Book Curses…Book Curses…

Where are they found…Where are they found…In hand writtenIn hand written

manuscripts…in manuscripts…in the ancient books made by the ancient books made by

monksmonks

What did they say? What did they say?

Here is an Here is an example…example…

"Reader, turn the leaves (pages) …gently, wash your hands, and if you must hold the book, cover it with your tunic (shirt) ."

Here is a curse…Here is a curse…

"He who steals this "He who steals this bookbookmay he die the deathmay he die the deathmay he be may he be frizzled in a pan...frizzled in a pan...

Another Cursed Curse…Another Cursed Curse…

Steal not this book, my worthy friendSteal not this book, my worthy friendFor fear the gallows will be your end;For fear the gallows will be your end;Up the ladder, and down the rope,Up the ladder, and down the rope,There you'll hang until you choke;There you'll hang until you choke;Then I'll come along and say -Then I'll come along and say -"Where's that book you stole away?" "Where's that book you stole away?"

Now here is a really gross Now here is a really gross one…one…

For him that Stealeth a Book from this Library,For him that Stealeth a Book from this Library,Let it change into a Serpent in his hand & rend Let it change into a Serpent in his hand & rend him.him.Let him be struck with Palsy, & all his Members Let him be struck with Palsy, & all his Members blasted.blasted.Let him languish in Pain crying aloud for Mercy,Let him languish in Pain crying aloud for Mercy,Let there be no Surcease to his Agony till he Let there be no Surcease to his Agony till he sink to Dissolution.sink to Dissolution.Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in token of Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in token of the Worm that dieth not,the Worm that dieth not,When at last he goeth to his final Punishment,When at last he goeth to his final Punishment,Let the flames of hell consume him for ever & Let the flames of hell consume him for ever & aye. aye.

Let it change into a Serpent in his Let it change into a Serpent in his hand & rend him.hand & rend him.

Let him be struck with Palsy, & all Let him be struck with Palsy, & all his Members blasted.his Members blasted.

aka… let the book become a snake aka… let the book become a snake or dragon in his hand and rip him or dragon in his hand and rip him

apart…apart…let him get the shakes and all of his let him get the shakes and all of his arms, legs, and anything else blow arms, legs, and anything else blow

up up

And… And… Let him languish in Pain Let him languish in Pain

crying aloud for Mercy,crying aloud for Mercy,Let there be no Surcease Let there be no Surcease to his Agony till he sink to his Agony till he sink to Dissolution.to Dissolution.

AKA… let the thief lie AKA… let the thief lie around in pain and cry around in pain and cry for mercy… but let him for mercy… but let him not get any mercy…just not get any mercy…just a whole bunch of agony a whole bunch of agony until he dissolves in until he dissolves in death… Wow. death… Wow.

And of course …And of course … Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in Let Bookworms gnaw his Entrails in

token of the Worm that dieth not,token of the Worm that dieth not,When at last he goeth to his final When at last he goeth to his final Punishment,Punishment,Let the flames of hell consume him Let the flames of hell consume him for ever & aye. for ever & aye.

aka… let bookworms eat and gnaw aka… let bookworms eat and gnaw his guts out until he dies… and goes his guts out until he dies… and goes to the final punishment …below… to the final punishment …below… and burn in Hell… Wow.and burn in Hell… Wow.

You Will Create a Book CurseYou Will Create a Book Curse

Make sure you have invented spelling… Make sure you have invented spelling…

Like… book, boke, booke, bokke or Like… book, boke, booke, bokke or

Suffer, sufer, suferr, or screme, scream, screameSuffer, sufer, suferr, or screme, scream, screame

See… there was See… there was no correct spellingno correct spelling… so your … so your spelling should be a little bit crazy…spelling should be a little bit crazy…

Your Your imagesimages should be scary, frightening, should be scary, frightening, dreadful and ghastly…dreadful and ghastly…

And they can include things like…And they can include things like…

This stuff…This stuff…

And these And these

Now…Now… Write your own curse… practice on the Write your own curse… practice on the

handout before putting it on the final paper…handout before putting it on the final paper… Draw the ghastly and dreadful things that Draw the ghastly and dreadful things that

should show the ghastly dreadful should show the ghastly dreadful punishments for tearing a book, bending a punishments for tearing a book, bending a page back, stealing a book, dropping a book, page back, stealing a book, dropping a book, or damaging a book in any way… during the or damaging a book in any way… during the times of …times of …

Catherine Called BirdyCatherine Called Birdy Medieval Times…Medieval Times…

And And

Keep it clean…Keep it clean…

In other words… it should not embarrass your In other words… it should not embarrass your grandmothergrandmother

TeacherTeacher PrincipalPrincipal Mother Mother Pastor Pastor Have Fun.Have Fun. Do not throw crayons …Do not throw crayons … Or the goblins will get’cha if youOr the goblins will get’cha if you Don’t watch out …Don’t watch out …