Book: Ælfric

Written by Stephen J. Harris from the Oxford Encyclopedia of Literature

Aelfric
 Was the greatest vernacular prose stylist of the Anglo-Saxon period.
 Was first and foremost a churchman. In which he was especially known for his sermons.
 His works all conduced to bring Christians to a better understanding of their faith
 Aelfric stressed the spiritual needs of his audience rather than literary content
 He wrote sermons, homilies, and saints’ lives to teach his community about Christian doctrine and Christian
history. And last,
 Aelfric was aware that Latin, not old English, was the language of the church
 The English Church in the time of Aelfric was undergoing a transformation. It has suffered depredations by
Vikings for generations.

Aelfric’s Major Works

 Catholic Homilies – In this book, the day’s lection or gospel reading is introduced, then explained, and then
applied to daily life. The Messages of the homilies are directed to the laity people.
 Lives of Saints – were written for the private devotion of monks.
 Colloquy on the Occupations – the aid in studying Latin

Book: An Introduction to Old English

Written by: Richard Hogg

Aelfric’s Contemporary: Wulfstan

Aelfric and Wulfstan – fully- acquianted w/ Latin rhetoric

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Vernacular – means using a language or dialect native to a region or country rather than a literary, cultured, or
foreign language

Homilies – a usually short talk on a religious or moral topic

Laity – people of a religion who aren’t priests, nuns, etc.

Monks – men who are members of a religious order & lives in a monastery

Colloquy - a gathering for discussion of theological questions.

Contemporary – belonging in the same time. In which they both belong in the old English prose