Peasant Fires: The Drummer of Niklashausen

According to Wunderli, medieval peasants occupied an “enchanted world.” What does he mean? As you describe this enchanted world, trace its role in class tensions and how those tensions created opportune conditions for Behem’s message.

Medieval European Christians had a distinctive grasp of time, and the perception of time forms a motif in the book. Wunderli even organizes his chronology around liturgical calendar events. How does this narrative structure engage the medieval mind? How does it help the reader connect with the figures in the text? Cite at least three textual examples in your answer.

Could the Church have harnessed the power of Behem’s message and leveraged it to their advantage? Explain your position.