Nicholas Carpenter
ERH 201WX – Letter to the Editor
11 December 2018
Help Received: advice.writing.utoronto.ca/types-of-writing/academic-proposal/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_literature#Genres_and_themes
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Mr. Eschrich,
The History and Theory of Rhetoric by James Herrick details the Greek tradition of rhetoric and its legacy in Europe. However, this book does not adequately inform the reader of rhetorical practices outside the Greek tradition. One rhetorical tradition not adequately represented is that of the Anglo-Saxons. I propose that a new chapter be added to address the Anglo-Saxon tradition of rhetoric. With the addition of a chapter discussing Anglo-Saxon rhetoric, readers will gain a better understanding of rhetorical traditions beyond the Greek ideas.
There is a significant amount of literature surviving from the Anglo-Saxons which would be exciting to discuss from the perspective of their rhetorical traditions. Particularly significant and interesting genres of Old English literature include the epic, the elegy, and Christian poetry.
The first genre of Anglo-Saxon literature I will discuss is the epic. Beowulf is possibly the most significant literary work from the Anglo-Saxons which survives today. Beowulf is an example of the genre of epic poetry. In this poem, the protagonist Beowulf fights a series of evil creatures to earn great reward and fame for himself and his people. Throughout the story, Beowulf becomes a sort of larger-than-life figure, and the story itself is somewhere between history and myth. As Roy M. Liuzza notes, Beowulf is set in “an age not meant to be counted on a calendar, nor its kingdoms and tribes marked on a map” (16). This poem celebrates the ideas of courage, sacrifice, and reward. The Anglo-Saxons had a warlike tradition and believed in earning glory in battle. According to Michael Bintley, the Anglo-Saxons and their literature “celebrated victory in war, deeds of courage, valiant boasts, bloody fighting and the winning of great treasures.” At the same time, Beowulf contains several Christian aspects, and scholars still debate this story’s message regarding Christianity and paganism.
Another important genre of Anglo-Saxon poetry is the elegy. Common elements of elegiac poetry are a narrator who is in exile and grieving or lamenting a loss. Examples of the elegy include “The Wanderer” and “The Seafarer.” Scholars have noted similarities between the Anglo-Saxon elegies and Old Norse and Old Germanic poems or even parts of the Bible (“Anglo-Saxon Elegies”). The narrator of “The Wanderer” laments his fate and the loss of riches, family, and friends. “Often the solitary one finds grace for himself / the mercy of the Lord, although he, sorry-hearted, / must for a long time move by hand [in context= row] / along the waterways, along the ice-cold sea, / tread the paths of exile. Events go as they must!” (“The Wanderer” v. 1-4). As shown in the opening lines of this poem, the elements of solitude, lamentation, and reflection are present. The narrator apparently accepts the inevitability of fate. In both “The Wanderer” and “The Seafarer” the narrator seeks solace and meaning in the hope of eternal life rather than fleeting worldly possessions. “Indeed hotter for me are / the joys of the Lord than this dead life / fleeting on the land. I do not believe / that the riches of the world will stand forever. / Always and invariably, one of three things / will turn to uncertainty before his fated hour: / disease, or old age, or the sword’s hatred / will tear out the life from those doomed to die” (v. 64-71). Some Anglo-Saxon poets, such as those who told the story of Beowulf, celebrated earning riches and glory, while others questioned the value of accumulating earthly wealth and hoped for eternal life.
The final genre of Anglo-Saxon literature I will discuss is Christian poetry. Included in Anglo-Saxon Christian poetry is the Biblical paraphrase. These paraphrases retell Biblical stories and include books such as Genesis, Exodus, and Daniel. The paraphrase of Genesis, for example, begins with God’s casting out of rebellious angels before the creation story. “There pain touched them, envy and pride, and the heart of those angels that first performed that evil advice, to weave and arouse, then Lucifer spoke a word, thirsting for trouble, wishing to possess a home and high-throne in the northern part of the realm of heaven. Then was God furious and wrathful against that army which previously he had honored with beauty and glory. For the pledge-breakers he shaped an agonizing home, in recompense for their efforts, out of hell-cries and harsh hatreds.” A parallel might be drawn here between the story of the rebellious angels and the expectation of loyalty of Anglo-Saxon people to their king. There are also original Christian stories, such as the series entitled Christ and the poem Dream of the Rood. The Dream of the Rood, for example, tells of the narrator’s dream in which the cross of Christ tells the crucifixion story. Even in the Christian genre of Anglo-Saxon literature, the ideals of the warrior culture are noticeable. For example, Christ, described as “the young hero,” remains “strong and resolute… brave in the sight of many” (Dream of the Rood). This poem and others from the Anglo-Saxons show how ideas from different cultures influence one another, including rhetorical practices.
To conclude, The History and Theory of Rhetoric has detailed information on the rhetorical practices of Greek and Western culture but neglects many other traditions. It is important to discuss the Greek tradition because of the legacy it has left on our concept of rhetoric, but it is also important to discuss other rhetorical traditions. Thus, the Anglo-Saxons should be included in textbooks and courses on rhetorical theory. By discussing Anglo-Saxon literature, students will gain a broader understanding of worldwide traditions of rhetoric.
Very Respectfully,
Nicholas Carpenter
References:
http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=text&id=wdr
http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=text&id=Sfr
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf
https://anglosaxonpoetry.camden.rutgers.edu/genesis-ab/