Minstrels were the journalists of that period. They told
stories and they represented avant-guard. Their job was to
write poems and songs to be told and sung by them in fairs
and mainly in castles. As a payment they got some food,
lodging and clothes. For that reason it was very important
to please those who asked for their services. The noble
women who lived in the castles enjoyed the “virtual” freedom
of the gossip the minstrels brought with them.
Students who are assigned this role should study the life
style of noble women as seen through the eyes of the
minstrels and compare it to that of peasant women.
Use the Internet information to answer these questions
specifically related to your role character:
1. How do you imagine the role of women at medieval parties?
2. How often did they have parties in that period?
3. You may choose one of today's ways of having fun
and adjust it to meet the code of the Middle Ages.
4. What was the role of women in medieval music?
5. Study the differences between peasant and noble women in
relation to entertainment.
6. Do you know any women minstrels or women troubadours?
