CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
Almost the entire glory of the Anglo Saxon literature lies on the shoulders of three great names. They are Bede,Caedmon and Cynewulf. They only are considered the soul makers and authors of Christianity poetry of the Anglo Saxon. The significance of this poetry is found to repose entirely on their literary achievements.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
GENESIS AND OTHER POETRY
BEDE (672/3–26 MAY 735) : Saint Bede, was our first great scholar and “the father of English learning”, wrote exclusively in Latin. His last work was the translation of the Gospel of John into Anglo–Saxon, which has unfortunately lost. Bede’s works were very admirable. Scholars widely copied those as books, or rather manuscripts, in nearly all the monastery schools of Europe. The most important work of Bede is Ecclesiastical History of the English people.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
CAEDMON (657 –684) : We consider Caedmon as the first Christian English ( Northumbrian) poet. He was a simple, Anglo–Saxon unlettered man. His main work was to look after the property of a monastery at Whitby. We still remember Caedmon’s name as the first English Christian poet for his poetical paraphrases of the Holy Bible. People believe that he paraphrased in verse the four Books of Genesis, Exodus, Daniel and Judith.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
Genesis is a long narrative of nearly three thousand lines. It sings in praise of the Creator and His creation. The poem opens with the praise of God, the Creator of all. Caedmon’s Genesis has almost an epic pattern. Its theme is of a grand magnitude, regarding the origin of the human race. However there are doubts regarding the authorship of Genesis A and Genesis B. There is a strong suggestion relating to the latter Genesis. It is that the passage was actually a translation of a lost Germanic poem.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
Exodus relates in some six hundred lines, the escape of the Hebrews from the Pharaoh’s rule in Egypt. It also includes the destruction of the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. The poem is written boldly and vigorously.
Daniel is a simple and sentimental poem on Daniel. Although the poetic note is much more sincere, it is seldom considered a great piece of work. Scholars have versified only some selected portion of the book.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
Judith contains some three hundred and fifty lines and describes the slaughter of Holofernace, and the victory of the Jews. However, there is a great dispute regarding the authorship of this work.
Scholars have attributed three minor poems, The Fall of Angels, The Harrowing of Hell, and The Temptation to Caedmon.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
CYNEWULF : He is the first poet in English language to sign his work. After the discovery of his name, scholars have attributed numerous works to him. These include the whole of the Exeter book and Beowulf. The signed poems of Cynewulf are Juliana, Christ, The Fates of the Apostles and Elene.
Juliana is based on a Latin original. In the region of Maximian, a Roman prefect Elensius wooed Juliana, daughter of Africanus. Juliana, however, refused to marry him unless he embraces Christianity. In turn Elensius persecuted her severely. When Elensius beheaded Juliana, angels took her soul to heaven.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
Christ compiles of three parts. The first part speaks of the advent of Christ on earth. Second part is about his ascension and the concluding part tells about the day of judgement.
The Fates of the Apostles is not a significant literary work. It bears much importance as the evidence of Cynewulfian poetry, since it contains the poet’s own signature. The work is on the lives of twelve different apostles.
Elene is based on the finding of the cross. It is Cynewulf’s masterpiece.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
Apart from the signed pieces there are four more poems. Many scholars have regarded them as probably the work of Cynewulf. These poems are The Dream of the Rood, Andreas, Guthlac, and Phoenix.
The Dream of The Rood describes the poet’s dream of the Cross, on which Jesus was crucified. He finds in his dream the Cross, decked with golden jewels. As he continues to look, blood starts to stream out of it. The Dream of the Rood is the earliest dream vision in English literature. It is enriched with a devotional Christian spirit and a rich artistry.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
Andreas tells the adventures, sufferings and evangelic success of St. Andrew.
The Phoenix describes an earthly Paradise in the East, the beauty of the Phoenix, its flight to Syria.
CHRISTIANITY POETRY OF THE ANGLO SAXON
Guthlac A and Guthlac B
These are based upon the account of St. Guthlac. Guthlac is tempted and tormented by the foul fiend. And Guthlac B details the serene death of the saint. The tender personal feeling and emotional depth suggest that Cynewulf may have written this.
