Talisker Tutorial's Great Books III Assignment 2 Study Questions

Great Books III Study Questions for Assignment 2

Bede, Ecclesiastical History of the English People

ASSIGNMENT:

Read Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Book 1-3.20

INTERESTING STUFF ABOUT BEDE:

A brief biography of Bede
Saint Bede
Saint Bede's Tomb
Here is a page where you can click and listen to three hymns using lyrics Bede wrote
The monastery of St. Paul, Jarrow, where Bede lived
Map of Anglo-Saxon England

STUDY QUESTIONS:

(pg. numbers below based on Peguin Classics edition)

Preface

1. pg. 41 What is the value of history recording good and evil deeds?

2. pg. 42 What kinds of sources did Bede draw on for his history?

3. pg. 43 What kind of attitude does Bede hope for in his readers?

Book One

4. chapter 1: How does Bede begin his history in the first two paragraphs? Why?

5. What were the four nations in Britain in Bede's day? Where did each come from?

6. chapter 11: In what year did Roman rule come to an end in Britain, and why?

7. chapter 12: What happened to the British when the Roman legions left? What did the Romans say the problem was?

8. chapter 14: What events led to the Britons calling on the Saxons for help against the Irish and Picts? Under what king was this decision made? What is Bede's final comment on this decision?

9. chapter 15: What did the Anglo-Saxons do to the Britains once they were established in Britain?

10. chapters 17-21: What role did Bishop Germanus play in the development of the British church?

11. What turning point in Western Civilization is Bede referring to in the last sentence of chapter 21?

12. chapter 27: In Gregory's answers to Augustine's questions, for example in II and III, what is Gregory's tone or attitude? How strict is he? What seems to be his greatest concern?

13. chapter 30: What is Gregory's advice regarding pagan temples and festivals? How does he think the Christian leaders should deal with these?

Book 2

14. chap. 1 From what kind of family (what social class) did Gregory come? How did this help his career and ministry?

15. What is the point of the traditional story about Gregory making word plays on Angle, Deira, and Aelle when he saw the slave from Britain?

Read this link about Pope Gregory I "The Great"

16. chaps. 9-19 How would you characterize the reign of King Edwin? (see particularly the last half of chap. 16)

17. What steps led to King Edwin's coming to Christianity? Recount the vision in chap.13 and the council on accepting Christianity in chap. 13.

Book 3

18 chaps 3, 5, and 17 What was Bishop Aidan's role in English church history? Where did he come from? (note the role of the Irish Christians at Iona and Lindisfarne) What is Bede's overall assessment of Aidan?

19. The Easter Controversy: In book 2, chaps. 2, 4, and 19, and many other places, the controversy over the dating of Easter is mentioned. What was the controversy over? Why was this such a big deal? (Remember the same controversy in Eusebius's history. See Eusebius, bk 5, sections 23-25).