Christian Writers of the Anglo-Saxon Period - Chapter II - HELL

[alert-success] HEL - William J. Long [/alert-success]

[alert-warn] UNIT II : ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD[/alert-warn]

[alert-primary] Christian Writers of the Anglo-Saxon Period [/alert-primary]

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        The literature of this period falls naturally into two divisions, pagan and Christian. The former represents the poetry the Anglo-Saxons probably brought with them in the form of oral sagas, the latter represents the writings developed under the teaching of the monks, but while it still held on to the people's life and language.Christianity brought England a new life, leader, and language.

Northumbrian Literature

    Two great Christian schools came to England and quickly ended the Anglo-Saxon wars. First, Augustine from Rome. It spread south and central England, especially Essex.

     It founded schools and educated the rough, but produced no literature. The other, led by Aidan, came from Ireland, a centre of religion and education for western Europe for centuries.

   The Northumbrian monks of this school influenced all of Anglo-Saxon literature. It's called the Northumbrian School, and its greatest names are Bede, Caedmon, and Cynewulf. 

BEDE (673-735)

   Most people call him "the Venerable Bede." He was our first great scholar and is known as "the father of English learning." He almost never wrote in any language other than Latin. His last work, a translation of the Gospel of John into Anglo-Saxon, has been lost. "The First History of England" is one of his works. The Ecclesiastical History of the English People is the most important work to us.

CAEDMON (Seventh Century)

     Caedmon is the most famous Old English poet, and he is often called the "father" of the style. In the 700s, he was a monk at the abbey of Whitby in Northumbria. The only thing left is a nine-line poem called "Hymn," which is also the oldest English text still around. Caedmon is the first poet whose name and date are known for sure.

    The so-called Paraphrase is thought to be Caedmon's best work. It tells the stories of Genesis, Exodus, and part of Daniel in beautiful, poetic language, with a depth of understanding and imagination that often makes it more than just a paraphrase and more like real poetry.

 Cynewulf

     The Christ, Juliana, The Fates of the Apostles, and Elene are the only poems that Cynewulf signed. Andreas, the Phoenix, the Dream of the Rood, the Descent into Hell, Guthlac, the Wanderer, and some of the Riddles are all poems that aren't signed but are thought to be by him or his school.

 ALFRED (848-901)

     For the history of Alfred's time, the Northmen gave him a lot of trouble. With the Treaty of Wedmore in 878, Alfred became not only king of Wessex, but also a hero in literature.

     King Alfred was the most famous person who wrote in Old English. He translated many books from Latin into Old English. Gregory the Great's The Pastoral Care, which tells priests how to do their jobs, is one of these translations. Orosius's Universal History and Geography was the best book about history in general for hundreds of years.

 Saxon Chronicle

 More important than any translation is the English or Saxon Chronicle. Initially, this was probably a dry record of West-Saxon births and deaths. Alfred expanded the record, starting with Caesar's conquest. When it touches his reign, the dry chronicle becomes an interesting and connected story, the oldest modern nation's history in its own language. Alfred's record of his reign, probably written by himself, is a splendid piece of writing that shows his literary and historical merit.

    After Alfred's death, the Chronicle became the best example of early English prose. "The Battle of Brunanburh" and "The Battle of Maldon" are included. The last, written in 991, is Anglo-Saxon poetry's swan song. The Chronicle was continued for a century after the Norman Conquest and is a valuable record of events and literary monument showing language development.

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