Pontes Books

Book Focus: The Prince and the Pauper – Pontes Books Yellow Version (and Orange Version)

We understand that there are many different options to choose from when it comes to the Pontes Books versions of The Prince and the Pauper. For that reason, we have been featuring the different versions in this and previous blog posts. For a brief overview of the different versions, see our previous blog post. Today we are focusing on the yellow version (and the orange version).

What is the yellow version?

So what does that look like? And why does it help?

Simpifying the vocabulary

Original sentence example: Tom Canty, left alone in the prince’s cabinet, made good use of his opportunity. He turned himself this way and that before the great mirror, admiring his finery; then walked away, imitating the prince’s high-bred carriage, and still observing results in the glass.
Example with simplified vocabulary: Tom Canty, left alone in the prince’s study, took advantage of being alone. He turned around in front of a large mirror, admiring his fancy clothes; then walked away, imitating the prince’s royal walk, continuing to watch himself in the mirror.

You can see the corresponding words/phrases that have been color-coded above. Sometimes it’s simply a synonym that has been substituted (like glass to mirror). Other times, a whole phrase has been reworded to simplify it (like “still observing results” to “continuing to watch himself”). Sometimes if there are too many challenging vocabulary words, it can really get in the way of understanding the story. This is what sometimes makes Classics unenjoyable to readers. Removing the obstacle of challenging vocabulary can help readers to get to the core of what makes these books so timeless: the story!

So what is the orange version?

The orange version combines two books in one. It takes the original Mark Twain version (Red Version) and presents it side-by-side the yellow version. This is referred to as a parallel text. This allows readers to switch back and forth between the original version (that contains the more complex vocabulary and sentence structure) and the yellow version. Readers can challenge themselves by reading the original version and then using the yellow version if certain sections are confusing. Or they could read the yellow version first to get the general idea and then read the red version to get the full effect of the original language used. The possiblities are endless!

If you have any questions, contact us at admin@pontesbooks.com.

The Prince and the Pauper – Chapter Five – Current Event

In Chapter 5 of The Prince and the Pauper, “Edward’s” behavior is very concerning to Henry VIII and other individuals within the palace. Why can he all of a sudden no longer remember details about his life?! Today our current event blog explores…

SUDDEN MEMORY LOSS

In the chapter, Henry and other members of his staff test “Edward” (actually Tom) to see what he can and cannot remember. He’s able to remember Latin and who his father is, yet he is unable to remember French and other details about his life. Why could this be? Henry comes to the conclusion that it is due to overstudying, and that “Edward” needs to take a break from school in order to destress and regain his memory. Obviously we as readers know that it is not actually Edward experiencing memory loss, but actually an entirely different person. But this still led me to a few questions: What causes sudden memory loss? Are there real-life examples of people who have experienced this sensation? Would a scenario like this be possible in real life? Keep reading or watch the video below to see what I found out.

Amy Losak

Amy Losak, 64 at the time of one of her bouts of memory less, has experienced sudden memory loss TWICE in her life: once in 2016 and once in 2020. In her experience, she had hours pass of which she had no recollection. She forgot why there were boxes everywhere (they were doing a home renovation). She also asked why there was laundry on the bed (she forgot that they had been in the process of folding laundry).

This memory loss was attribute to Transient Global Amnesia. People who experience this tend to lose their short-term memory, and it can last anywhere from minutes to hours. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), possible causes of this could be low oxygen levels, migrains, pain, stress, and more. There are not really any treatments, but it is a pretty rare condition to experience, and most people only experience it once.

Christine Hyung-Oak Lee

Christine Hyung-Oak Lee initially experienced her memory loss suddenly when she was 33 years old. She suddenly experienced a stroke due to a blod clot in her brain. As a result of this, she lost her short-term memory as well as her ability to access connections between long-term memories.

In order to account for this, she needed to write everything that happened to her down in a notebook. Even simple tasks like cooking became difficult for her. It took her years for her brain to somewhat return to normal. Ultimately, she was able to form connections between memories again, as well as the ability to transfer short-term memories to long-term. She wrote a memoir called “Tell Me Everything You Don’t Remember: The Stroke That Changed My Life” about her experience.

