Since this is a Writing Enhanced course, students are required to revise the first paper. Revising a paper means improving the paper’s writing and/or content. If there is insufficient improvement, the grade will not be raised. Revised papers are due one week after the papers are returned in class.
Answer the following question:
Wickham calls Gregory a “moralist” (p. 33) and that means he had strong notions of right and wrong, which guided his perception of the people he knew and his interpretation of events in his History of the Franks. He finds fault with King Sigibert; and he describes King Chilperic and Queen Fredegunda as morally corrupt and wicked rulers. How did they misbehave and what were their motives for their crimes? Of course, Bishop Gregory hated Chilperic and Fredebunda. Can you see alternative explanations for their conduct?
This paper should rely on Wickham, Medieval Europe, pp. 31-33 for the power of bishops; Bishop Gregory of Tours (d. 594); and the Frankish rulers he knew personally: King Sigibert (561-575), King Guntram (561-93), and King Chilperic (561-584) and his Queen, Fredegunda, mother of the future king, Chlotar II (584-629). See pp. 34-36 for background on the history of the kingdom of the Franks in Gregory’s time. The paper focuses mainly on the reading from Bishop Gregory of Tours’ History of the Franks, in the folder called “Fredegunda.”
Writing assignments will be graded on clear development of a thesis, careful organization of material, accuracy in discussing the paper's sources, understanding of historical events, and completeness in discussing the paper topic. Papers should also be free of major writing errors.