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Quiz about Alcuin of York Educator of Kings

Alcuin of York - Educator of Kings Quiz

Alcuin has been called one of the heralds of the Carolingian Renaissance largely because of his work as a teacher in the court of Charlemagne, but what do we really know about him?

A multiple-choice quiz by howdyitsme. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
howdyitsme

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
309,663

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
370

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The scholar Alcuin rose to great heights from "humble" beginnings. Where was he born? Hint

York

Truro

Coventry

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

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Question 2 of 10

2. Alcuin taught for many years and was well known even in Rome. Who was Alcuin mostly famously supposed to have taught to read? Hint

Ethelred the Unready

Charlemagne

Edward the Confessor

Gilberti Giannini

3. There are always such interesting tales from history as to where luminaries met and how they knew one another; the story of Alcuin and Charlemagne was no different. Where did Charlemagne meet up with Alcuin? Hint

When Alcuin saved Charlemagne's crippled son Pepin from drowning in the Seine

Praying in Notre Dame Cathedral after the funeral service for Charlemagne's son

On the road on the way back from Rome somewhere near Parma

While waiting for an audience with the pope

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Question 4 of 10

4. Charlemagne was a great believer in education and even sent his daughters to school to learn to read and write Latin. What was the name of the school that Alcuin ran for Charlemagne? Hint

St. Hildegard's Grammar and Latin

There was no name; it was a travelling school

St. Jerome's Hinterland Common

Canterbury Choir School

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Question 5 of 10

5. It was quite common in medieval times for a king or sovereign, even the pope, to bequeath, or even give a monastery or abbey to a faithful retainer. The income was the recipient's use as they pleased, be they churchmen or otherwise. What was the name of the abbey that Alcuin "owned"? Hint

St. Andrew's

St. Eligius'

St. Willath's

St. Matthew's

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Question 6 of 10

6. Alcuin was known by many names, for example he was often called Ealhwine (sanctuary friend), and churchmen knew him as Albinus. But what did Charlemagne's people often call him? Hint

Flaccus

Virgil

Horace

Catullus

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Question 7 of 10

7. Alcuin was first and foremost a scholar. Both a teacher and a student he revered learning. What was Alcuin's motto when it came to schooling and learning of all kinds? Hint

Teach in order to learn

A learned soul brings joy to God

Those who can't do, teach

Learn in order to teach

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Question 8 of 10

8. Alcuin lived mostly in the 8th century but what was his "actual" life span? Hint

ca. 722 - July 22, 794

ca. 735 - May 19, 804

ca. 743 - September 802

ca. 760 - August 812

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Question 9 of 10

9. Alcuin had lived in monastic settings for almost all his life, it makes sense he would take Holy Orders. How old was Alcuin when he did take these Holy Orders? Hint

He never took Holy Orders

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Question 10 of 10

10. Alcuin was well known for his passion for education but he was so, in part, because of a desire to stamp out a certain heresy which he believed could be silenced by education. What was the name of that particular heresy? Hint

Arianism

Adoptionism

Gnosticism

Confusionism

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The scholar Alcuin rose to great heights from "humble" beginnings. Where was he born?

Answer: York

It's not as obvious as it seems, because while he was born there he spent a great deal of time at the court of Charlemagne and could have taken his name from a variety of places.

2. Alcuin taught for many years and was well known even in Rome. Who was Alcuin mostly famously supposed to have taught to read?

Answer: Charlemagne

Given that today we learn reading and writing together it seems odd the mighty king never did learn to write though he was very well read by all accounts but one can certainly see that reading can be taught more readily than the physical mechanics of writing!

Answer: On the road on the way back from Rome somewhere near Parma

I always found it odd that a lowly monk, who had never taken orders, would be hanging out with a king that he just happened to meet by the side of the road travelling through Italy.

4. Charlemagne was a great believer in education and even sent his daughters to school to learn to read and write Latin. What was the name of the school that Alcuin ran for Charlemagne?

Answer: There was no name; it was a travelling school

Hard to skip class when the school travels with you! In those times it was common for a king's entire household to travel with him. The school was most frequently at Aachen one of Charlemagne's favourite castles.

Answer: St. Andrew's

The abbey was founded by St. Willibrord's father Wilgils and was given to Alcuin. It was rumoured Alcuin was related to St.Willibrord and this was part of the reason for his being given this particular monastery and school.

6. Alcuin was known by many names, for example he was often called Ealhwine (sanctuary friend), and churchmen knew him as Albinus. But what did Charlemagne's people often call him?

Answer: Flaccus

Flaccus was a cognomen of the Roman poet Horace and was likely given to Alcuin because of his reputation as a writer and lover of classical writing, though like St. Jerome he had a healthy fear of what could happen to one who became too immersed in it!

7. Alcuin was first and foremost a scholar. Both a teacher and a student he revered learning. What was Alcuin's motto when it came to schooling and learning of all kinds?

Answer: Learn in order to teach

Makes a lot of sense when you think about it though it can be said too that one learns through teaching.

8. Alcuin lived mostly in the 8th century but what was his "actual" life span?

Answer: ca. 735 - May 19, 804

No one know for certain what actual date Alcuin was born but because he became so important in life his date of death was recorded and we know this a strong degree of certainty.

9. Alcuin had lived in monastic settings for almost all his life, it makes sense he would take Holy Orders. How old was Alcuin when he did take these Holy Orders?

Answer: He never took Holy Orders

For all he was so long associated with monasteries it was the educational aspect of the religious life he was interested in not the religion itself. He also liked the income it generated for him.

Answer: Adoptionism

Education was Alcuin's strength and his passion, particularly in his fight against the Adoptionists. Adoptionists were a group of heretical Christians who believed Jesus was adopted by God and had been a flesh and blood human until his baptism. This was consider heresy by the orthodox.

Source: Author howdyitsme

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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