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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many Latin manuscripts of this document does Farmer claim still exists?

2. In what literary form does Farmer claim Bede's "Life of Cuthbert" is written?

3. Which document by Bede, according to Farmer, acts as a biography and a local history?

4. Whose record of Cuthbert's death did Bede use?

5. Who was the king who Stephanus reported to follow Wilfrid's guidance to win victories over the Picts and Mercia?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Bede report a monk witnessed when he followed Cuthbert to spy on an evening prayer vigil?

2. Who does Bede cite as helping him revise the text of "The Life of Cuthbert"?

3. What unique power does Bede claim that Cuthbert's prayers held?

4. According to Farmer in the Introduction, how did Irish monasteries become established?

5. Who does Bede claim chastised Cuthbert as a youth for indulging in childish games when God had a plan for his life?

6. What miracle does Stephanus report occurred during the birth of Wilfred?

7. Why does Farmer consider "The Voyage of St. Brendan" an important text in "The Age of Bede"?

8. Who does Farmer identify as the two subjects from "The Age of Bede" who were from Northumbria?

9. How did Cuthbert drive away crows that were invading the crops he grew while he was living as a hermit, according to Bede?

10. To whom did Bede write "The Life of Cuthbert"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Identify three events in "The Life of Cuthbert" that are historically reasonable and coinciding miraculous or mystical events that occurred during those events. Use the intermingling of history with the miraculous to establish a pattern that can define Bede's purpose for writing "The Life of Cuthbert." Was it to entertain, teach, evangelize, or is there another purpose that you see.

Essay Topic 2

Wilfrid gained acclaim with his debate on the "Easter Question" with Bishop Colman. His presentation, which was Rome's view on when Easter should be celebrated, also preceded the opposition that came against his various offices through his career. Using observations made in D.H. Farmer's introduction and information from "The Life of Wilfrid," identify why Wilfrid's position might have motivated opposition to his leadership throughout England and explain the long-term consequences to the observation Christian holidays, especially Easter.

Essay Topic 3

"The Voyage of St. Brendan" has a significantly different tone than do the other accounts from the books in "The Age of Bede." Identify the nature of that difference and, using D.H. Farmer's introduction, support the reasons for those differences from that text.

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