Old English literature

Prose and poetry in the various dialects of Old English written between AD 449 and 1066. Poetry (alliterative, without rhyme) was composed and delivered orally; much has therefore been lost. What remains owes its survival to monastic scribes who favoured verse with a Christian motivation or flavour. Prose in Old English was a later achievement, essentially beginning in the reign of Alfred the Great (c. 849–901).

Poetry The greatest surviving epic poem is Beowulf (c. 700), which recounts the hero's battles with mythical foes such as the man-eating Grendel and his mother. This is a rare theme; the most constant theme is of a heroic struggle against impossible odds, and is found in poems such as ‘The Battle of Maldon’ and ‘Finnisburgh’. The heroic struggle is often against fate (as in ‘The Wanderer’ and ‘The Seafarer’). Despite the basic and violent lifestyle of the period, many poems display great sensitivity. ‘Wulf and Eadwacer’ takes a female viewpoint. ‘The Ruin’ is a fragmentary elegy reflecting on the ruins of a Roman city (probably Bath). One of the earliest attributed short poems consists of six lines by Caedmon, who was reputedly inspired to sing about the Creation by a vision. The longer poem ‘The Dream of the Rood’ (c. 698) demonstrates the Christian cult of the Cross, as does ‘Elene’ by Cynewulf.

Prose The beginnings of Old English prose dates from Alfred the Great and his translations of the works of Gregory the Great, Boethius, and Bede (which include Bede's History of the English Peoples, first published in Latin in 731, and translated by Alfred 871–899). Historical prose began with the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which at first was simply brief notes of yearly events but later evolved into a dignified and even poetic narrative. The existing version of the Chronicle dates from Alfred's reign and was compiled from earlier records (now lost) purporting to go back to the time of Adam. Dating from the 10th and 11th centuries are sermons by Aelfric, a Dorset monk who also translated the Old Testament. Aelfric's prose is obviously more sophisticated than that of Alfred. Other existing sermons are those by the prelate Wulfstan (died 1023). Some spells and riddles have also survived.