Christine de Pizan part 1: Early Life and Beginnings as a Writer

Christine de Pizan, a pioneering female writer at the French court, challenged the male-dominated arts of her time. Born in Venice in 1364, she moved to Paris, where her education was encouraged by her father. Married at 15, she faced financial struggles after her husband's death but turned to writing love ballads, gaining patronage from nobility. Her work, shaped by personal grief and public demand, led to literary success and a tradition of defending women through her writing.

Who was Christine de Pizan's father and what was his profession?

• Louis Avolio, a nobleman

• Thomas de Pisan, a physician and astrologer

• Etienne Ducastel, a royal secretary

• Charles the 5th, King of France

At what age did Christine de Pizan get married?

• 20

• 15

• 18

• 25

What type of writing initially brought Christine de Pizan attention from wealthy patrons?

• Historical biographies

• Religious texts

• Love ballads

• Political essays

What was a significant theme in Christine de Pizan's early writings?

• Scientific discovery

• Grief and loss

• Religious devotion

• Political reform

How did Christine de Pizan's writing evolve to meet public demand?

• She wrote religious texts

• She concentrated on scientific topics

• She wrote about romantic and chivalric ideals

• She focused on political essays

Which noble offered Christine's son a place in his household?

• The Earl of Salisbury

• The Duke of Burgundy

• Louis Avolio

• King Charles the 5th

What was Christine de Pizan's first major commissioned work?

• A collection of love ballads

• A biography of Charles the 5th

• A historical novel

• A treatise on women's rights