The term illumination originally meant the embellishment of the text of handwritten books with gold or—more rarely—silver. This gave the impression that the page had been literally illuminated. In modern times the term describes the illustration and decoration of early manuscripts in general, whether or not with gold.
Monks especially worked on illuminated manuscripts. Even before the downfall of Rome the church had begun to preserve Roman and Greek books. Monks spent hours in the scriptorium, or writing room. There they copied the scrolls, letter by letter. Several monks often collaborated on the same book. In most cases, one group concentrated on the script while another did the illustrations. Their work preserved not only classical knowledge but also the works of Christian thinkers. Monks copied the books of the Bible, the writings of the Church fathers, and other works of theology and doctrine. They also copied works of history, theology, poetry, law, and other disciplines. As universities became established in the 12th and 13th centuries, teachers and students took up the art of copying and illustrating manuscripts.
Write a short quote, sentence, or poem you’d like to illuminate (this will go in the center of your page).
Ideas: A motto, your name with its meaning, a medieval saying, a verse, a line from a fairy tale, or a line from your creative writing piece.
Circle the first letter of your text. This will be your big fancy “illuminated” letter.
Sketch it in a box below and add designs (flowers, animals, symbols, etc.):
Letter to illuminate: ____
🖼️ Design Sketch:
What will go around your text? (Choose 2–3 ideas)
☐ Vines and leaves
☐ Dragons or fantasy creatures
☐ Shields or symbols
☐ Geometric patterns
☐ Medieval people or scenes
☐ Other: _______________________
How will you “illuminate” your manuscript?
☐ Gold pen
☐ Foil
☐ Yellow marker/crayon
☐ Other: _______________________
Want to make your paper look old?
Try crumpling and flattening it gently.
✅ My quote or sentence is written clearly
✅ My first letter is large and decorated
✅ I planned a colorful border
✅ I used gold or shiny details
✅ I put effort into design and neatness
✅ I had fun!
Medieval Quotes
“The best place to find a helping hand is at the end of your arm.”
Turns out, self-reliance never goes out of style! Even in the Middle Ages, people knew the value of rolling up your sleeves and getting to work.
“God gives every bird its worm, but he does not throw it into the nest.”
This one’s for all the procrastinators out there. Sure, opportunities are out there—but the medieval message is clear: you’ve got to do the work to get the reward.
“The tongue has no bone, but it breaks many.”
Ah, medieval wisdom on the power of words. A sharp tongue can cause as much trouble as a sharp sword—maybe more.
“Don’t let your candle burn at both ends, or you’ll have no light left.”
Apparently, burnout was a thing in the Middle Ages, too! It’s their way of saying, “Take care of yourself, or you won’t be much good to anyone.”
“The fish is caught by its mouth, and the man by his words.”
Here’s a timeless reminder to think before you speak. Whether you’re angling for fish or friendship, what you say matters.
“An artist’s workshop is where chaos goes to become beauty.”
This one’s for all the creatives. They knew back then what we know now: the magic of art often starts in a mess.
“The quill may be mightier than the sword, but it’s just as likely to make a mess.”
Leave it to the medieval crowd to combine humor and truth! Writing is powerful, sure—but anyone who’s ever spilled ink or made a typo knows the struggle is real.
“If the pot is boiling, friendship is alive.”
Nothing says “I appreciate you” like sharing a meal. This one reminds us that the kitchen is often the heart of a home, then and now.