This is if you've read the book TIMELINE by Michael Crichton. For school I have to do this assignment...?

Question

I don't get it..can you help me out: After reading this novel, select five mistaken notions about the past that the author has identified. What is each historical “myth,” and how has Michael Crichton rewritten it in order to correct our perception of history?

btw..i've read the book

Answer 1

First of all, did you read the book?

In my opinion most of the historical misperceptions are illuminated by the character Marek, either by stating what he believed other people thought or remarking at what he was surprised to discover himself.

It has been a while since I've read the book, but things I can think of was Marek commented on the modern notion that mediaval culture was dirty. He found they were fastidiously clean remarking they "wiped themselves with linen".

Another item he remarked upon was assumption they were sickly. He felt he was in good physical condition, but during his joust and subsequent sword fight he quickly realized he was the lesser of the two combatants.

We generally regard gentlewomen and clergy as chaste, but the Lady Clair prostituted herself to gain the Abbot's favor.

I'm sorry that's all I can think of at the moment, but that'll get you started on the idea.

By the way, the movie doesn't help much, and the book is certainly more well done than what I considered a pretty mediocre movie.

Answer 2

It's been a while since I've read the book. I hope I don't confuse things too much with the film. (which I enjoyed, but it had little to do with the book)

I won't come up with five "myths," but lets see what we can do.

One is our misconceptions about tounaments and knights doing "honorable combat." Popular literature and films show these tournaments as being highly organized, colorful events with highly ritualized rules governing the games. Crichton shows that the game had a much different purpose, and the rules had more to do with a person's place than with any control of the contest. For illustration, recall how the "bad guy" (i have forgotten his name) could get away with cheating and nearly beat the "good guy" to death, long after that joust was over. It was not so much that the games were fixed, but that the outcome depended as much as the king's whim.

Recall, also how knights were percieved by the populace. They felt as threatened by their king's knights as they were by the enemy kings. So much threatened that the citizenry living outside the fortified city resorted to banditry, treating ALL lone knights as potential threats and killing them when ever possible.

How about the mixture of the French and English languages and the blurring of boundaries of these, so called nations?

Do some of these things give you ideas that help.

Answer 3

Yes, I have seen the movie. Do NOT see the movie. It is a piece of crap. The book was very interesting whereas the movie missed everything. Don't try to bluff your way with the movie. We teachers can tell.

If you want to receive a really good grade, attempt to do some original thinking before you dip into the notes.

Go to these websites, and you'll get all the notes you need:

.freebooknotes.com

.bookrags.com

Answer 4

Oh sorry I read that a VERY long time ago and can't remember. Michael Crichton rocks though and your school is pretty cool for letting you study that instead of some other crap, lol.

Answer 5

Go read the book. It is such a good, easy reading book, that I am surprise you are having a hard time.
Maybe you need a tutor like I did.

Answer 6

yeah i read it a really long time ago, totally recommend the movie it will probably help you understand it

Answer 7

watch the movie its alot better

Answer 8

That is why you were given a brain, use it!