Notes on Old English Literature

Anonymous asked:

Did Anglo-Saxon speaking peoples have anything similar to Nordic sagas?

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They most certainly did, although I know much less about their literature than I should. Based on what time has allowed us to recover, it seems that the Norse (but especially the Icelanders) produced more saga-type writing than their neighbors did in England. But, I do believe that Anglo-Saxon literature is best known for its impressive poetry, such as the well-known work Beowulf, rather than for prose sagas akin to Old Norse literature. Nevertheless, Anglo-Saxon literature is still bustling with rich wonders that are worth reading. Here are some books that would be great for such endeavors:

1. The Cambridge Introduction to Anglo-Saxon Literature 
2. Beowulf, translated by Seamus Heaney
3. Anglo-Saxon Poetry, trans. and ed. by S.A.J. Bradley
4. Anglo-Saxon Prose, trans. and ed. by Micheal Swanton
5. The Cambridge Companion to Old English Literature

If you want to just jump into the literature without reading the introduction text provided first on my little list, feel free to dive straight into Beowulf. I do, however, highly encourage that you eventually consider the introductions and companions that are available to Anglo-Saxon literature. I cannot be of much help regarding the history and intricacies of Anglo-Saxon literature, since I still require more reading and learning regarding this subject myself.

Some short Anglo-Saxon poems are available online for free, if you are on a budget (this site is a pretty great resource). They may certainly be worth your attention:

1. Beowulf (can also be read here)
2. The Wanderer (also here)
3. The Rune Poem
4. The Seafarer (also here)
5. The Wife’s Lament
6. Anglo-Saxon Riddles from the Exeter Book

It is also worth mentioning that the characters from The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki (Norse) appear in Beowulf (Anglo-Saxon). Here is a list of these characters, their names in Old Norse, and their named in Old English:1

Old Norse (King Hrolf’s Saga) → Old English (Beowulf)

1. Aðils (Adils) → Ēadgils
2. Bǫðvarr Bjarki (Bodvar) → Bēowulf (possibility, not certain)
3. Fróði (Frodi) → Frōda → (Latin: Frodo, for fellow LOTR fans)
4. Hálfdan (Halfdan) → Healfdene
5. Helgi → Hālga
6. Hróarr (Hroar) → Hrōðgār (Hrothgar)
7. Hrólfr Kraki (Hrolf) → Hrōðulf (Hrodulf)
8. Skjǫldr (Skjold) → Scyld Scēfing
9. Yrsa → Yrse (possibility, not certain) 

To return to the original question though, the Anglo-Saxons, like their Norse relatives, had plenty of stories to tell. While they may not number as greatly as Norse sagas do today, they are still full of fascinating lore that is quite similar (and often directly related) to the lore and traditions found in the Norse sagas. I encourage you to explore the Old English literature that I have recommended, if you are interested in them. Otherwise, I hope that your question has at least been sufficiently answered.

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ENDNOTE

1. This following information was obtain from Jesse L. Byock trans., The Saga of Hrolf Kraki (London: Penguin Books, 1998), 90.