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Thursday, March 19, 2020

Thegn - Anglo-Saxon Thegn or Thane

Thegn - Anglo-Saxon Thegn or Thane In Anglo-Saxon England, a thegn was a lord who held his land directly from the king in return for military service in time of war. Thegns could earn their titles and lands or inherit them. Initially, the thegn ranked below all other Anglo-Saxon nobility; however, with the proliferation of thegns came a subdivision of the class. There were kings thegns, who held certain privileges and answered only to the king, and inferior thegns that served other thegns or bishops. By a law of Ethelred II, the 12 senior thegns of any given hundred acted as a judicial committee that determined whether or not a suspect should be officially accused of a crime. This was evidently a very early precursor to the modern grand jury. The power of thegns declined after the Norman Conquest ​when lords of the new regime took control of most lands in England. The term ​thane persisted in Scotland until the 1400s in reference to a hereditary tenant of the crown who did not serve in the military. Alternate Spellings: thane Example: King Ethylgrihn called on his thegns to help defend against a Viking invasion.

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Popular Book Series With Cartoons

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Popular Book Series With Cartoons The Diary of a Wimpy Kid  series is  a big hit with both boys and girls, ages 8 to 12. Billed as a novel in cartoons, Book One is the diary of protagonist Greg Heffley. (Greg is upfront in wanting readers to know, This is a JOURNAL, not a diary and ...this was MOMs idea, not mine.)  Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with its combination of words and cartoons, is particularly appealing to reluctant readers. Summary of the Story Greg is one of three children. According to Greg, his little brother, Manny, never gets in trouble, even if he really deserves it, and his older brother Rodrick is always getting the best of Greg. In his diary, Greg details his daily activities, starting with the first day of middle school and his warnings to readers about choosing where to sit in class. How does Greg feel about middle school? He thinks its dumb because  You got kids like me who havent hit their growth spurt yet mixed in with these gorillas who need to shave twice a day. Whether its dealing with bullying, his friend Rowley, homework, or family life, Greg is always busy trying to figure out the angle that will make things work out best for him. Author Jeff Kinney does a great job, in words and pictures, of illustrating the general goofiness that comes with being a self-centered adolescent, and the hilarious things that happen as a result. Author and Illustrator Overview Diary of a Wimpy Kid is Jeff Kinneys first book. While a student at the University of Maryland, Kinney had his own comic strip, Igdoof, in the school newspaper. After college, he began writing Diary of a Wimpy Kid and putting it online in daily installments on FunBrain.com. Then, publisher Harry N. Abrams signed Kinney to a multi-book deal to create a Diary of a Wimpy Kid series for the Amulet Books imprint. Despite the success of his books, Kinney has kept his day job working for an Internet publishing company. As far as how much the series is based on his life, Kinney said in an interview. that the books are a mix of his own family stories growing up, but with his own comedic spin on them. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Recommendation The books lined pages, plus Gregs writing and his pen and ink sketches and cartoons, make it seem like an authentic diary which adds greatly to the readers enjoyment and relatability. If you are looking for a book with a main character who is a perfect role model for your child, this isnt it. But if you are looking for a funny book your kids will enjoy and identify with, grab a copy. Diary of a Wimpy Kid  is best suited for tweens and younger teens. (Amulet Books, An Imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2007. ISBN: 9780810993136) More Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books As of February 2017, there were eleven books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, including titles like  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. In addition, if Gregs diary has inspired your kids to try writing and drawing, they will enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Do-It-Yourself Book, which includes writing and drawing prompts, with lots of space for kids to fill. Sources ComicMix, Interview: Jeff KinneyWimpyKid.com, About the Author