What are
the hierarchies involved in each of these sectors of society? How do people interact with one another?
What are their roles? What was the role of women in this society? How were they treated? The role of
peasants? As you read this novel keep these ideas in mind. Annotate those parts of the novel that you
believe have something to do with understanding the answers to the above questions. Read with a
historian’s eye to understand the important structures that were the foundation of the Middle Ages. The
expectation is that you come to class with prepared notes on these topics.
Assignment:
Answer each of the following questions thoroughly and thoughtfully. Identify specific passages (with
page numbers) from the book in your response. Your responses to these questions will be used to
facilitate a formal/graded class discussion about the major themes in the book. Written responses to these
questions will be collected sometime during the second week of school.
1. Ken Follett has said: “When I started to look at cathedrals, I wondered: Who built them, and why?
The book is my answer to that question.”
According to the book, why were the great medieval cathedrals built?
Some things to consider…
How does the building of the cathedral satisfy the ambitions of the main characters—Tom Builder, Prior
Philip, Aliena, and Jack? How does itaffect the lives of other important characters in the story?
2. Women were second-class citizens in medieval society and the church. Is this accurately reflected in
Pillars of the Earth?
Some things to consider…
What attitudes toward women are shown by Prior Philip and William Hamleigh? How do Agnes, Ellen,
and Aliena respond to society’s expectations?
3. Ken Follett has said: “I’m not a very spiritual person. I’m more interested in the material problems of
building a cathedral.” Is Pillars of the Earth a spiritual book?
Some things to consider…
What motivates Prior Philip? What does Tom say at the beginning of chapter 5, when Philip asks him
why he wants to be master builder? In chapter 16, why does Philip ask Remigius to come back to the
priory?
Current Events:
It’s important that you begin the year with an understanding of the political and economic climate in
Europe today. The AP European history curriculum covers the High Middle Ages through Europe today.
Therefore, it’s imperative that you begin the year with a clear understanding of modern Europe and the
challenges it faces today. While there is not a formal current events assignment for this course, it is
strongly recommended and expected that you familiarize yourself with political, economic, intellectual,
and social trends in modern Europe. Use the websites for the following publications to enhance your
understanding of European current events: The Economist, The New York Times, & BBC.
I look forward to September.
Mr. Dunbar