The Anglo-Saxon Era
“In the outer reaches of the known world, in the barbarian north far from Mediterranean civilization, late antique Christian culture found new life….” (Brown 1). The Anglo-Saxon Era is an era of invasion in English history. This period extends from about 450 to 1066, the year of the Norman-French conquest of England. The Anglo-Saxon period was not only a period of destruction and malevolent actions, but was also a period of rebirth. Brown strongly believed that “this period of astounding learning and artistic creativity emerged from the preceding darkness of petty wars and bloody feuds” (1). In a war-stricken society, the Anglo-Saxons knew of nothing but violence until impacted by the Christian literature and teachings of various peoples.
“Anglo-Saxon, or Old English, literature begins theoretically with the arrival of Germanic tribes in Britain and extends to the Norman Conquest” (“Anglo-Saxons 464”). Compared to many other genres in Old English Literature, poetry had the most dynamic impression in the lives of the Anglo-Saxons. Old English poetry can be identified in one of two styles: “the Heroic, which is based in pre-Christian Germanic myth; and the Christian, which paraphrases biblical narrative in verse” (“Old English Literature” 541). An example of the Heroic style is the poem Beowulf , the oldest surviving Germanic epic as well as the longest and most important poem in Old English. In Beowulf, the juxtaposition of good and evil directly reflects the Anglo-Saxon army and their enemies in numerous battles. “The epic celebrates the hero’s fearless and bloody struggles against monsters and extols courage, honor, and loyalty as the chief virtues in a world of brutal force” (“Literature of Anglo-Saxons”). Beowulf was portrayed as a God-fearing man, turning to God when faced with adversity. After reading this poem, Christianity became alive to the Anglo-Saxon people because of the triumphant outcome and the restoration of peace to a despondent people. Like Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxons fought valiantly and strived to reclaim their land. Dorothy Whitelock stated that “the language of the poem has been reformed by Christianity… the poem’s values are completely compatible with those of Anglo-Saxon Christianity which, for an important example, recognized the obligation and duty of revenge” (45). The influence of Beowulf encouraged the Anglo-Saxons that with God on their side, they would be victorious in every battle.
One person that contributed many works to Anglo-Saxon literature was Bede the Venerable, known as the Father of English History. Bede was born at Wearmouth, England in 672, where he spent most of his life in the abbey of Saints Peter and Paul. “His works on literature and poetics, exegesis, and history set new standards for his age and for ages to come” (Brown 32). Bede was an English theologian and a major conveyor of Roman Christian literature to the Anglo-Saxon people, transforming and melding the two cultures, Italic and Germanic, forever (Emmerson 53). Bede is mainly known for his work as an historian. According to Brown, “his works not only provide us with data now known only because of him; they also mark momentous advances in the science of historiography” (81). Bede’s most significant work was The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. It gives a history of Britain up to 729, speaking of the invasion of the Anglo-Saxon pagans in the fifth and sixth centuries, who were converted to Christianity by missionaries from the north and west. His purpose in writing this work was to “expound the development of God’s plan for the English as a chosen people and the development of one unified Church in that violent and feuding land” (“Bede the Venerable”). Bede devoted his life to preaching the gospel to those who have never even heard the name of God mentioned. Through his works based on Christianity, he hoped to eliminate violence and barbarism in the Anglo-Saxon period.
The life of the Anglo-Saxon poet Cynewulf remains a mystery still today. What is known is that “he was one of the earliest religious poets and wrote beautiful verses steeped in Christian belief” (“Cynewulf Biography”). He was converted to Christianity as an adult and, throughout his life, devoted himself to writing religious poems. Cynewulf is the author of four poems, including The Fates of the Apostles. In this poem, Cynewulf writes: “but let us be keen to call out to God, send our prayers into that bright place, that we may have that hall, a home on high where there is the greatest of hopes….” (Emmerson 193). The Anglo-Saxon people might have interpreted this as a prayer of assurance that God would deliver them from the hands of their enemies. This poem also gave them a new hope that demolished every spirit of intimidation from their minds and renewed them with strength and confidence. Between the 8th and 9th century, Cynewulf left behind 2600 lines of poetry that are compelling to this day.
Along with Cynewulf, Caedmon was the first of a series of Anglo-Saxon religious poets. The form of verse popular during this period was a Germanic style of oral poetry. When Caedmon’s Anglo-Saxon ancestors migrated to the British Isles, “they brought with them a well-developed poetic tradition shaped by centuries of oral improvisation…tradition rich with legends and characters…a highly formalized poetic…system of versification” (Mitchell”). In oral poetry, “Caedmon painted a vivid picture in each story and drew inspiration from English life and the surrounding landscape for much of his colorful background” (“English Literature”). Because Caedmon was a herdsman and a lay brother at a monastery, people believed he was illiterate and demonstrated no particular talents. Caedmon was said to have composed several works, but the “Hymn of Creation”, the earliest known poem in the English language, is the only poem that can be accurately credited to him. “Bede states that ‘Others after him attempted to compose religious poems but none could ever compare with him because he did not learn the art of poetry from men but from God’ ” (“English Literature”). In the nine lines of the poem, God is praised for His marvelous creation. This poem was essential to the Anglo-Saxons because they could escape to a world of peace where no evil thing existed. Although Caedmon was once depicted as an inept person, he continued to strive forward, impacting lives with his beautiful poetry.
By the time the Anglo-Saxons reached Britain in the fourth century, paganism greatly influenced the culture. One person that truly changed the lives of the Anglo-Saxons was not a writer, but a teacher. At the end of the sixth century, Pope Gregory the Great was determined to teach the words of Christ, hoping to penetrate the hearts of the English. Bede reminds his readers that Gregory “snatched our race from the teeth of the ancient foe and made them partakers of everlasting freedom by sending us preachers” (Brown 4). This period in history is known as the Conversion, which was Pope Gregory the Great’s grand missionary project, initiated right before the end of the sixth century. Gregory hoped to bring life into a dark and dying culture. According to Brown, Gregory sent Augustine, “who had been prior of his monastery of Saint Andrew in Rome, along with “several other God-fearing monks” to preach the gospel to King Ethelberht of Kent and his people” (5). “This little monastic group brought the Bible, literacy and Mediterranean education to the southern English” (“Bede the Venerable”). Over a long period of time, Pope Gregory’s mission was successful in converting the Anglo-Saxon people. Since war was a part of every Anglo-Saxon’s life, the people grew accustomed to violence and brutality, searching for something to believe in. Christianity brought an unceasing peace that they failed to find anywhere else. Emmerson notes that “the converted paganism left its mark on Anglo-Saxon Christianity- a mark that survives almost imperceptibly today….” (30). The Christian teachings of Gregory tremendously affected the Anglo-Saxon people by bringing the love of Jesus into a world of hatred corrupted by war.
Throughout the Anglo-Saxon period, many efforts were made to reconstruct the culture of the people. The influence of Christianity brought by the literature and Christian teachings played the most crucial role in this mission. One source states that “Christian teachings helped modify the taste for violence implicit in earlier warrior values” (Neelan 1). The vicious mentality of the Anglo-Saxon people changed drastically after the introduction of Christianity in England. Because of the perseverance of many people, the Anglo-Saxons were able to make life-changing decisions that would affect them for generations to come. “The Anglo-Saxons, among the earliest peoples of Western Europe to forge a native vernacular literature, developed a fusion of the Christian and the pagan/heroic that make their culture distinguished, their literature compelling, and their spirituality unique” (Emmerson xi). From the beginning of time to this present day, the word of God has shaped civilizations by bringing hope, love, and peace to people tormented by the wickedness of this world.
