anglo-saxon literature

Anglo-Saxon literature is almost wholly verse which was passed orally from generation to generation.Anglo-Saxon literature, also known as Old English, can be divided into two parts: pre-Christian period and post-Christian period.

The dominant genre of Pre-Christian period is epic poetry, and the most famous work of this period is "Beowulf" about which I will explain in next posts. The other famous poems of this period are "Deor", "The Wanderer", "The Seafarer", and other poems. In these works, a happy past is contrasted with a precarious and desolate present. The "Finnsburgh" fragment, "The Battle of Maldon", and "The Battle of Brunanburh", are among war poems which are all based on historical episodes, mainly celebrate great heroism.

Post-Christian period as it is obvious from the name is the period in which Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity.

According to the 10th century chronicler, Aethelweard, St. Augustine arrived with 40 monks, in Kent, in A.D.597.In the early medieval period, large-scale conversions required the ruler's conversion first, and large numbers of converts are recorded within a year of the mission's arrival in Kent.This conversion to Christianity continued till the 7th century.

Roman missionaries not only brought Christianity, but also Roman Alphabet.Before conversion, the Anglo-Saxons used some mysterious shapes called "runes" for writing.Actually, they carved shapes on wood or stone.We can say that conversion to Christianity put the Anglo-Saxons in the path of civilisation.

Literature of this period includes hagiography, sermons, Bible translations, chronicles, and others.

The most important works of this period are "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", the original manuscript of which was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred, the Great, the next one is "Cadmon's Hymn", the nine-line alliterative vernacular  praise poem in honour of God.

Cynewulf, a later poet, signed the poems "Elene", "Juliana", and "The Fates of the Apostles" ; The finest poem of Cynewulf is "The Dream of the Rood", the first known example of the dream vision.

The verse form for Old English poetry is an alliterative line of four stressed syllables and an unfixed number of unstressed syllables broken by a caesura and arranged in one of several patterns. Lines are conventionally end-stopped and unrhymed. The form lends itself to narrative; there is no lyric poetry in Old English. A stylistic feature in this heroic poetry is the kenning.