The Middle Ages - The Knighthood
The Middle Ages - The Knighthood
by ReadWorks
Illustration by Lynn M. Hanousek
Knighthood is an important part of medieval European culture that has been depicted in many
children's books and movies. Knights were hardworking warriors who received land from a
noble in return for protection. Boys who wanted to be knights went through rigorous training
that included two main phases.
First, a boy in training became a page. He would leave home at about the age of seven. As a
page, he moved into the home of a knight where he would assist a squire and learn to use
small weapons. He would also begin his education in chivalry. This was the code of courtesy
and behavior expected of a knight. Have you ever heard anyone say, "It's nice to know
chivalry is not dead"? If you have, you'll know that the speaker has been impressed by
someone's good manners.
Next, the boy would continue his training and become a squire at 15 or 16. Each squire
worked for one particular knight, but a knight could have more than one squire. Squires acted
as personal servants to their knight. They set the table and served meals. They cleaned and
cared for the horses. If they could stick with it, though, squires were rewarded with serious
training as a mounted soldier. Each squire received his own horse and learned how to ride it.
He also accompanied his knight into battle.
After about five years of service, the squire might now be ready to become a knight. At a
ceremony, a knight, lord, or king dubbed the squire a knight. The new knight's life of service
as a warrior would now begin.
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The Middle Ages - The Knighthood - Comprehension Questions
Name: ___________________________________ Date: _______________
1. According to the text, how many phases of training did knights go through?
A. one
B. two
C. five
D. seven
2. Based on the text, what was the correct order for a boy to become a knight in medieval Europe?
A. The boy became a squire, then a knight, and finally dubbed a page.
B. The boy became a knight, then a squire, and finally dubbed a page.
C. The boy became a page, then a squire, and finally dubbed a knight.
D. The boy became a squire, then a page, and finally dubbed a knight.
3. Read these sentences from the text.
Each squire worked for one particular knight, but a knight could
have more than one squire. Squires acted as personal servants
to their knight. They set the table and served meals. They
cleaned and cared for the horses.
What can you conclude based on this evidence?
A. The squire phase of knight training was the easiest.
B. Squires were very helpful to their knight.
C. Many squires did not make it to become a knight.
D. Squires made life difficult for their knight.
4. Based on the text, how can the process of training to be a knight best be described?
A. very easy
B. very expensive
C. very playful
D. very long
5. What is the main idea of the text?
A. The most important part of being a knight was demonstrating chivalry.
B. In medieval Europe, becoming a knight was a long process.
C. Many children's books and movies are about medieval European culture.
D. The first phase of knighthood was becoming a page and assisting a squire.
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The Middle Ages - The Knighthood - Comprehension Questions
6. Read these sentences from the text.
As a page, he moved into the home of a knight where he would
assist a squire and learn to use small weapons. He would also
begin his education in chivalry. This was the code of courtesy
and behavior expected of a knight. Have you ever heard anyone
say, "It's nice to know chivalry is not dead"? If you have, you'll
know that the speaker has been impressed by someone's good
manners.
As used in these sentences, what does the word "impressed" mean?
A. having a negative feeling and anger about someone or something
B. having a positive feeling and respect about someone or something
C. having a funny feeling and laughter about someone or something
D. having a scared feeling and confusion about someone or something
7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence.
______ a squire was ready to become a knight, he would be dubbed a knight at a ceremony.
A. Because
B. Although
C. When
D. Before
8. According to the text, where did a page live?
9. Based on the text, what might the life of a knight in medieval Europe have looked like? Use
evidence from the text to support your answer.
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