starter activity

To get round the enforced silence at To get round the enforced silence at mealtimes some monks developed an mealtimes some monks developed an extremely complex sign language to extremely complex sign language to communicate what they wanted. What communicate 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 hand Rubbing the nose with your right hand Drawing a circle in the air with the thumb Drawing a circle in the air with the thumb

and 2 fingersand 2 fingers

AnswersAnswers

Waving the hand sideways Waving the hand sideways meant fishmeant fish

Rubbing the nose with your right Rubbing the nose with your right hand meant mustardhand meant mustard

Drawing a circle in the air with Drawing a circle in the air with the thumb and 2 fingers meant the thumb and 2 fingers meant breadbread

What was life What was life like in a medieval like in a medieval

monastery?monastery?To identify the different sections To identify the different sections

of a monasteryof a monasteryTo describe a typical day in the To describe a typical day in the

life of a monklife of a monk

Aims

What did monks do?What did monks do? Obeyed Rule of St Obeyed Rule of St

BenedictBenedict Prayed, worked, ate Prayed, worked, ate

& slept together& slept together VowsVows of poverty & of poverty &

chastitychastity 4 types or 4 types or ordersorders: :

Benedictines, Benedictines, Cluniacs, Cluniacs, Cistercians & Cistercians & Carthusians (silent)Carthusians (silent)A monk at work on an

illuminated manuscript

What were the vows that What were the vows that monks made?monks made?

Spend his life in the service of GodSpend his life in the service of God Give away his property to othersGive away his property to others Obey the Obey the abbotabbot at all times at all times Wear a Wear a habithabit and sandals and have a and sandals and have a tonsuretonsure Stay in the monastery throughout his lifeStay in the monastery throughout his life Remain Remain celibatecelibate

Who worked in a Who worked in a monastery?monastery?

Abbot – Christ’s Abbot – Christ’s representativerepresentative

Monks – services, Monks – services, prayersprayers

Novices - traineesNovices - trainees Lay brothers – Lay brothers –

estate workersestate workers ObedientariesObedientaries - -

servantsservantsGlastonbury Abbey

What did a monk do during What did a monk do during the day?the day?

Daily round of Daily round of prayers & servicesprayers & services

Special festivals, e.g. Special festivals, e.g. Christmas, Easter Christmas, Easter Day & Saints DaysDay & Saints Days

Prayers for souls of Prayers for souls of wealthy wealthy patronspatrons

Reading & Reading & illuminatingilluminating

Daily meetings in Daily meetings in chapter housechapter house

Fountains Abbey

Where did they work & Where did they work & live?live?

Click image for bigger version

Your taskYour taskWrite the diary entry for a medieval monk. It is a very Write the diary entry for a medieval monk. It is a very busy day. Try to include as many references to the busy day. Try to include as many references to the different things a monk would have done in a single different things a monk would have done in a single day as you can and explain why they are important to day as you can and explain why they are important to life in a medieval monastery.life in a medieval monastery.

Limited range of references, e.g. to abbot, prayers& sign language

Broad range of references to individuals, places, responsibilities, but entries lack detail and don’t really explain why they are important.

Broad range of references as well as detailed information on different types of prayers, different locations within monasteries, different types of monks, and explain why these things are important to the life of the monastery.

Your taskYour task

Channel 4 have decided to produce a Channel 4 have decided to produce a medieval reality game show based on medieval reality game show based on life in a monastery. Use the ‘Big life in a monastery. Use the ‘Big Brother’ format to create a short role Brother’ format to create a short role play showing what a typical day in the play showing what a typical day in the life of a monastery must have been life of a monastery must have been like. You may wish to include diary like. You may wish to include diary room entries, ‘Big Brother’ style tasks room entries, ‘Big Brother’ style tasks and even an interview with ‘Divina’!and even an interview with ‘Divina’!

Prayers & servicesPrayers & services

ServiceService TimeTime

Night office / MatinsNight office / Matins 12am12am

PrimePrime DawnDawn

TerceTerce Mid-morningMid-morning

SextSext 12pm12pm

NoneNone Mid-afternoonMid-afternoon

VespersVespers Late afternoonLate afternoon

ComplineCompline DuskDusk

ObedientariesObedientaries

These were men who were responsible for the These were men who were responsible for the day to day running of the monastery, and who day 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:

the the cellarercellarer (responsible for provisions), (responsible for provisions), the the fratererfraterer (crockery, linen & lavatorium) (crockery, linen & lavatorium) the the chamberlainchamberlain (beds, clothing) (beds, clothing) the the almoneralmoner (charitable gifts to the poor) (charitable gifts to the poor) the the precentorprecentor (organisation of church services) (organisation of church services) the the sacristsacrist (church furnishings) (church furnishings)