What are characteristics of Gothic architecture?
on Summary
VISUAL ARTS
Most art in the Middle Ages was symbolic. It was
created to glorify God, not to bring fame to the artist.
The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris is a fine
example of the period's artistic advancements. Notre
Dame was built in a style called Gothic architecture.
Gothic churches and cathedrals were taller and felt
airier than their predecessors because Gothic
architecture used flying buttresses on the outside of
the structure. They supported walls, making it possible
to have larger windows and more interior light. Flying
buttresses also made interior columns no longer
necessary. Cathedrals were decorated inside and out.
Stained glass windows became common. Murals of
religious scenes and items made of gold and gems
could also be found inside. Many exteriors featured
statues of saints and kings. Gargoyles, rain spouts
carved to look like beasts, were also common.
Religious texts were works of art in their own right.
Manuscripts were decorated with pictures or designs
in a process called illumination. Many medieval
tapestries, or woven wallhangings, were made by
noble women. Hung on castle walls to prevent drafts,
tapestries showed scenes from daily life or mythical
creatures such as unicorns and dragons.
What type of scenes
typically appeared on
medieval tapestries?
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Circle three themes found
in medieval literature.
LITERATURE
Literature of the Middle Ages was varied in style and
topic. Many of the writings from this era dealt with
religion, as few people who were not priests or monks
could read or write. Examples include sermons and
tales of saints' lives. One famous medieval writer was
a nun who created poems and music to go with them.
Her name was Hildegard of Bingen.
Nonreligious writings included epics, long stories
about heroes and villains, such as the Song of Roland.
Romances were stories about true love and chivalry,
which is the code of honor knights were supposed to
live by. It required knights to be generous and
courteous, especially to women. Stories that are still
familiar today, such as King Arthur and his knights of
the Round Table, were featured in some medieval
not to old
STORE
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