Recitation: Off the record…

Your Mission:

To imagine the conversation between Margery Kempe and Julian of Norwich that Kempe doesn’t tell us about.

In recounting her encounter with Julian of Norwich, Margery Kempe tells us what all the two women said about God.  What else might they have talked about that Kempe doesn’t disclose?  How about the relative merits of pursuing a spiritual vocation in the world vs. in an anchorhold?

Preparation:

Write 100-150 words of a debate between Margery and Julian over the relative merits of their career choices.  Is it easier/worthier to be a holy woman in the world or in an anchorhold?  You can take different approaches, of course–your imagined Margery and Julian might be arguing for the merits of their choice, or arguing that the other woman had it easier or chose more wisely.  Your debate should reflect what you have learned about the lives of the two women and about the lives of medieval wives and anchoresses.

Recitation:

Exchange your debates, and embellish each other’s posts with comebacks and counter arguments so that together you create a robust discussion of the relative merits of the two lifestyle choices.

Report:

Flesh out your debate to around 350 words, drawing upon the insights and ideas you gleaned from recitation.  Indicate which of your colleagues’ ideas contributed to your final product.  Which route would you opt for if you were a medieval woman who wanted to pursue a spiritual vocation, and why?