In the grass-eating anecdote, what was the claimed purpose of the Welshman eating grass?

• A. To demonstrate Welsh resilience
• B. To prove grass was nutritious
• C. To start a war
• D. To convince Henry II that the Welsh were a bestial people, leading to Rhys ap Gruffydd's release

Answer: (D)

In medieval storytelling, such anecdotes are often used as propaganda to shape how rulers and peoples are viewed and to justify political moves. The grass-eating tale is framed as a deliberate demonstration meant to portray the Welsh as wild or bestial in order to influence the English king’s view and actions.

The choice that identifies the claimed purpose as convincing Henry II that the Welsh were a bestial people fits that framing. It describes a strategic portrayal aimed at shaping Henry’s judgment about the Welsh, with the anecdote then linked to Rhys ap Gruffydd’s release as the political outcome of that display. This reflects how chroniclers used sensational acts to justify mercy, leniency, or concession in the hands of a powerful ruler. The other options don’t align with this propagandistic angle or with the narrative’s suggested outcome.