What Was Life Really Like in a Monastery (Version 2.0)

7/23/2019 What Was Life Really Like in a Monastery (Version 2.0)

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starter activity

To get round the enforced silence atTo get round the enforced silence at

mealtimes some monks developed anmealtimes some monks developed an

extremely complex sign language toextremely complex sign language to

communicate what they wanted. Whatcommunicate what they wanted. What

do you think the following signs meant?do you think the following signs meant? Waving the hand sidewaysWaving the hand sideways

Rubbing the nose with your right handRubbing the nose with your right hand

Drawing a circle in the air with the thumbDrawing a circle in the air with the thumband 2 ngersand 2 ngers


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AnswersAnswers

Waving the hand sidewaysWaving the hand sideways

meant shmeant sh

Rubbing the nose with your rightRubbing the nose with your righthand meant mustardhand meant mustard

Drawing a circle in the air withDrawing a circle in the air with

the thumb and 2 ngers meantthe thumb and 2 ngers meantbreadbread


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What was lifeWhat was lifelike in a medievallike in a medieval

monastery?monastery?

To identify the di!erent sectionsTo identify the di!erent sectionsof a monasteryof a monastery

To describe a typical day in theTo describe a typical day in thelife of a monklife of a monk

Aims


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What did monks do?What did monks do?

"beyed Rule of #t"beyed Rule of #t$enedict$enedict

%rayed& worked& ate%rayed& worked& ate

' slept together' slept together (ows(owsof poverty 'of poverty '

chastitychastity ) types or) types or ordersorders**

$enedictines&$enedictines&+luniacs&+luniacs&+istercians '+istercians '+arthusians ,silent-+arthusians ,silent-A monk at work on an

illuminated manuscript


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What were the vows thatWhat were the vows that

monks made?monks made?

#pend his life in the service of od#pend his life in the service of od

ive away his property to othersive away his property to others

"bey the"bey the abbotabbotat all timesat all times

Wear aWear a habithabitand sandals and have aand sandals and have a tonsuretonsure

#tay in the monastery throughout his life#tay in the monastery throughout his life

RemainRemain celibatecelibate


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Who worked in aWho worked in a

monastery?monastery? /bbot 0 +hrist1s/bbot 0 +hrist1s

representativerepresentative

onks 0 services&onks 0 services&

prayersprayers 3ovices 4 trainees3ovices 4 trainees

5ay brothers 05ay brothers 0

estate workersestate workers "bedientaries"bedientaries44

servantsservantsGlastonbury Abbey


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What did a monk do duringWhat did a monk do during

the day?the day? Daily round ofDaily round of

prayers ' servicesprayers ' services #pecial festivals& e.g.#pecial festivals& e.g.

+hristmas& 6aster+hristmas& 6asterDay ' #aints DaysDay ' #aints Days

%rayers for souls of%rayers for souls ofwealthywealthy patronspatrons

Reading 'Reading 'illuminatingilluminating

Daily meetings inDaily meetings inchapter housechapter house

Fountains Abbey


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Where did they work &Where did they work &

live?live?

Click image forbigger version


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Your taskYour task

Write the diary entry for a medieval monk. 7t is a very busyWrite the diary entry for a medieval monk. 7t is a very busyday. Try to include as many references to the di!erentday. Try to include as many references to the di!erentthings a monk would have done in a single day as you canthings a monk would have done in a single day as you canand explain why they are important to life in a medievaland explain why they are important to life in a medievalmonastery.monastery.

Limited range ofreferences, e.g.to abbot, prayers

& sign language

road range ofreferences toindividuals,places,responsibilities,but entries lack

detail and don!treally e"plain whythey areimportant.

road range ofreferences as

well as detailedinformation ondi#erent types ofprayers, di#erent

locations withinmonasteries,di#erent types ofmonks, ande"plain why these

things areimportant to the


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Your taskYour task

+hannel ) have decided to produce a+hannel ) have decided to produce a

medieval reality game show based onmedieval reality game show based on

life in a monastery. 8se the 9$iglife in a monastery. 8se the 9$ig

$rother1 format to create a short role$rother1 format to create a short roleplay showing what a typical day in theplay showing what a typical day in the

life of a monastery must have beenlife of a monastery must have been

like. :ou may wish to include diarylike. :ou may wish to include diaryroom entries& 9$ig $rother1 style tasksroom entries& 9$ig $rother1 style tasks

and even an interview with 9Divina1;and even an interview with 9Divina1;


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$rayers & services$rayers & services

#ervice#ervice TimeTime

3ight o!ice < atins3ight o!ice < atins =2am=2am

%rime%rime DawnDawn

TerceTerce id4morningid4morning

#ext#ext =2pm=2pm

3one3one id4afternoonid4afternoon(espers(espers 5ate afternoon5ate afternoon

+ompline+ompline DuskDusk


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%bedientaries%bedientaries

These were men who were responsible for theThese were men who were responsible for the

day to day running of the monastery& and whoday to day running of the monastery& and who

ensured the Rule was followed to the letter.ensured the Rule was followed to the letter.

They included*They included*

thethe cellarercellarer,responsible for provisions-&,responsible for provisions-&

thethe fratererfraterer,crockery& linen ' lavatorium-,crockery& linen ' lavatorium-

thethe chamberlainchamberlain,beds& clothing-,beds& clothing-

thethe almoneralmoner,charitable gifts to the poor-,charitable gifts to the poor- thethe precentorprecentor,organisation of church services-,organisation of church services-

thethe sacristsacrist,church furnishings-,church furnishings-

What Was Life Really Like in a Monastery (Version 2.0)

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