Trace the development of Anglo – Saxon Prose with special contribution to King Alfred.
The Germanic forefathers of the English brought with them their own poetry but there is no evidence of them bringing any prose writings. The development of English prose wholly took place in England and was greatly facilitated by the introduction of Christianity. Old English prose was basically a prose of utility. Even the reader of Old English prose did not expect any entertainment from what he heard or read but desired to be informed and instructed. Therefore, the prose consisted of laws and proclamations, prayers and politics but in Modern age its history and philosophy.
Basically with Alfred the great Anglo-Saxon prose makes the true beginning. The three great prose writers of this period are King Alfred, Aelfric and Wulfstan.
King Alfred
Alfred has been called the “Father of English prose” and with good reasons. The birth and development of the English literary prose owes much to Alfred who was determined to re-build a flourishing civilization after destructive Danish intrusions and bring within the range of his people the most significant of Christian thoughts. Alfred greatly advocated the use of vernacular and he established the mother tongue rather than Latin as the Lingua-Franca in schools through his writings. King Alfred of Wessex fully deserved the word “Great” because of his achievement in the struggles both of war and peace..
There are definite literary achievements that belong to Alfred’s reign and are associated with his name. The five important authoritative translations of his time covering all the knowledge of his time are
A) Gregory’s – ‘Pastoral Care’ :It is a religious works which discusses the essentials of Christianity. It is to be noted that in the preface of it Alfred said by the laity, to know the history of their country.
(B) Bede’s – ‘Ecclesiastical History of the England’ – It is about the religious development in England , Here Alfred , wished his people , not just clergy but the laity , to know the history of their country.
(C) Orosius – ‘History of the World' – It is a study of the world from various aspects, His accounts of geography. The language and places of Germany make the reading interesting Alfred is desire was to see people acquainted not only with the country history but also was that of the world beyond.
(D) Boethius’s – ‘De Consolation Philosophic’ – It is a fine study of the sorrow’s and suffering of human title and the way of their consolation. It is written in the form of dialogue between Boethius and philosophy. Boethius also has written it in prison in order to console his sole in the dire hour of dejection and isolation. Here we find Alfred deep faith in Christianity finding reflection in his translation.
(E) St. Augustine’s – ‘Soliloquia’ – It is a highly philosophic work. Its preface overflow’s with emotions at the prospect of his departure from this world. Here he recall all his good work done as a writer and educator and exhorts his for being to carry on the work he had began. A part his translation Alfred wrote - Hand book – and Law book .
Early pre-conquest literature had both kinds of prose; Aelfric wrote a prose that was consciously mannered, while the compilers of King Alfred’s chronicle wrote in simple prose. King Alfred’s extensive writings occupy a central position in the development of English prose. They were an outgrowth from the language of instruction. Although the chronicle began under Alfred’s guidance, it continued for 2Vi centuries after his death and for almost a century after the Norman Conquest. In the latter part of his reign, the Danes defeated, but the country, ravaged and education was at low ebb, he decided to translate important Latin books into English so that*freedom-loving youths might have textbooks in English. Even though Alfred’s English style was based on Anglo-Saxon instructional prose, he created from it virtually a new medium, and the remarkable aspect in his style was the independent way in which he adopted Latin.
Above books indicate how gentle Alfred is intelligent by choosing for his people, the most comprehensive history of his nation; an inclusive geography and encyclopedia of the age; a work defining the ideals of religious administration; an idealistic philosophy, which is always a refuge in times of trouble, and the incarnation of the patristic and ascetic attitude towards life, besides he successfully took the responsibility for the codification of the laws for his Kingdom. Further Alfred encouraged and systematized the writing of the Anglo-Saxon chronicle. The Anglo- Saxon chronicle is a casual, often a spirited narrative, containing allusions not only of battles long since fought but also the contemporary scene.
Aelfric
Alfred wrote in simple prose of the vernacular and Aelfric started the tradition of rhetoric in English prose. Aelfric’s homiletic tendency is very strong and there are 40 homilies, which deal with the Saint’s life
It is clear that Aelfric was primarily a teaching churchman and less reputed than Bede. His intellectual and spiritual aspects were limited; nevertheless he went his way with confidence to contribute notably to the vast body of English prose. He wrote:
Colloquium: It is meant for teaching Latin by means of conversation. There is a teacher in one side and on the other side there are a number of persons coming from the different fields and a novice. Through their interesting conversation the way of learning slowly comes out.
Catholic Homilies:
Aelfric wrote sermons in vernacular. The first two series of these sermons are known as ‘Catholic Homilies’ and the third are known as ‘Lives of the Saints’. Catholic Homilies comprises two series of forty (40) sermons suitable for delivery by the clergy.
The seven books of the Old Testament are supposed to be translated by Aelfric and that is why he can be called as the first English Bible translator.
Aelfric’s prose has a rhythmic charm and shares the element of poetry. He writes in a conversational style full of impulse and sonority.
Wulfstan
He was successor to Aelfric was somewhat emotional and passionate in his expression.. He was a remarkable person but unfortunately little was known about him from the chronicle of his professional career. Some of the Sermons once attributed to Wulfstan are now ascribed to Aelfric. The whole matter of the authorship of the many homilies composed in England during the early years of 11th century is an extremely complex problem
His homilies are extant, but his fame mainly rests on a single homily- ‘Sermo Lupi ad Anglos’.
Sermo Lupi ad Anglos :
In his homily Wulfstan predicts that the world is drawing nigh to the end and he is driven to this fateful conclusion by the evils of the time. His prose is simple and straight forward taking to the point. His style is fertile in concrete illustrations and lucidity. His style is more akin to the rhetorician than that of the philosopher..
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
is a collection of Old English the history of Anglo Saxon. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great . Multiple copies were made of that one original and then distributed to monasteries across England, where they were independently updated. In one case, the Chronicle was still being actively updated in 1154.
It can be treated as the vernacular history of the Anglo-Saxons from the 8th century to the middle of the 12th century. It is originally a record of some important annals as well as the births and death of the West-Saxon kingdom. Under the patronage of King Alfred it becomes a full fledged history beginning with Julius Ceasers’ conquest in England. It his Alfred who gave the loose events and episodes of the chronicle a proper from and regular shape. Alfred is supposed to have written some portions of the chronicle.
0 Comments