Balti state university a. Russo chair of english philology

6. More examples of Anglo-Saxon Literature 
During many centuries a lot of literature was composed but little was written down. 
Alliterated poetry never ceased to be composed. Among the first poets of the Anglo-Saxon times 
that are known today are Caedmon, Venerable Bede and Alfred the Great. 
Venerable Bede was known in his times as one of the greatest scholars. Born in 673, he was 
brought up in the monasteries of Northumbria where he received the best education of that time. He 
wrote in Latin and produced many theological works as well as books on science and rhetoric His 
great contribution to English literature and history of the English nation was his famous book 
“Ecclesiastic History”(731). The History tells about the Anglo-Saxon conquest though his main 
theme was the spread of Christianity and the growth of English Church. It contains many stories of 
saints and miracles that testified the glory of God. Another merit of Bede was the fact that he wrote 
the first autobiographical account in English Literature. Bede‟s writings prove that he is reliable as a 
writer and a historian. His judgements are as accurate as could be. Although he reflects the view 
point of his race and time, he writes of other civilisations with equal justice and appreciation. His 
desire to interpret the events makes him integrate traditions or even legends. From his writings we 
learn about another poet of the age Caedmon. Bede says that Caedmon, an illiterate cowherd 
employed by the monastery of Whitby, miraculously received the gift of singing, entered the 
monastery and became the founder of the school of Christian poetry. 

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Caedmon We do not have much information about his life, still what we know is that 
Caedmon wrote in Anglo-Saxon. He wasn‟t a monk but a shepherd at Whitby. His name is know 
today for his poem “The Paraphrase” that is a versification of some books of the Bible. They were 
stories in alliterative verse. Caedmon versified the book of “Genesis‟, “Exodus” and “ Daniel”. He 
continued to write in the old formulaic style and followed the tradition of Old English verse.