Henry Molaison

Though Henry Molaison’s story isn’t quite current (his story is from 1953), he was truly influential in the field of brain study, so I felt it would be important to include. He was 27 when he experienced memory loss. In order to help cure his epilepsy, Henry underwent a “psychosurgical” procedure where two holes were drilled in the front of his skull. Then the front portion of his brain, the amygdala and part of the hippocampus, were sucked out because it was believed this was the part of his brain causing his seizures.

After this procedure, he lost his ability to story and retrieve new experiences. This fasincated brain scientists and Henry (known to scientists as H.M.) became the subject of many studies. This ultimately led to many advances in the areas of brain science, especially related to memory.

But Can Stress Cause Memory Loss?

As you probably noticed, most of those examples had a clear cause to the memory loss (stroke, brain surgery). Transient global amnesia can be caused by stress, but typically it doesn’t last beyond a few hours. So what other research is out there regarding stress causing memory loss?

There was a 2016 study that used mice to test this very idea. They studied mice in a maze. Mice were tasked with completing a maze that they had previously learned. But then other agressive mice were introduced to the scenario, and this caused the mice to experience high stress. The mice that were stressed out by the agressive mice were no longer able to remember the way out of the maze. The mice that did not have stress from an aggressive mouse were able to remember the route just fine.

The researchers noted that the stress in the mice caused their immune system to attack their brain, leading to brain inflammation and prevention new brain cell growth. This resulted in problems with memory loss. They also found that these effects were long-lasting; the stressed-out mice still exhibited these behaviors for four weeks after the experiment.

Though the test has not been replicated it humans, it does seem that Henry VIII wasn’t totally crazy when suggesting that stress caused “Edward” to lose some memories.

Some Movies Including Memory Loss

References

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-11-17/no-recollection-woman-has-sudden-unexplained-episodes-of-memory-loss

https://www.businessinsider.com/anterograde-amnesia-christine-hyung-oak-lee-memoir-2017-2

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/may/05/henry-molaison-amnesiac-corkin-book-feature

https://www.sciencealert.com/researchers-show-how-stress-could-be-destroying-your-brain

https://www.imdb.com/list/ls000698036/

The Prince and the Pauper – Chapter Five – Historical Tidbit

In Chapter 5 of The Prince and the Pauper, we are introduced to a character who Henry VIII absolutely loathes. However, Mark Twain gives the readers little to no background information on him. Today we explore the man whose death was Henry VIII’s dying wish…

The Duke of Norfolk

Was the Duke of Norfolk really a real historical figure? Was he actually placed in the tower? Was Henry VIII actually obsessed with having him killed? Keep reading or watch the video below for more information.

Below you will find the Ch. 5 where Henry VIII rants about wanting the Duke of Norfolk dead.

“Peace! Insult not mine ears with his hated name. Is this man to live for ever? Am I to be baulked of my will? Is the prince to tarry uninstalled, because, forsooth, the realm lacketh an Earl Marshal free of treasonable taint to invest him with his honours? No, by the splendour of God! Warn my Parliament to bring me Norfolk’s doom before the sun rise again, else shall they answer for it grievously!” (p. 24-25)

In case that wordy quote means nothing to you, here’s the same speech, but from a version where the vocabulary has been simplfied (the yellow version of the book).

“Quiet! Don’t insult me by saying his name. Won’t that man ever die? Are my wishes going to be ignored? Is the prince supposed to wait around without an official ceremony, because, in reality, the kingdom doesn’t have any Earl Marshal who hasn’t committed treason who can present him with the official honors he deserves? No, by the glory of God! Warn my Parliament to kill Norfolk before the sun rises again, or else they will be in big trouble!” (p. 24-25)

Who was the Duke of Norfolk?

The Duke of Norfolk (actually the 3rd Duke of Norfolk…the one who was Duke at the time of Henry VIII’s reign) was named Thomas Howard. He was given the position of Lord High Admiral in 1513, which means he was the head of the Royal Navy. Throughout Henry VIII’s reign, Thomas Howard’s influence rose and fell, but there were moments where he was essentially second in command after Henry. He was also the uncle of two of Henry’s wives, Anne Boleyn (Henry’s 2nd wife) and Catherine Howard (Henry’s 5th wife). Incidentally, both of his nieces were beheaded by Henry.

