Caedmon

Paul Cavill (University of Nottingham)

Ed. by Hugh Magennis, Queen's University Belfast
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.01: English Writing and Culture: Old English, 500-1066.
Vol. editors: Richard William Dance (University of Cambridge), Hugh Magennis (Queen's University Belfast)

Dates

Born c. 600
Died c. 680
Activity c. 640-c. 680

Places

Born in England
Active in England

Activities

Primary

Hymnist/ Psalmist
Poet

Resources

Caedmon's Works

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Bede tells the story of Cædmon in his

Ecclesiastical History

(in Latin,

Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum

), Book 4, Chapter 24, written in 731. According to Bede, Cædmon lived on the monastic estate of Whitby during the time of Abbess Hild (d. 680). Bede gives no account of Cædmon's early life, and the only clues to his class and race are his name, which is British rather than Anglo-Saxon, and his work as a herdsman: both of these indicate that he was low-born. The story tells us that though Cædmon was of mature years, he had never learned the art of singing songs; so when there was a party, he left before he was asked to take his turn at singing. On one occasion when he did this, he went to sleep in the cattle-shed and was visited in a dream by someone who greeted him and asked…

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987 words

Citation: Cavill, Paul. "Caedmon". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 September 2002 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=688, accessed 21 November 2024.]