a. What was the theme of the reading? The Theme of the reading is the 12 articles of Peasants which is simply 12 requests by peasants to a lord about their working conditions.
b. Cite a specific idea/phrase that stood out to you. I found it interesting that the serfs continued to go back to the scriptures. It Seems they are almost mockingly asking for the lord to review the bible to see if the things he is doing are wrong. The Serfs also seem absolutley ok with revising anything they write down that is not completely on the same page as scriptures. i think this is because they feel they are being lorded over by a very hypocritical king. Explain why.
b. What new ideas did it generate? I think it generated Ideas of true freedom. all they want is to be released so they can be free.
c. What modern parallels do you see? I find modern parallels in the Ghettoes of America. Many people try all their lives to escape the ghetto they were born in, yet not very many make it out. These people feel opprressed and misunderstood, they feel as if nothing is being done for their sake.
d. How does it relate to the text? This has a lot to do with Absolutism and the beginning of the French Revolution. There was only a upper and lower class, lords and serfs, slaves and their "owners". This led to a massive uprising that the upper class could not control. I believe if these articles were not met, there was more than likely some sort of revolt or attempt at revolt that ended up happening.