Throughout his time serving Henry VIII, he had a number of strikes against him that ultimately led to his imprisonment in the Tower of London. One of these strikes was that Henry VIII found out about Catherine Howard’s prior relationships, and he accused the Howards (including Thomas) of hiding it from him. However, Henry soon got over this, and Thomas was not in trouble. Additionally, Thomas was pretty conservative in religion, and was not enthusiastically on Henry’s side when it came to switching England over to the Church of England.

But the thing that ultimately landed the Duke in the Tower was related to a treasonous act committed by his son. His son, Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey, decided to include arms associated with King Edward the Confessor on his own coat of arms. This was something that only kings were supposed to do. This upset Henry so much that he threw Henry and his father Thomas into the Tower.

What happened to him?

In real life, he was thrown in the Tower toward the end of Henry’s reign and remained there throughout all of Edward VI’s reign as king as well. He was ultimately released by Queen Mary I (Henry VIII’s daughter, who reigned after Edward passed away). After being released, most of his previous titles were restored, and he continued working in the palace. This differs from his fate in The Prince and the Pauper, but I don’t want to spoil anything if you haven’t made it to that part of the story yet!

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References

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Howard-3rd-duke-of-Norfolk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Howard,_Earl_of_Surrey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Howard,_3rd_Duke_of_Norfolk

The Prince and the Pauper – Chapter Five – Vocabulary

If you ever get the opportunity to meet someone royal in person, it’s probably pretty important to know how to speak to them. Both past and present royals have specific titles that you are required to address them by. Today for our Chapter 5 vocab words, we are examining…

lord, master, highness, grace, liege, worship, majesty

Depending on your familiarity with the language used with royals, you may or may not have already known that all of these words can be used as titles to address kings, queens, princes, and princesses. Throughout The Prince and the Pauper, we see these terms frequently used in different ways. But they essentially all mean the same thing. Keep reading or watch the video below for more info!

About these titles

These titles are all possibilities for addressing someone who has a higher social standing or royal position that one. These formal titles originate from the belief that monarchs are chosen by God. They need to be treated with the highest respect because they are the closest thing on Earth to God. Some of these titles are used for people with higher titles, like a queen or queen, and some are used for lower nobles like dukes and duchesses. One of the tricky things about these titles is that some involve the word “my” (my lord) and some involve the word “your” (your majesty).

Etymology

Title/Address	Etymology
your worship	weorþscipe (Old English) = to venerate; honor shown to an object
your majesty	maiestatem (Latin) = greatness, honor, excellence
your highness	heanes (Old English) = royalty, excellence, nobility
your grace	gratia (Latin) = favor, esteem; pleasing quality
my lord	hlaford (Old English) = master of household
my master	magister (Latin) = chief, head, director, teacher
my liege	laeticus (Germanic) = leader of a band of free men

Sentences/Additional Forms

Straightforward sentence: “Your majesty, may I please ask you for a favor?”
Sentence from the chapter: “But is it not I that speed him hence, my liege? How long might he not live, but for me?” (p. 25)
Other forms: n/a

But wait, there’s more!

Here are some of the correct titles to use with royals/nobles modern-day (particulary in the UK):

King = “His Majesty, the King”
Queen = “Her Majesty, the Queen”
Prince = “His Royal Highness, Prince of (Name of Country)”
Princess = “Her Royal Highness, Princess of (Name of Country)”
Duke = “His Grace, the Duke of (Name of Country)”
Duchess = “Her Grace, the Duchess of (Name of Country)”

Other Etiquette Rules

Don’t touch a king/queen (no handshakes unless they reach out to you)
Wear formal attire (fancy; avoid sleeveless/casual)
No slouching/arms crossed
Kisses are only for family members or close friends
No wrists, elbows, or hands on the table (at a meal)
Wait for the host to place the napkin first
Partial curtsies/bows upon meeting royalty

