Literary Contributions Of King Alfred The Great

Essay, Research Paper

The Literary Contributions of King Alfred the Great

Our understanding of the literary achievements of King Alfred depend very much

upon what we believe about his early education. If we are content to accept the stories of

Asser, the famous biographer of Alfred, that he reached his twelfth birthday before he

learned to read (Keynes 75), then we must reckon his literary career as a phenomenon

which can only be described, not explained. Or, if that is not satisfactory, we may

compare him in his adult life to his grandfather’s (Egbert) contemporary Charles the Bald

(grandson of Charlemange), who, being illiterate, knew the value of learning, and

surrounded himself with educated men (Collins 297).

As a child Alfred received little formal training or schooling. He did possess a

highly retentive memory and particularly enjoyed listening to the court bards reciting

poetry. One day his mother, holding a fine manuscript book in her hand, said to Alfred

and his elder brothers, ‘I will give this book to whichever of you can learn it most

quickly.’ Although he could not read, Alfred was greatly attracted to the book and was

determined to own it. Forestalling his brothers, he took it to his teacher who read it to

him. He then went back to his mother and repeated the entire book from memory to her

(Fadiman 14, Keynes 75). This talent was the foundation of Alfred’s later reputation as a

scholar, translator, and patron of learning.

As Alfred’s role as king and patron began, he solemnly noted on several occasions

his disappointment in the state of educational opportunity in England. “Formerly,” the

King wrote bitterly, “men came hither from foreign lands to seek for instruction, and now

when we desire it we can only obtain it from abroad” (Collins 329, Smyth 249-250). But

his efforts were far from being imprisoned within his own island. He sent shipmasters to

the seas and coasts of the continent and surrounding islands in search of dialogue with

others.

It was with the Franks, from central Europe (present day Germany, France, and

surrounding countries), that his dealings were closest, and it was from them that he

invited scholars to aid him in his work of education. A scholar named Grimbald came

from St. Omer to preside over his new abbey at Winchester; and John the Old Saxon, was

brought from the abbey of Corbey to rule a monastery and school that Alfred’s gratitude

for his deliverance from the wars with the Danes raised in the marshes of Athelney

(Keynes 26-27, Stevenson 93,103) The real work, however, to be done was done, not by

these scholars, but by the King himself. Alfred established a school for the young nobles

of his court, and it was to the need of books for these scholars in their own tongue that

we owe his most remarkable literary effort.

Alfred emersed himself in his books as he found them — they were popular

manuals of his age — The Consolidation of Philosophy by Boethius, St. Augustine’s

Soliloquies, Pope Gregory’s Pastoral Care, and the first fifty psalms of the Psalter. These

Alfred is credited with translating himself. In addition, several translations were

prepared as part of Alfred’s plan, they include, the compilation of Orosius’ Histories

Against the Pagans (the one book of universal history), Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, and

the history of his own people in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. (Keynes 29, Smyth 527-566)

In addition to translating these works into English, he was also responsible for the editing

(omitting here and expanding there) of most of the books. He enriched Orosius by

sketching new geographical discoveries in the north of England and Scandinavia. He

gave a West Saxon form to his selections from Bede. In one place he stops to explain his

theory of government, his wish for a thicker population, his conception of national

welfare as consisting in a due balance of priest, soldier, and peasant (Keynes 132-133,

Smyth 530-534). And the cold providence of Boethius gave way to Alfred’s enthusiastic

acknowledgment of the goodness of God (Keynes 137, Smyth 562-566).

As he writes, his large-hearted nature casts aside its royal mantle, and he talks as

a man to men. “Do not blame me,” he states with charming simplicity, “if any know

Latin better than I, for every man must say what he says and do what he does according

to his ability” (Collins 334).

But a simple was his aim, Alfred changed the whole front of English literature as

we know it. Before him, England possessed in her own tongue one great poem and a

train of ballads and battle-songs (Abrahms 2). Of prose the country had none. The large

volume of books that fill England’s libraries began with the translations of Alfred, and

above all the chronicles of his reign. It seems likely that the King’s rendering of Bede’s

history gave the first impulse toward the compilation of what is known as the English or

Anglo-Sa

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