Early Anglo-Saxon Religious Poetry
The Finnesburh Fragment
It is a fragment of 500 lines, incomplete both at the beginning and at the end. The hero, Hengest, has been identified with the leader who led the first Germanic settlers in England, so it was probably very interesting for an Anglo-Saxon audience. Fortunately, more of this story is included in a digression on Beowulf.
The fragment shows joy in a physical combat under a heroical code. There’s also an effective use of direct speech and rapid descriptions.
Waldere
It consists of two parts of about 30 lines each. Its main interest is that it offers evidence of the popularity of Germanic heroes from the continent among the Anglo-Saxons.
Religious Poetry
We can say that religious poetry flourished in Northumbria in the 8th century. The first reference we have is about a poet called Cædmon, in The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, written by The Venerable Bede.
Cædmon’s Hymn
Cædmon was a shepherd near the abbey of Whitby. One day, he was given the gift of song, and he started to sing to God. This marks the beginning of religious poetry in 688.
Cædmonian School
These texts were attributed to Cædmon at first, but they are thought to be later, part of the Cædmonian school, or of Cædmonian influence.
Genesis A/B
It is a poem of 3000 lines and it consists of two parts:
- Genesis A, which has:
- A preliminary part, which is shorter, in which we are told about Satan’s rebellion against God, God’s anger, the casting out of Satan and his supporters, and God reestablishing.
- The body of the poem, in which the first 22 chapters of Genesis are narrated.
- Genesis B, which is an interpellation about Adam and Eve and their fall.
The good point of Genesis A is that it’s a good example of the adaptation of heroic conventions into religious poetry.
The good point of Genesis B is that it’s more imaginative in style and language.
Genesis A was created at the end of the 8th century, and Genesis B between the 9th century and the beginning of the 10th century.
Exodus
The poem is a very clear adaptation of heroic conventions into religious poetry.
Moses is shown as a hero leading his people to freedom. This poem dates from the beginning of the 8th century.
Daniel
It is less interesting than the others and more prosaic. It is a paraphrase of the first 5 chapters of the book of Daniel as it appears in the Vulgate. It’s probably of the 8th century.
Christ and Satan
It was untitled. It is usually referred to as Christ and Satan. It shows the differences between hell and heaven, God and Evil, etc.
Cynewulf
It is a poem written about the 9th century, and it is important because he’s the first Anglo-Saxon poet who signs his work with runes.
These poems show a much more self-conscious art, and they follow classical models in style and structure.
Christ
It deals with the Advent, the Ascension, and the Last Judgment.
In the part of the Advent, there’s a conversation between Mary and Joseph which is very dramatic. This is considered to be the first dramatic passage in English literature.
Juliana
A typical saint’s life.
Elene
It is about the discovery of the Holy Cross by Saint Elene.
This story is told in a rather romantic tone. There’s a sense of wonder and a taste of distant places.
The Fates of the Apostles
It is a poem about 132 lines. The author is meditating about the adventures of the apostles after they parted to spread the Gospel. Its interest lies in the personal passages because it shows a change of the heroic into elegiac.
Cynewulf’s Influence
The Dream of the Rood
The title is because the poet is presenting the poem as a vision. He says that he had a vision of the Cross, and the Cross is who is speaking. In this speech, Christ is presented as a warrior, and the people who were around him were his warriors.
Andreas
It tells the adventures of Saint Andrew with an emphasis on the wonder and the picturesque.
The Phoenix
It describes a paradise in the East, the beauty of the phoenix, and its symbolic flight, death, and rebirth.