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Elene: An Old English Poem; Edited with Introduction, Latin Original, Notes, and Complete Glossary
Excerpt from Elene: An Old English Poem; Edited With Introduction, Latin Original, Notes, and Complete Glossary
It was at first intended that this edition should be the joint work of Dr. Henry Johnson, of Bowdoin College, Maine, and the present editor. Those who miss the scholarly criticism and excellent taste of Dr. Johnson cannot more sincerely regret that his duties and engagements threw the burden of editing upon me, than I have regretted the loss of his aid and advice. His sympathy and interest, I am fortunate in being able to say, I have retained.
Because I do not know how to divide my knowledge in order to ascribe to its proper source each of its parts, I gratefully and cheerfully acknowledge my general indebtedness to my esteemed instructors, Drs. Napier, Zupitza, and Wulker. Without their influence and encouragement my study of Old English would have been meagre indeed, and without their instruction perhaps this work would never have been attempted.
In attributing, then, all that is good in this edition to them, I assume all responsibility for its errors and deficiencies.
It was at first intended that this edition should be the joint work of Dr. Henry Johnson, of Bowdoin College, Maine, and the present editor. Those who miss the scholarly criticism and excellent taste of Dr. Johnson cannot more sincerely regret that his duties and engagements threw the burden of editing upon me, than I have regretted the loss of his aid and advice. His sympathy and interest, I am fortunate in being able to say, I have retained.
Because I do not know how to divide my knowledge in order to ascribe to its proper source each of its parts, I gratefully and cheerfully acknowledge my general indebtedness to my esteemed instructors, Drs. Napier, Zupitza, and Wulker. Without their influence and encouragement my study of Old English would have been meagre indeed, and without their instruction perhaps this work would never have been attempted.
In attributing, then, all that is good in this edition to them, I assume all responsibility for its errors and deficiencies.
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 820
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November 10, 2017A well told story, though not a story that would appeal as a skeletal narrative. Even in the 19th-C. translation it's full of that somber, weighty, and darkly mystical Anglo-Saxon tone, the alliteration, and the kennings that make it akin to the Old-Nordic style as well.
Reading it creates an odd collision of cultures and eras: I'm a 21st-C. English reader, this is a 19th-C. translation of a story written in 9th-C., set in 4th-C. Rome and Jerusalem, and recounting Helena's quest for long-lost, long-buried, 1st-C. Relics.
It is interesting and odd to read a Christian tale written in a warrior's language, appealing to the war-like culture of perhaps only recently converted heathens with pagan leanings; a story in which visions of Christ and his relics convert pagans while also granting them strength for battle and military victory; a story in which, if the reader has a critical eye, it might appear that Helena/Elene takes on the role of violent and unjust oppressor, at least in respect to her use of violence, threats, and torture (of a mild sort: just throw him in a pit to starve for a while) to extort information even while decrying the injustice of the Jews who betrayed their unacknowledged lord upon the cross (the victory-tree!); a story that establishes or solidifies a cult of relics, in which the nails that once pierced Christ's hands become a magical charm to render Constantine invulnerable if he uses them as a bit for his horse in times of war.
Yes, this a MAN'S Christianity, I mean, God bless the meek and all, but meanwhile give us the strength to trample the Goths, Franks, and Hugs/Huns. Or, if we're being merely metaphorical (but we're not), give us the spiritual strength to overcome the fiend through Christ's love, Amen. Anyway, as I read it, I imagine that a sizable number of pagans found the appeal of Christianity in the suggestion that the Christian God was ultimately truer and more potent than the gods they abandoned, plus Christ left behind these magic knick-knacks to cure diseases and blindness and such, to it's pretty much a practical matter.
Reading it creates an odd collision of cultures and eras: I'm a 21st-C. English reader, this is a 19th-C. translation of a story written in 9th-C., set in 4th-C. Rome and Jerusalem, and recounting Helena's quest for long-lost, long-buried, 1st-C. Relics.
It is interesting and odd to read a Christian tale written in a warrior's language, appealing to the war-like culture of perhaps only recently converted heathens with pagan leanings; a story in which visions of Christ and his relics convert pagans while also granting them strength for battle and military victory; a story in which, if the reader has a critical eye, it might appear that Helena/Elene takes on the role of violent and unjust oppressor, at least in respect to her use of violence, threats, and torture (of a mild sort: just throw him in a pit to starve for a while) to extort information even while decrying the injustice of the Jews who betrayed their unacknowledged lord upon the cross (the victory-tree!); a story that establishes or solidifies a cult of relics, in which the nails that once pierced Christ's hands become a magical charm to render Constantine invulnerable if he uses them as a bit for his horse in times of war.
Yes, this a MAN'S Christianity, I mean, God bless the meek and all, but meanwhile give us the strength to trample the Goths, Franks, and Hugs/Huns. Or, if we're being merely metaphorical (but we're not), give us the spiritual strength to overcome the fiend through Christ's love, Amen. Anyway, as I read it, I imagine that a sizable number of pagans found the appeal of Christianity in the suggestion that the Christian God was ultimately truer and more potent than the gods they abandoned, plus Christ left behind these magic knick-knacks to cure diseases and blindness and such, to it's pretty much a practical matter.
November 18, 2024
2.5 STARS
This took me way too long to read because I'd already read a bunch of texts today and long poems are always a challenge for me to keep track of. Especially when they contain religious themes and stories which this one certainly does. Luckily, I was already familiar with Elene and the story about her. I was NOT a fan of the whole converting Judas storyline... And there certainly was some antisemetic undertones in this. Nevertheless, I always find it fascinating to read Old English texts and seeing how intricate they are and how much textual awareness there is in them. So from a scholarly perspective, I certainly enjoyed this. But, then again, I've definitely read OE texts that convinced me more than this.