References

https://www.nobility-association.com/etiquetteaddressingroyals.htm?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=b9c88b7cc4e6adf3e5787fe31c98ca49b979562e-1606009160-0-AdVExh1r5LCyg_yyiQYJ3suR5OHREDIlU_T0cz_tErWrVlXubfAGKhpseL3CaJzTp0MH8uicghL8dNtx2TAZKVkITgcXdZ0TrlM_KNMQuQGFE2FGcHOOynDvIovui4XldzIGn46El1nhGXa8OIbsk54lFXIIaV7WO7-Si2S9fPnFKMPbCbBayu5UCdZv12JfGv1H4WSKAwzAwr7qFieXwmkN761-sIjs5WUGoxKRwYPgZSJ6H_neLxgMe7V2_FkfWuw6PlBAuoPqAJv7rYSjQUIHoYNzn0VTw6DKwYzY7GU4whiowO2YJXek_v-SZy4_dTtkVj1e56mVS7rpas4Ixjw

https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/liege#:~:text=If%20you%20refer%20to%20someone,from%20the%20Medieval%20Latin%20laeticus.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/lord#:~:text=lord%20(n.),English%20dryhten%20was%20more%20frequent).

https://www.etymonline.com/word/master

https://www.etymonline.com/word/highness

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worship#:~:text=3%20Modern%20worship-,Etymology,its%20simplest%2C%20worth%20to%20something.

https://www.etymonline.com/word/grace

https://www.etymonline.com/word/majesty

Book Focus: The Prince and the Pauper – Pontes Books White Version (and Pink Version)

We understand that there are many different options to choose from when it comes to the Pontes Books versions of The Prince and the Pauper. For that reason, we are going to spotlight the different versions in this and upcoming blog posts. For a brief overview of the different versions, see our previous blog post. Today we are focusing on the white version (and the pink version).

What is the white version?

The white version of the story is probably the farthest from the original version because there are three modifications that have been applied to it. First of all, the vocabulary has been simplified. Secondly, the sentence structure has been simplified. Lastly, the amount of text has been cut roughly in half. However, the overall story, the content on each page, the content in each chapter, and the page numbers are still the same as the original Twain story.

So what does that look like? And why does it help?

Original Twain Version (Red Version)

In the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him. On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him. All England wanted him too. England had so longed for him, and hoped for him, and prayed God for him, that, now that he was really come, the people went nearly mad for joy. Mere acquaintances hugged and kissed each other and cried.

Word Count: 102

White Version

In London in 1537, a boy was born. He was a part of the Canty family, who were poor. His family did not want him. On the same day, another child was born in London. He was part of the Tudor family, who were rich. His family did want him. In fact, everyone in England wanted him.

Word Count: 57

Both of these passages were taken from the beginning of Chapter 1. The most obvious differences upon first glance is the length of the two passages. Extra details that are not essential to the plot of the story have been eliminated in the white version. Additionally, the wording has been simplified (just like the yellow and blue versions). The page numbers still remain the same because the words on the page of the white version have been double-spaced. This way, the content on each page remains the same and there are the same total number of pages in the white version as the other versions, even though the actual word count is lower.

So what is the pink version?

The pink version combines two books in one. It takes the original Mark Twain version (red version) and presents it side-by-side the white version. This is referred to as a parallel text. This allows readers to switch back and forth between the original version and the white version. Readers can challenge themselves by reading the original version and then using the white version if certain sections are confusing. Or they could read the white version first to get the general idea and then read the red version to get the full effect of the original language used. However it is important to note that it is not as easy to jump back and forth between the two sides in the pink version since about half the words have been elimnated in the white version.

If you have any questions, contact us at admin@pontesbooks.com.

The Prince and the Pauper – Chapter Four – Fun Fact

Have you ever had an encounter with someone and they were so unbelievably rude to you that after you walked away from the interaction you couldn’t stop thinking about it? Were you able to take a step back and think about the fact that maybe they just didn’t know any better? Or did you just automatically assume the worst about them? Most would have a hard time not being upset and angry, but Edward shows us a great example of how to act instead in Chapter 4. Today we’re exploring…

Gaining Empathy through Learning

Edward’s experience with the Christ’s Church/Christ’s Hospital boys in Chapter 4 demonstrates some of the worst treatment that Edward experiences throughout the story. He is mocked, made fun of, and abused by the boys. They even send their dogs to attack him. But after walking away from this horrible situation, Edward reflects on the whole interaction. He comes to the conclusion that the reason the boys were so cruel was because they lacked an education, and that “teachings out of books” would “soften their hearts”. So is it true? Can book learning really increase empathy in a person? Keep reading or watch the video below to explore what I found.

