Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

A HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH AND PEOPLE

“Caedmon of Whitby”

By

Bede

(673-735)

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

BEDE

• Known as Bede the Venerable

• Earliest English historian

• Earliest important prose writer

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

BEDE

• Wrote A History of the English Church and People– Originally written in Latin– Helped the English people take pride in their

past– Contains legends, lives of saints, local

traditions, and stories

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

A History of the English Church and People

• Caedmon of Whitby

– Considered to be the first English religious poet

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

“Caedmon of Whitby”

• Gifted with the ability to turn Scripture into beautiful poetry in the English language

– Scripture originally in Latin

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

History of Caedmon

• Lived a secular life for many years

• At a feast, when it was his turn to sing, he left because he was not gifted in singing

• After leaving, fell asleep in the stables

• While sleeping, he dreamt he was visited by a man who asked him to sing a song about the creation of all things

• After originally refusing, Caedmon attempted to sing the song

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

History of Caedmon

• Praise we the Fashioner now of Heaven’s fabric,The majesty of his might and his mind’s

wisdom,Work of the world-warden, worker of all

wonders,How he the Lord of Glory everlasting,Wrought first for the race of men Heaven

as a rooftree,Then made he Middle Earth to be their

mansion.

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

History of Caedmon

• Poetic Devices

– Alliteration

• “majesty…might…mind’s”

– Simile

• “Heaven as a rooftree”

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

History of Caedmon

• When he awoke, Caedmon remembered the verse and was able to compose other verses just as beautiful

• Caedmon performed before Church leaders, and all agreed he was gifted by God

• Caedmon joined the monastery

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

Sang Songs About:

• The Creation of the world

• The origin of the human race

• The whole story of Genesis

• Israel’s exodus from Egypt and entry into the promised land

• Christ– Incarnation– Passion– Resurrection– Ascension into

Heaven• The coming of the

Holy Spirit• The teaching of the

Apostles

Geschke/British Literature Caedmon of Whitby

Sang Songs About:

• The terrors of the Last Judgment

• Hell

• The Kingdom of Heaven

• The blessings and judgment of God