Crist

by Cynewulf

Cynewulf is one of twelve Anglo-Saxon poets known by name today, and one of four whose work still survives. He is famous for his religious compositions, and is regarded as one of the pre-eminent figures of Old English Christian poetry. Posterity knows of his name by means of runic signatures that are interwoven into the four poems which comprise his scholastically recognized corpus. These poems are: The Fates of the Apostles, Juliana, Elene, and Crist (also referred to as The Ascension). The four signed poems of Cynewulf are vast in that they collectively comprise several thousand lines of verse. Crist is divided into Crist I, II, III (or A, B, C), and deals with Christ's Advent, Ascension, and Last Judgment respectively.

Genres: Poetry, Religion, Medieval

76 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 800

About the author

Cynewulf is one of approximately twelve Anglo-Saxon poets who are known by name, and one of only four whose work is known to survive today. He presumably flourished in the 9th century, with possible dates extending into the late 8th and early 10th centuries.

He is famous for his religious compositions, and is regarded as one of the pre-eminent figures of Christian Old English poetry. Posterity knows of his name by means of runic signatures that are interwoven into the four poems which comprise his scholastically recognized corpus. These poems are: The Fates of the Apostles, Juliana, Elene, and Christ II (also referred to as The Ascension).

The four signed poems of Cynewulf are vast in that they collectively comprise several thousand lines of verse.

Reviews

[Ian Morel · Rating 2 out of 5]

While very interesting as a historical document, this is not a fun read.

[Lukerik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has the same parallel text as Gollancz later published in his Early English Text Society edition of the Exeter book. It has not just Cynewulf's Christ, what's now known as Christ II, but also Christs I & III. At the time this book was published it was thought to be a single three part poem by Cynewulf. It also has the first 31 lines of Guthlac A because back in 1892 it had only recently been discovered where the true break between the poems lay. One can only blame the scribe.

Other than the text it has a very good critical apparatus: an essay on the Cynewulf runes; some of the poems' sources (in Latin only); notes which closely discuss the text; and a glossary for those who are here for the Old English text.

I only read the translation as I know my limits but I did have a look at the OE. The translation appears to be close. Lines 103 – 4 will be of interest to Tolkien fans:

“Eala earendel engla beorhtast
Ofer middan-geard monnum sended”

I object the any English poetry written between Wordsworth and Larkin, but I must admit that the translation is well done.

Christ III is a particularly enjoyable poem. Well worth a read. It has a great description of Domesday and a theologically astounding (and perhaps unintentionally funny) scene where Jesus tells off a sinner and lays a massive guilt trip on him.

The other two poems are of historical interest, representing an English response to the arrival of Roman Christianity, i.e. vernacularise it and add a few dramatic elements.