Reference in The Prince and the Pauper

“And now and then his mind reverted to his treatment by those rude Christ’s Hospital boys, and he said, “When I am king, they shall not have bread and shelter only, but also teachings out of books; for a full belly is little worth where the mind is starved, and the heart … for learning softeneth the heart and breedeth gentleness and charity.” (p. 15)

What is empathy? How do we develop it?

Empathy is understanding how others feel and being compassionate towards them. There are MANY resources that list different ways we can actively develop empathy. Most people develop empathy as children, but even adults can still work toward being more empathetic.

According to one New York Times article, here are five ways you can develop empathy:

Practice empathy
Admit you’re biased
Stand up for others
Read books
Raise empathetic kids
Have hard conversations

Though I wasn’t able to find anything that specifically stated that learning in general makes you more empathetic, there were many lists that included reading. Two of these pieces of advice above (#4 and #5) involve reading. The author recommends reading and also reading to children as they are growing up as a powerful means of developing empathy.

How does reading help develop empathy?

Whether it is fiction or nonfiction reading, people can really learn empathy through books. First of all, reading introduces us to ways of life that are different from our own. We could be reading about someone from another country, culture, religion, time period, etc. All of those help to open our eyes to different lifestyles so that we can be exposed to new types of people.

Some stories go one step further than that. If a story is written in 1st person (told through the eyes of one of the characters). This allows us to truly enter the chracter’s mind. We can see not only what their lifestyle is like, but also how they are feeling throughout the course of the text. These types of stories truly increase our capacity to understand others’ thoughts and feelings.

References

The Prince and the Pauper – Chapter Four – Historical Tidbit

At the start of Chapter 4 in The Prince and the Pauper, Edward is wearing Tom’s clothes wandering around London. He has been chased out of the palace by the guards and spectators. When he finally loses the crowd, he finds himself in a familiar area. Today’s Historical Tidbit is…

Greyfriars Christ Church

Edward thinks because his father created this orphanage for these boys, they would show him kindness and would help him get back home. But he was sorely mistaken. The boys make fun of him and abuse him. But how much of the backstory of Greyfriars Christ Church is historically accurate? Keep reading or watch the video below to find out.

Below you will find the Ch. 4 excerpt containing Edward’s initial thoughts at seeing the church.

“He said to himself, “It is the ancient Grey Friars’ Church, which the king my father hath taken from the monks and given for a home for ever for poor and forsaken children, and new-named it Christ’s Church. Right gladly will they serve the son of him who hath done so generously by them—and the more that that son is himself as poor and as forlorn as any that be sheltered here this day,
or ever shall be.” (p. 15)

What was Greyfriars Christ Church?

In the early 13th century, nine Catholic Brothers were sent to London, England. This included four Franciscan friars. Originally they rented a house as their headquarters, but their numbers soon grew too large and they needed find a new place.

The first church they inhabited was built in 1239. It cost only £200 to build at the time. Roughly 100 years later, they rebuilt the church on a much larger scale as they were continuing to grow. Over time, they became very popular with the royals in England, and several of them chose to be buried here.

Things were going well for the monastery up to the Reformation. England was in the process of switching over from Catholicism to the Church of England. In 1538 Greyfriars Church was dissolved by Thomas Chapman (who was taking orders from Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s right-hand man). Because of this the building was vandalized and the brothers were forced to flee the country.

In 1546 Henry VIII gave the church to the City Corporation who created a new parish called Christ Church. As far as I could find, it was not mentioned that an orphanage was a part of this church, but that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t, I just couldn’t find anything that explicitly stated that there was.

