Introduction to Gothic Cathedrals

Here's a sketch of a medieval cathedral's foundation, sunk deep into the ground.

Today we began our study of Gothic cathedrals.

We are studying the cathedrals in anticipation of our trip to Washington, DC, where we will visit the majestic and beautiful Washington National Cathedral.

We started by defining the word architecture: the art and science of designing and constructing buildings. We learned that a footprint is the outline of a building at the point where the walls meet the ground and that the footprint of all Gothic cathedrals is the shape of a cross.

----------------

Before we leave Crispin, I wanted to share some fantastic final journal entries:

Lindsay [writing as John Aycliffe]: "Thump, thump, thump. Footprints, downstairs. I sat straight up in my bed. Throwing the bedsheets aside, I tore through the curtains, grabbed my sword and hid it in the folds of my cloak, bolting down the stairs. Sure enough, there he was. Too easy. I snuck up behind him and was about to run him through with my sword when he turned around. He pinned me to the ground, dagger at my neck. My sword skidded across the floor."

Artie [writing as Aycliffe]: "Well, well, well. Everything is going as planned. Bear, who is in the dungeon right now, acting as the bait. And Crispin ... he is the little fish who will swim on by and gobble up the worm. Oh Crispin, come on out!"

Lilly [writing as Bear]: "Darkness. Dark, faded memories. A nightmare too horrific to be true. I hear a tiny voice calling through the muddle. 'Crispin,' it says. My mouth grasps the name and pulls it close. Like a little flower in my hazy gruesome memory. My little flower. My Crispin has come back for me, to save my life."

Here's the Darth Vader grotesque that I described during class today.