1 Notes on English Literature (Anglo-Saxon Period)

Q: Assess the contribution of King Alfred to the development of Old English Prose.
OR> Write a note on Old English Prose/ Anglo-Saxon Prose.
Ans: The Anglo-Saxon invaders of Britain brought with them their own poetry, but there was
no evidence of their having possessed any literary prose tradition. The development of Old
English Prose does, therefore, not go back to the earlier Germanic origin, as the poetry does.
It takes place wholly in England. It is not surprising that prose developed later than poetry.
The prose, unlike the verse, was not used as an emotional stimulant, it was for the most part
educational.

Old English literary prose appears in the later part of the Anglo-Saxon period. Prose
was written in Latin before the reign of King Alfred. English prose begins in the reign of King
Alfred in an attempt by the king and his associates to bring within range of the people the
most significant aspects of earlier thoughts. For his effort and contribution in English prose
Alfred is justly regarded as the ‘father of English prose’. He translated the most important
Latin texts, such as books on history, geography and other texts. His five noteworthy
translations are:
(i) Pastoral Care of Popo Gregory,
(ii) The History of the World by Orosius,
(iii) Ecclesiastical History by Bede,
(iv) Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius,
(v) The Soliloquies of St. Augustine.
His another important work is “Handbook” which contains extracts from Bible. “Anglo-Saxon
Chronicle”, which is considered as the most important landmark of Anglo-Saxon prose, was
probably begun in King Alfred’s time. It was a series of annals which commence with an
outline of English history from Julius Caesar’s invasion to the middle of the fifth century and
contuse upto 1154.

Another prose writer is Aelfric, who became the Abbot of Eynsham in 1005. His
principal works are Catholic Homilies and Lives of Saints. Catholic Homilies is a series of
sermon which is suitable for delivery by the clergy. It is an excellent example of eloquent
English prose. He also translated from scriptures. Aelfric’s prose is poetic in its cadence and
often alliterative.

Wulfstan is another notable prose writer of Anglo-Saxon period. He was bishop of

Worcester and Archbishop of York. Of his extant homilies the most famous is Sermo Lupi ad
Anglos. This is addressed to the English when they were being persecuted by the Danes. It is
vigorous and powerful piece of pulpit oratory—alliterative in nature and fluent in style and
throws considerable light on Wulfstan’s brilliant personality.

Anglo-Saxon prose is much nearer than poetry to modern English. The poetry was
archaic, retaining obsolete words and expressions and the alliterative expressions of the past.
The prose was either the speech in deity use or modeled on the Latin which was the universal
language of the educated Europe, and thus put all scholars on an equal plane. With the
Danish invasion and then with Norman Conquest of England, Anglo-Saxon literature suffered
an eclipse. Poetry was almost destroyed; prose on the contrary, in spite of changes, remain
recognizable and suffered no break with the past.