Bier

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/bier

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary material (traditional)?Wood
2. What is the primary material (modern)?Aluminum
3. Why is a bier smaller than a coffin?Biers are smaller so the coffin remains the main focus. The smaller size also helps keep the bier steady when it is carefully placed.
4. How do biers help at funerals?Biers lift the coffin so it can be carried and placed in the church or grave. They also give a dignified spot for people to pay their respects. In some churches, candles are put on the bier to show eternal light.

Iconography: The visual images and symbols used in a work of art or the study of them.
Utilitarian: Designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive.
Performative Aspects: Actions or behaviors that are done in a way that is meant to be seen or noticed by others.