This took me way too long to read because I'd already read a bunch of texts today and long poems are always a challenge for me to keep track of. Especially when they contain religious themes and stories which this one certainly does. Luckily, I was already familiar with Elene and the story about her. I was NOT a fan of the whole converting Judas storyline... And there certainly was some antisemetic undertones in this. Nevertheless, I always find it fascinating to read Old English texts and seeing how intricate they are and how much textual awareness there is in them. So from a scholarly perspective, I certainly enjoyed this. But, then again, I've definitely read OE texts that convinced me more than this.
March 14, 2020
Elene is Cynewulf’s masterpiece and encloses 1321 lines. It is the chronicle of the unearthing of the cross by Helena, the mother of emperor Constantine.
The theme of the poem is the finding of the cross. The Huns gathered against Constantine who dreamed his famous dream of the Rood and was bid to conquer by that sign.
A battle followed and triumph belonged to Constantine. Then there is the description of his mother's voyage to Jerusalem. His mother Empress Helena conferred with the Jews not to reveal the sight of the cross.
Constantine was imprisoned and then released. Constantine prayed to Christ and then he discovered the cross by a miracle. The rest of the poem is composed of message of Helena to Constantine, the baptism of Judas etc.
Elene is typified by faultlessness of art and poetic method. There is orientation to old age in many autobiographical passages. The spectacle of combat, the sparkle of jewels, and paraphernalia of images give verve and hue to the narrative permeated by the serious purpose of the poet.
The theme of the poem is the finding of the cross. The Huns gathered against Constantine who dreamed his famous dream of the Rood and was bid to conquer by that sign.
A battle followed and triumph belonged to Constantine. Then there is the description of his mother's voyage to Jerusalem. His mother Empress Helena conferred with the Jews not to reveal the sight of the cross.
Constantine was imprisoned and then released. Constantine prayed to Christ and then he discovered the cross by a miracle. The rest of the poem is composed of message of Helena to Constantine, the baptism of Judas etc.
Elene is typified by faultlessness of art and poetic method. There is orientation to old age in many autobiographical passages. The spectacle of combat, the sparkle of jewels, and paraphernalia of images give verve and hue to the narrative permeated by the serious purpose of the poet.
August 14, 2022
Elene is a poem on the epnomous hero of the story to uncover the Cross of Christ. Her son Constantine recieved a vision from God and it is he who commands his mother Elene to find it. Cynewulf through many linguistic conventions turns Elene, an unlikely hero of the time, into a female heroic Saint of Anglo-Saxon England.
Of course the poem comes with its issues. For example Cynewulf's description and treatment of Jewish population is by far not a faverouble one and can seem quite brutal at times. Furthermore, the main character Elene may seem static at first, and it is only later that one could conclude that Elene embodies the heathen past of the British people and is supposed to partialy represent their efforts of bringing proper Christian truth back to mainland Europe.
I belive the poem can be seen, in feminist terms of the Middle Ages, as fairly progressive and it is a good and short read. Also Cynewulf's other poems, like Judith and Juliana are good reads if one enjoys medieval literature.
Of course the poem comes with its issues. For example Cynewulf's description and treatment of Jewish population is by far not a faverouble one and can seem quite brutal at times. Furthermore, the main character Elene may seem static at first, and it is only later that one could conclude that Elene embodies the heathen past of the British people and is supposed to partialy represent their efforts of bringing proper Christian truth back to mainland Europe.
I belive the poem can be seen, in feminist terms of the Middle Ages, as fairly progressive and it is a good and short read. Also Cynewulf's other poems, like Judith and Juliana are good reads if one enjoys medieval literature.
October 7, 2008
Even though this isn't exactly a novel-length poem, I'm adding it to my list for a few reasons. First of all, it is 1,300 lines long. Second of all, when I awake from cryo-sleep in three thousand years, I want to look back and remember that I read this. And thirdly, nobody else has reviewed it, so I suppose I'll perform a social function.
'Elene' is a poem chronicling the voyage of the Roman Emperor Constantine's mother when she travelled to Israel to find the cross of Christ. It had appeared to her son in a vision just before a crucial battle, one from which Constantine emerged victorious. After sending the Hun packing, Constantine decided to figure out who had sent the vision, and so the story begins.
Chances are if you're into Christian legends from the middle ages, you'll be into this. If not, better find something else to read. I'm almost as indifferent as they come. I like Roman history around the time of Gaius Julius Caesar, but most of that later Christianization of the empire stuff doesn't interest me. This particular poem lacks any kind of cool monsters, sword-slashing heroes, or seafaring adventure, and so return to my main point, unless you've got a vested interest in medieval poetry, I'd stick with the Greek stuff.
Oh, and Cynewulf wasn't too fond of the Jews.
'Elene' is a poem chronicling the voyage of the Roman Emperor Constantine's mother when she travelled to Israel to find the cross of Christ. It had appeared to her son in a vision just before a crucial battle, one from which Constantine emerged victorious. After sending the Hun packing, Constantine decided to figure out who had sent the vision, and so the story begins.
Chances are if you're into Christian legends from the middle ages, you'll be into this. If not, better find something else to read. I'm almost as indifferent as they come. I like Roman history around the time of Gaius Julius Caesar, but most of that later Christianization of the empire stuff doesn't interest me. This particular poem lacks any kind of cool monsters, sword-slashing heroes, or seafaring adventure, and so return to my main point, unless you've got a vested interest in medieval poetry, I'd stick with the Greek stuff.
Oh, and Cynewulf wasn't too fond of the Jews.
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