For Closer Look: Stained Glass at Chartres: While literacy was increasingly common in the Middle Ages, still large numbers of people remained illiterate. How might the stained-glass windows at Chartres have served the masses who were unable to read?

What will be an ideal response?

Although a beautiful decorative feature of Chartres Cathedral, the stained-glass windows also contain some of the most important scenes from the life of Jesus and symbolic images of Mary. Therefore, the windows told these important narratives through images that were accessible to anyone, regardless of literacy. Using the Revel Asset: Closer Look: Stained Glass at Chartres, responses could include the details of these images: Incarnation window, Chartres Cathedral, France, ca. 1150. The program for this window reads left to right, bottom to top, beginning with the Annunciation at bottom left. Next is the Visitation, showing Mary meeting her cousin Elizabeth. In the next row up, shepherds view the Star of Bethlehem on the left; on the right are the three wise men. The life of Christ continues up the window. Just below the arch at the top, Christ enters Jerusalem on a white donkey. The window culminates in the arch with an enthroned Mary and the Christ child in a mandorla, with angels on each side.