What is Old English and why study its literature?

Current undergraduate student, Ben Woodward, discusses Old English literature.

What is Old English and why study its literature?

Beowulf, Cynewulf, King Alfred—the warriors, poets, and leaders of the Anglo-Saxon world still echo in our own. Though the writers of the 19th and 20th centuries understandably take precedent in English literature courses at sixth form and university, their much older predecessors can offer just as much value. And what started out as a quirk of the Oxford English course, the study of Old English language and literature, quickly became a topic that has taken over my (academic) life.

I remember the process of applying for English at university, diligently reading through and analysing the ‘canon’ for my personal statement: Shakespeare, Austen, Dickens, Donne, the Brontës etc., and the first year of the Oxford course is still focussed on these literary greats. But one paper (the Oxford word for ‘module’) serves as an introduction to medieval literature from 650-1350, a topic new to all undergraduate students and, in my opinion, the most interesting. But how does this period differ from the later ones, and why is it so fun to study?

Old English: A Different Language?

‘Hwæt, iċ swefna cyst secgan wylle,’ are the first words of The Dream of the Rood, an early Christian poem found engraved in crosses across the British Isles (and even Europe!). At first, this line of English seems unintelligible, until you begin to trace the linguistic journeys of the words: ic has become “I”, secgan has become “say”, and wylle has become “will”. Thus, with the addition of a few further words that have fallen out of the language, “So, I will say the best of dreams”.

In first year, Old English (a period of the language roughly defined as up to c.1100) is introduced, with classes covering the basics of grammar and vocabulary. No prior knowledge of any language is expected, and it is quite fun sitting in the college library with friends doing some translation exercises. These skills are quickly put into practise with some of the most interesting Old English poems: The Battle of Maldon, a history about Viking invasion; The Wanderer, a poem mourning loss and isolation; and Beowulf, an epic about heroes and monsters. These are accompanied by regular lectures on the texts and wider culture to give context to the period.

English is such a varied and exciting language, drawing on so many sources, and one of the joys of studying it is exploring these linguistic roots. Sometimes it even throws up a few surprises: did you know that “cringe” comes from the Old English cringan meaning “to die”?

Literature and Culture

Old English and its successor, Early Middle English (post-Norman conquest) provide such a wealth of literature: riddles, poems, saints’ lives, histories, romances, and theology. What I have enjoyed most about this period is being able to explore Anglo-Saxon culture through its literature: analysing history, theology, law, gender, and social norms. For example, by analysing riddles, we can understand how manuscripts were made and the lives of the monks and nuns who read them. By reading history, we can analyse Viking raids and the influence of Norse words on our language as well as the formation of England. By reading saints’ lives, we can see how the first Christians understood themselves in Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. And in poetry, such as the epic poem Beowulf, we can study how pagan beliefs lingered in spite of the Christian conversion.