Which of the following described a possible route to improve one's social status in Anglo-Saxon England?

• A. Slaves could be freed by their masters
• B. A king could become a servant
• C. Ceorls could become slaves
• D. Earls could be demoted to peasants

Answer: (A)

In Anglo-Saxon society, moving upward often meant gaining personal freedom. Slaves, or thralls, could be freed by their masters through manumission. Once freed, they ceased being slaves and joined the ranks of free people, which opened possibilities for owning land, marrying into free families, and increasing social standing. This is the route that offers a genuine path to a higher status.

The other scenarios would not provide upward mobility: a king becoming a servant would be a loss of rank for someone at the top; ceorls becoming slaves would be a decline for free peasants; and earls being demoted to peasants would also be a downward shift. So, freeing slaves is the correct concept because it represents a real change from bondage to freedom, enabling social advancement.