The literature of the Anglo-Saxon period can be easily classified into two groups-- Pagan and Christian. The former represents the poetry which the Anglo-Saxons brought with them in the form of oral sagas. The crude material out of which literature was slowly developed on English soil, such as Beowulf; the latter represents the writings developed under teaching of the monks. Before the coming of Christianity to England, English literature was mainly heathen or pagan. With the introduction of Christianity in island and the conversion of the people, the Anglo-Saxon poets turned away from pagan themes common to old Germania and sought subjects for their poetry in the Bible or in the lives of the saints.
Anglo-Saxon religious poems are divided into two groups. The groups are named after the two famous poets. The two names connected with the Christian poetry are those of Caedmon and Cynewulf.
In Ecclesiastical History of English People Bede tells the story of Caedmon, who by divine inspiration was transformed from a state of tongue-tied ineffectiveness into that of poetical ecstasy. He entered monastery of Whitby, became a monk and afterwards sang of many Biblical events. As Caedmon was divinely inspired he composed only religious poems.
Caedmon's best known poem Genesis, exists in two versions. The first Genesis A tells the story from Creation to the Fall of the Angels and Genesis B thereafter upto the episode of Isaac. The first is, on the whole dull, but the second has some fine passages. Allied to Genesis is the poem Christ and Satan which comprises three poems, ' Lament of the Fallen Angels', 'Descent to Hell', and ' Temptation of Christ by Satan'.From these names Milton's indebtedness to Caedmon is quite obvious. Many regards these poems to have been the work of the several poets and it is difficult distinguish the portions which may be definitely ascribed to Caedmon. The Christian spirit is apparent in the descriptions of the gentler aspects of nature and of the Garden of Eden, but the older note of sternness is visible in the descriptions of the battles. In Biblical stories Caedmon introduced vivid dialogue which may be said to be the earliest signs of the dramatic genius of the English people. Among other poems attributed to Caedmon, are Daniel and Exodus which are based on or are paraphrased from the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible. They are more or less colourless. The other poem Judith is a dramatic epic fragment of unequal merit.
Cynewulf is the other famous poet of the Anglo-Saxon religious poetry. Many regard him as the greatest of the Anglo-Saxon poets after the author of Beowulf. Four poems contain the signature of Cynewulf. Those poems are Christ, Juliana, The Fates of the Apostles and Elene. Unsigned poems attributed to him or to his school are Andreas, The Phoenix, The Dream of the Rood and Guthlac. Christ is a didactic poem of some 1600 lines. It falls into three parts. The first part deals with the advent of Christ on the earth, the second with His ascension to judge the world. The Dream of the Rood is regarded as the greatest of old English poems because of its unusual lyric, tenderness, imagination and piety. It is the earliest dream vision. The cross tells the poet of the crucifixion and the resurrection. Cynewulf was devoted to merciful Christ. He saw Christ with his eyes of a pious Christian. To him Christ is the symbol of love. He hates sin, not sinners.
Cynewulf is more artistic and scholarly than Caedmon. He had great power of expression, surer technique and real descriptive powers. His lines are flowing and melodious, his style is free and easy. His ideas are broader than those of Caedmon.
The account of Anglo-Saxon Christian poetry which is given here shows us that at that time people had different attitudes towards God. In the 17th century Donne and his followers produced some fine religious poems. The works of Cynewulf and Caedmon are not equal to them in poetic style and feeling; but they had their own historical and literary importance.
Anglo-Saxon religious poems are divided into two groups. The groups are named after the two famous poets. The two names connected with the Christian poetry are those of Caedmon and Cynewulf.
In Ecclesiastical History of English People Bede tells the story of Caedmon, who by divine inspiration was transformed from a state of tongue-tied ineffectiveness into that of poetical ecstasy. He entered monastery of Whitby, became a monk and afterwards sang of many Biblical events. As Caedmon was divinely inspired he composed only religious poems.
Caedmon's best known poem Genesis, exists in two versions. The first Genesis A tells the story from Creation to the Fall of the Angels and Genesis B thereafter upto the episode of Isaac. The first is, on the whole dull, but the second has some fine passages. Allied to Genesis is the poem Christ and Satan which comprises three poems, ' Lament of the Fallen Angels', 'Descent to Hell', and ' Temptation of Christ by Satan'.From these names Milton's indebtedness to Caedmon is quite obvious. Many regards these poems to have been the work of the several poets and it is difficult distinguish the portions which may be definitely ascribed to Caedmon. The Christian spirit is apparent in the descriptions of the gentler aspects of nature and of the Garden of Eden, but the older note of sternness is visible in the descriptions of the battles. In Biblical stories Caedmon introduced vivid dialogue which may be said to be the earliest signs of the dramatic genius of the English people. Among other poems attributed to Caedmon, are Daniel and Exodus which are based on or are paraphrased from the Vulgate, the Latin version of the Bible. They are more or less colourless. The other poem Judith is a dramatic epic fragment of unequal merit.
Cynewulf is the other famous poet of the Anglo-Saxon religious poetry. Many regard him as the greatest of the Anglo-Saxon poets after the author of Beowulf. Four poems contain the signature of Cynewulf. Those poems are Christ, Juliana, The Fates of the Apostles and Elene. Unsigned poems attributed to him or to his school are Andreas, The Phoenix, The Dream of the Rood and Guthlac. Christ is a didactic poem of some 1600 lines. It falls into three parts. The first part deals with the advent of Christ on the earth, the second with His ascension to judge the world. The Dream of the Rood is regarded as the greatest of old English poems because of its unusual lyric, tenderness, imagination and piety. It is the earliest dream vision. The cross tells the poet of the crucifixion and the resurrection. Cynewulf was devoted to merciful Christ. He saw Christ with his eyes of a pious Christian. To him Christ is the symbol of love. He hates sin, not sinners.
Cynewulf is more artistic and scholarly than Caedmon. He had great power of expression, surer technique and real descriptive powers. His lines are flowing and melodious, his style is free and easy. His ideas are broader than those of Caedmon.
The account of Anglo-Saxon Christian poetry which is given here shows us that at that time people had different attitudes towards God. In the 17th century Donne and his followers produced some fine religious poems. The works of Cynewulf and Caedmon are not equal to them in poetic style and feeling; but they had their own historical and literary importance.