It is historically accurate however that Edward VI did found a school for boys at this spot called Christ’s Hospital school. This school is still in existence today, but has moved locations. The original spot of the Greyfriars Christ Church/Christ’s Hospital School was damaged in the Great Fire of London, and then was ultimately destroyed by bombings in World War II.

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References

The ruins of Christ Church Greyfriars and the grave of a “she-wolf”

https://flickeringlamps.com/2015/03/06/the-ruins-of-christ-church-greyfriars-and-the-grave-of-a-she-wolf/

https://medievallondon.ace.fordham.edu/exhibits/show/medieval-london-sites/greyfriars

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Church_Greyfriars

The Prince and the Pauper – Chapter Four – Vocabulary

What word comes to mind when you think of a scientist or a hatter? What does someone mean when they say someone has a few screws loose? Or that someone has gone bananas? Our Prince and the Pauper Chapter 4 vocab word focus for this week is…

MAD

Obviously with this word, there are many definitions. In this case we don’t mean ‘mad’ as in angry. We’re looking more at the word meaning ‘crazy’ or ‘insane’. After Tom and Edward switch places, they find that every time they try to explain who they really are, people find it easier to believe they are mad than to believe that they are telling the truth. Keep reading or watch the video below for more info.

MAD

DEFINITION (adj.) mentally ill; insane	FACTS/CHARACTERISTICS insane is primarily a legal term both ‘mad’ and ‘crazy’ are used more often casually
EXAMPLES (medical mentall illnesses that most often qualify for the “insanity” defense in the legal sense of the word) psychotic disorders mood disorders temporary insanity	NON-EXAMPLES sane/competant doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results

Etymology

Language of Origin: Old English
“gemædde”
Meaning/Interpretation: “out of one’s mind” (usually implying also violent excitement)

Sentences/Additional Forms

Straightforward sentence: They say he went mad when his lover chose someone else over him.
Sentence from the chapter: ““Gone stark mad as any Tom o’ Bedlam!”—then collared him once more, and said with a coarse laugh and an oath, “But mad or no mad, I and thy Gammer Canty will soon find where the soft places in thy bones lie, or I’m no true man!”” (p. 18)
Other forms: madness (n.), madly (adv.)

But wait, there’s more!

Even though the term ‘mad’ might not be used often in the literal sense, it is used in idioms very frequently. Below are idioms that either include the word ‘mad’ or imply it.

Idioms using “mad”
Mad hatter/mad as a hatter
Barking mad
be/go stark raving mad
Drive someone mad
Do something like mad
Mad scientist
Mad about something

Idioms implying “mad”
Go bananas
Basket case
Bats in the belfry
Out of your mind
Lose one’s marbles
Not all there
Mad about something
Have a screw loose

References

English Phrases With Mad

https://www.learn-english-today.com/idioms/idiom-categories/madness/madness.html

Book Focus: The Prince and the Pauper – Pontes Books Blue Version (and Purple Version)

What is the blue version?

The blue version of the story is almost exactly the same as the original version of The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain. However, there have been adjustments made to the vocabulary and the sentence structure. To simplify the vocabulary, some of the more challenging or old-fashioned words have been substituted for simpler or more modern words. To simplify the sentence structure, periods are added to replace semicolons and, in many cases, commas. Complex and compound sentences are often simplified to simpler sentences.

So what does that look like? And why does it help?

Simpifying the vocabulary

Simplifying the Sentence Structure

Original Sentence Example (with simplified vocabulary already worked in): He only begged just enough to keep himself safe, because the laws against begging were strict, and the punishments harsh; so he spent a good deal of his time listening to good Father Andrew’s delightful old tales and legends about giants and fairies, dwarfs and genies, and magical castles, and fancy kings and princes.
Simplified Sentence Structure Example: He only begged just enough keep himself safe. The laws against begging were strict, and the punishments harsh. So he spent a good deal of his time listening to good Father Andrew’s delightful old stories. They were tales and legends about giants and fairies, dwarfs and genies, and magical castles, and fancy kings and princes.

