Bede Workshop Details:
- Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2023
- Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm PDT (8:00pm – 10:00pm EDT)
- Location: Online via Zoom
- Cost: $10
- Text: Annotated student’s edition of relevant excerpts from Historia Ecclēsiastica Gentis Anglōrum provided before workshop.
- Difficulty: Students who have fully completed Intermediate Latin sequence or above.
- Cancellation policy: Full refund available before May 9th. No refunds afterwards.
In his Historia Ecclēsiastica Gentis Anglōrum (Ecclesiastical History of the English People) the Venerable Bede – the 7th-century Anglo-Saxon historian, theologian, and scholar – recounts the story of the first recorded Old English Christian poet. This poet, Caedmon, was neither learned, nor a naturally gifted singer. In fact, he disliked singing and reciting so much that he would leave gatherings simply to avoid the possibility. However, one night changed the course of Caedmon’s life and placed him in the timeline of England’s poets.
The Venerable Bede’s Historia Ecclēsiastica provides essential information about the history of the early church in the British Isles, and represents a fascinating example of medieval Latin. Careful, yet engaging, the Venerable Bede is both challenging and enjoyable.
In this 2-hour online workshop, ALI Latin & Greek Fellow Katherine L. Bradshaw will lead students through a guided reading of excerpts from Historia Ecclēsiastica Gentis Anglōrum. No familiarity with the Venerable Bede is assumed. You should, however, have experience reading relatively advanced Latin texts and be ready to speak Latin to get the most from this immersive workshop.
All students will receive an annotated student’s version of the relevant excerpts before the workshop begins. You are not expected to do any homework in preparation for the workshop, but you are welcome to do so. Attendance is limited to 12 students max in order to preserve a small, collegial atmosphere. So, if you’re interested, don’t hesitate. Sign up, and we look forward to seeing you on May 16th!
Katherine L. Bradshaw, ALI’s Latin & Greek Fellow, has an M.A. in Classics from the University of Maryland, as well as an M.A. in English from the George Washington University. She is happiest when discussing shared aspects of the human experience, particularly if the conversation turns to Latin poetry, Latin and ancient Greek biography, food in the Greco-Roman world, ancient Christianity, or Shakespeare. In addition to highlighting links across time and space, Katherine can be found speaking Latin and ancient Greek at various immersion workshops, knitting for charity, or training for Spartan obstacle course races.