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Ormulum
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
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Hardcover
First published January 1, 1180
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 16, 2012
I have a soft spot for the Ormulum because I had a chapter in my dissertation on Orm, but I can't in honesty recommend the text as anything but an academic curiosity.
February 18, 2022
The Ormulum is a specimen of the religious poetry of the Middle English period.
It is the work of the monk Orm, written about 1200. It is a paraphrase of the gospels, somewhat after the manner of Caedmon's paraphrase. The author tells us that he has attempted with little wit that the Lord has lent him to explain to badly informed folk most of the gospels that are read in the mass throughout the year.
From the list of Latin texts drawn up at the beginning as a kind of table of contents it is apparent that he went beyond the gospels and included also a number of excerpts from the Acts of the Apostles. His method is to begin with a paraphrase of the biblical passage and then to explain it in an extended exposition.
The literary value of the Ormulutn is very little. It does not have the fire and originality of Caedrnon's paraphrase. It is very tedious.
He explains the obvious at excruciating length. He repeats himself without so much as varying the phrase. Yet, the Ormulum is not without interest. It shows the literary taste of the humble classes. It is also interesting as a revelation of human personality. The metre is unrhymed with a superfluous womanly ending.
It is the work of the monk Orm, written about 1200. It is a paraphrase of the gospels, somewhat after the manner of Caedmon's paraphrase. The author tells us that he has attempted with little wit that the Lord has lent him to explain to badly informed folk most of the gospels that are read in the mass throughout the year.
From the list of Latin texts drawn up at the beginning as a kind of table of contents it is apparent that he went beyond the gospels and included also a number of excerpts from the Acts of the Apostles. His method is to begin with a paraphrase of the biblical passage and then to explain it in an extended exposition.
The literary value of the Ormulutn is very little. It does not have the fire and originality of Caedrnon's paraphrase. It is very tedious.
He explains the obvious at excruciating length. He repeats himself without so much as varying the phrase. Yet, the Ormulum is not without interest. It shows the literary taste of the humble classes. It is also interesting as a revelation of human personality. The metre is unrhymed with a superfluous womanly ending.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews