Old English Literature

Old English Literature

Literature is one of the great creative and universal means of communicating the emotional, spiritual, or intellectual concern of mankind. Literature may be describe as the record in word of what people have thought and felt form the ancient past to the present day. More exactly, literature is good writing that helps us understand that human being in all time and places have much in common.

English literature is the literature written in the English Language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England. English literature has developed continuously over fifteen centuries from the Anglo-Saxon period to modern times. The literature of English language, one of literatures richest in original beauty, is most extensive ever known to the world.

The first works in English, written in old English, appeared in the early Middle Age, the oldest surviving text being the Hymn of Cædom. The oral tradition was very strong in the early English culture and most literary works were written to be performed. The one of the author in old English literature is Alfred the Great. King of the southern Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex and one of the outstanding figures of English history, as much for his social and educational reforms as for his military successes against the Danes. He is the only English monarch known as 'the Great'.