Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Theme)

This book has turned out to be a fascinating read. I have always been fond of adventure books, and this is now high on the list of my favorites. The fast-paced plot and well developed characters give the book a sense of realism and entice you to read more. The themes of this story are about friendship, courage and perserverance. Friendship comes into play very early in the book, where Crispin consults his priest, Father Quinnel, for advice on what to do after he finds out that his life in danger. Later on, after Crispin runs away from his village, he befriends (although unwillingly) Bear, who returns his friendship by protecting and entertaining Crispin. Because of this treatment, Crispin begins to see Bear as his father. Second, courage is something that Crispin learns about in many parts of the story. Firstly, he flees from the only place he ever knew and into the unknown without much fear. Another major occurence of Crispin's courage is when Crispin goes to the building where Bear was being held in order to save him, even when there was a possibility of losing his own life. Finally, perserverance is a major theme of the book. Crispin decides to keep going instead of dying early on in the book, as he wants to earn his liberties as Father Quinnel instructed him. Later, when he joins Bear, Crispin feels like abandoning Bear, for he believes that Bear was a madman. However Crispin feels he was bound by the sacred vow he made and keeps on trooping. After warming up to him, Crispin always tries his hardest in order to save Bear after he gets captured. He knows the risks, and has a few difficulties along the way, but Crispin never gives up.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Plot)

The saga of Crispin starts out when Crispin's mother, Asta, passes away. Out of fear, he runs away. Crispin later overhears two people trying to find him and figures out that he has been convicted of a crime he did not commit. Frightened out of his wits, Crispin goes to the village priest, Father Quinnel for advice on what to do. In addition to telling Crispin to run away as far as he could, Father Quinnel tells him many secrets about his mother. The next day, Crispin goes on his way, only to find that Father Quinnel had been murdered. He goes through a forest and eventually finds a desolate village, no doubt destroyed by the Black Death. There, in the church, he finds a gigantic man called Bear. Bear makes Crispin swear to be his servant and teaches him how to play the recorder in order to help Bear gain money. Later, the troupe reaches a village where they entertain the villagers and the priest. Through this they get some money. Some time later, they reach Great Wexly, where the story gets juicy. They get a room and Crispin does some snooping around the city, against Bear's orders. He is attacked by his enemies. After a happy reunion with Bear, the two go back to their room. Later, after being found in a Resistance meeting, Bear is captured and taken prisoner. Out of love and fear, Crispin bravely goes to where Bear is being held and frees Bear after finding out he (Crispin) is a nobleman. He frees Bear only after swearing that e would never stake a claim on the lord's throne.

The plot is extremely absorbing. It is fast-paced and fills you with impatience to read the next chapter. This is probably because of the writers wonderful writing style and the vivid descriptions of life in Medieval England.

Crispin: The Cross of Lead (Character)

Crispin is an interesting character. He is a thirteen-year-old boy who ends up joining a gigantic man called Bear. He thinks he has made countless sins. He is unaware, at first, at the world outside the small village he lives in. He is very curious, which is how he got into a giant mess, in which he is considered a wolf's head (anyone can kill him when they see him) for a crime he didn't commit. In this mess, he meets Bear, a man who makes Crispin swear to be his servant. Crispin is very timid, so he readily accepts. He is also slow to trust someone, as he thinks about running away from the "madman", Bear. Crispin is also very weak, therefore he does whatever Bear tells him to do. He got in to this mess because his mother died. Crispin later turns out to be noble blood because his mother and his lord had secretly begotten him. Crispin is also extremely religious. He is a Christian and continuously prays to his saint, Saint Giles.