Game Plan: Below is a brief account of knights and their role in medieval life. Use the terms in the word bank to fill in the blanks.

The (1)_________________ of a nobleman did not automatically become a knight. Years of training were (2)_________________ to attain this honor.

When a boy was about (3)_________________, he was sent to live with another lord or knight. At this stage of training, he was called a (4)_________________. He (5)_________________ good manners and was (6)_________________ to ride and hunt. He also practiced (7)_________________ with a small wooden sword.

At (8)_________________, a page became a squire. A squire looked after his lord's (9)_________________ and armor. Often he accompanied his lord into (10)_________________. If he displayed exceptional bravery, a squire might be (11)_________________ in the field.

Most squires became knights in a special (12)_________________. This took place at the castle or manor house of a lord. The night (13)_________________ the ceremony, the squire prayed and fasted. The following day, he was (14)_________________ a knight when his lord (15)_________________ him on the shoulder with the side of a sword.

A knight was expected to observe a code of conduct referred to as (16)_________________. He (17)_________________ to defend the Church and to be (18)_________________ toward ladies. In truth, a knight was likely to be chivalrous only to members of his own (19)_________________. He sometimes treated his serfs and others (20)_________________.

In addition to fighting for his lord, a knight often engaged in (21)_________________ battles at tournaments. Tournaments were one of the favorite pastimes of the (22)_________________ in the Middle Ages.