Древняя aнглийская проза (Ancient English Prose)
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Ancient English prose
The earliest English prose work is the law code of King Aethelberht I of Kent. It was written in the very end of 6th century. The 7th and 8th century prose was practical in its character so a lot of laws and wills date back to this period.
The history of literature of this period is closely connected with Bede (673-735). This famous monk was probably the greatest teacher and the best-known man of letters and scholar in all contemporary Europe. He is to have translated the Gospel of St.John into Saxon, but the translation is lost. He wrote in Latin on a vast range of subjects from natural science to grammar and history. His most important work is the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which is really a history of England from Julius Caesar’s invasion to 731. According to it we find out that Bede could relate things simply and well. But during much of this period conditions were unfavorable to writing and literacy in England declined sharply between 800 and the reign of King Alfred and then again after about 990.
The deeds and thoughts of Alfred (849-901), king of the West Saxons, remain a strong moral influence on the world. Posterity rightly gave him the surname of “the Great”, as he is one of the comparatively few great men of all time. He led a vigorous program to translate into English “certain books that are necessary for all men to know”. His ill health and the wars with the Danes did not keep him from trying to educate his people or from earning the title, “father of English prose”. Although most of his works are translations from the Latin, yet he has left the stamp of his originality. For example he re-casted a Latin work on history and geography written in the 5th century by Orosius. Alfred the G...
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The earliest English prose work is the law code of King Aethelberht I of Kent. It was written in the very end of 6th century. The 7th and 8th century prose was practical in its character so a lot of laws and wills date back to this period.
The history of literature of this period is closely connected with Bede (673-735). This famous monk was probably the greatest teacher and the best-known man of letters and scholar in all contemporary Europe. He is to have translated the Gospel of St.John into Saxon, but the translation is lost. He wrote in Latin on a vast range of subjects from natural science to grammar and history. His most important work is the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which is really a history of England from Julius Caesar’s invasion to 731. According to it we find out that Bede could relate things simply and well. But during much of this period conditions were unfavorable to writing and literacy in England declined sharply between 800 and the reign of King Alfred and then again after about 990.
The deeds and thoughts of Alfred (849-901), king of the West Saxons, remain a strong moral influence on the world. Posterity rightly gave him the surname of “the Great”, as he is one of the comparatively few great men of all time. He led a vigorous program to translate into English “certain books that are necessary for all men to know”. His ill health and the wars with the Danes did not keep him from trying to educate his people or from earning the title, “father of English prose”. Although most of his works are translations from the Latin, yet he has left the stamp of his originality. For example he re-casted a Latin work on history and geography written in the 5th century by Orosius. Alfred the G...
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