Today, we are looking at the word of the week, which is “peasant.” This is not a terribly difficult word, but one that relates strongly to our reading.
Definition
As Wordnik defines peasant:
“A member of the class constituted by small farmers and tenants, sharecroppers, and laborers on the land where they form the main labor force in agriculture.”
As it relates to our reading–the first chapter of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court–the people Hank Morgan passed on the road to Camelot are of “peasant” quality.
Another way to look at this word is through the pejorative. Peasants are of low class and thus perceived to be of low intelligence. Mark Twain describes these people as dirty and brutish and therefore are of low stature in society. They cry out to be ruled.
In later chapters, the life of the peasantry will be an important component of Hank Morgan’s decision making…and possibly his undoing.
Works Cited
“Peasant.” Wordnik.com. Web.
