According to Bede's account, what was Cædmon's occupation before he received his miraculous gift of song?
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Correct answer: A simple farmhand
Bede records that Cædmon was a simple layman working at the monastery of Whitby who fled social gatherings because he could not sing. He gained the ability to compose religious verse only after a miraculous vision in a stable.
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More Caedmon and Religious Verse questions
- In 'Caedmon's Hymn,' God is addressed as 'Heofonrices Weard.' What does this epithet mean?
- Which prominent Anglo-Saxon abbess presided over the monastery where Cædmon lived and composed?
- The poem 'Exodus' in the Junius Manuscript is notable for depicting the Israelites in what specific thematic style?
- Which of the following works is NOT part of the so-called 'Junius Manuscript' (MS Junius 11)?
- In the poem 'Genesis B,' what is the primary motivation cited for Satan's rebellion against God?
- What linguistic feature distinguishes 'Genesis B' from the rest of the 'Genesis' poem in the Junius Manuscript?