Medieval Catapults

•Word origin•History•Chaucer and Framed stories

•Elements of plots

Catapult• The word 'Catapult'

comes from the two Greek words "kata" and "pultos". "Kata" means downward and "pultos" refers to a small circular shield which was carried in battle. Katapultos was then taken to mean "shield piercer".

Catapult’s Purpose

•Siege weapon

•Knock down castle walls

•First weapon used in biological warfare

• “Warwolf”Trebuchet • Largest catapult

ever built by the English

Geoffrey Chaucer

•Born 1343 in London, England

•Wrote “The Canterbury Tales”

“The Canterbury Tales”

•A group of people on a pilgrimage are traveling to St. Thomas a Becket to pray

The Wife of Bath’s Tale

• She was a traveler in Chaucer’s tale

• This is her “framed story” in Chaucer’s bigger story about the pilgrimage

• A framed story – a story inside another story

Plot Diagram

2

1

3

4

5

Plot (definition)

• Plot is the organized pattern or sequence of events that make up a story. Every plot is made up of a series of incidents that are related to one another.

1. Exposition• This usually occurs at the beginning of a short

story. Here the characters are introduced. We also learn about the setting of the story. Most importantly, we are introduced to the main conflict (main problem).

2. Rising Action

•This part of the story begins to develop the conflict(s). A building of interest or suspense occurs.

3. Climax• This is the turning point of the story. Usually the main character comes face to face with a conflict. The main character will change in some way.

4. Falling Action•All loose ends of the plot are tied up. The conflict(s) and climax are taken care of.

5. Resolution•The story comes to a reasonable ending.

Putting It All Together1. Exposition

2. Rising Action

3. Climax

4. Falling Action

5. Resolution

Beginning of Story

Middle of Story

End of Story

Writing Scenario• King Edward I of

England has already conquered Wales and now has it in for Scotland. He has commissioned your team to go to Scotland and build the best catapult ever. Then you must use the catapult to lead the siege against Stirling Castle in Scotland.

Assignment• Using the scenario mentioned and your team

members as characters, write a framed story about using your team using your catapult in the siege against Stirling Castle.

• Give your catapult a name.• Use the story map to organize the plot of

your story so it has a beginning, a middle, and an end

• Write the one page story• Publish your story on a digital poster