You can see how the sentences from the first example have been split up for the second example. So why does this make a difference? Our brains learn that they can rest at the end of a sentence. Periods signify the end of a complete thought. So when we are focusing on comprehension, we know that we have all the information we need to make sense of what is being said. However, when the sentences become longer and more complex, it can sometimes be hard to track ideas when they are split over various phrases and clauses. Transforming them to simple sentences allows comprehension to come much more quickly.

So what is the purple version?

The purple version combines two books in one. It takes the original Mark Twain version (Red Version) and presents it side-by-side the blue version. This is referred to as a parallel text. This allows readers to switch back and forth between the original version (that contains the more complex vocabulary and sentence structure) and the blue version. Readers can challenge themselves by reading the original version and then using the blue version if certain sections are confusing. Or they could read the blue version first to get the general idea and then read the red version to get the full effect of the original language used. The possiblities are endless!

If you have any questions, contact us at admin@pontesbooks.com.

The Prince and the Pauper – Chapter Three – Historical Tidbit

At the start of Chapter 3 in The Prince and the Pauper, Tom Canty is wandering aimlessly around the streets of London. Along the way, there are a number of different historical sites that are mentioned. Were these places named and described actually around in Tudor times, and are they still around today? In today’s post we explore…

Tudor London vs. Modern-Day London

Tom’s journey to Westminster to meet Edward creates a great focal point for this week’s Historical Tidbit. Keep reading or watch the video below to explore the London of The Prince and the Pauper!

Below you will find the Ch. 3 excerpt containing the London locations we will be exploring in this post:

“By-and-by he [Tom] found himself at Temple Bar…The Strand had ceased to be a country-road then…Tom discovered Charing Village presently, and rested himself at the beautiful cross built there by a bereaved king of earlier days…then idled down a quiet, lovely road, past the great cardinal’s stately palace, toward a far more might and majestic palace beyond—Westminster.” (p. 8)

Temple Bar

Temple Bar is actually not the name of a bar/pub in London (though it is the name of one in Dublin, Ireland). Rather, it is one of the original gateways into the city of London. Originally it was probably a chain/bar across two posts. Also it was originally located near a place in London referred to as “The Temple”. It has been both rebuilt and moved since Tudor times.

The Strand

The Strand is a road cutting through some of the major areas of the Westminster area in London. It has existed since before Tudor times. The name comes from an Old English word that means the edge of the river, as the road mostly follows the shape of the Thames River.

Charing Village

Charing Village (now known as Charing Cross) was a region that you would come across while walking down The Strand. The name “Charing” also comes from Old English for the bend in the Thames River. It starting being referred to as “Charing Cross” due to the large cross situated there.

Eleanor Cross

The Eleanor Crosses (there were originally 12) were put up by King Edward I. They feature an ornately decorated stone monument topped with a cross. They are a tribute to Edward’s first wife Eleanor, who passed away. The crosses each represent the different stopping points along the route they followed to bring her body to London. The cross that was originally in Charing has been replicated and can be found at the Charing Cross railway station.

Westminster

Westminster is still a very famous landmark in London. At one point, it contained royal apartments where they royal family would live. This appears to be the main residence for Edward Tudor and his family in The Prince and the Pauper. However, in reality, the royal apartments burned down before that time period. Around that time the Whitehall Palace was build nearby instead. However, it is more likely that Edward’s home was Hampton Court, a little outside of London. This was the primary residence of Henry VIII and Edward VI at the time Edward was alive. Nowadays you can still go the government portions of Westminster as well as Westminster Abbey, the church where Edward’s Coronation took place.

Edward’s Route

So what does this actual route look like when it is mapped out?

And what would this route look like modern-day?

Obviously since some of the locations have technically changed this is not the exact route Edward would have taken, but it’s pretty close. So if he had walked without stopping from Temple Bar to Westminster it would have taken about 30 minutes.

If you think looking at maps comparing old and modern times is interesting, check out Layers of London. You can choose a map from a particular time period and it is aligned with a modern-day map to compare landmarks throughout the different time periods. It was very cool; check it out!

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References

https://www.thetemplebar.info/history.html

https://london.wikia.org/wiki/Strand

https://knowyourlondon.wordpress.com/2016/01/11/westminster-year-5/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Eleanor_Memorial_Cross

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Westminster

MAD

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