Question

read this excerpt about the life of charlemagne.
the plan that he adopted for his children’s education was, first of all, to have both boys and girls instructed in the liberal arts, to which he also turned his own attention. as soon as they were old enough, in accordance with the custom of the franks, the boys had to learn horsemanship, and to practice war and hunting, and the girls to familiarize themselves with cloth - making, and to spin thread, that they might not grow lazy through idleness.
how was charlemagne’s attitude toward his children’s education similar to st. benedict’s attitude toward monks in the catholic church?
○ they both believed it was important to stay productive.
○ they both believed that males and females should learn different tasks.
○ they both felt that learning from books was most important.
○ they both felt that everyone should play as well as study.

Explanation:

1. Analyze Charlemagne's approach: He had children learn skills (liberal arts, horsemanship/hunting for boys, cloth - making/spinning for girls) to avoid idleness, emphasizing productivity.
2. Recall St. Benedict's view: St. Benedict's Rule for monks emphasized labor (productivity) alongside prayer/study to avoid sloth.
3. Evaluate options:

• Option 1: Matches both - avoiding idleness (staying productive).
• Option 2: Charlemagne had different tasks for genders, but St. Benedict's monks (mostly male) had shared labor - prayer - study, so this is incorrect.
• Option 3: Charlemagne included practical skills, not just book - learning; St. Benedict's monks also had labor, so this is incorrect.
• Option 4: The excerpt focuses on work to avoid laziness, not "play", so this is incorrect.

Answer:

A. They both believed it was important to stay productive.