Talk:Cynewulf

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[edit] Two known poets?

The article starts out with this sentence:

Cynewulf' is the second of two known Anglo-Saxon poets (the other being Caedmon) whose work survives today.

This contradicts Anglo-Saxon literature:

Most Old English poets are anonymous; twelve are known by name from Medieval sources, but only four of those are known by their vernacular works to us today with any certainty: Caedmon, Bede, Alfred, and Cynewulf. Of these, only Caedmon, Bede, and Alfred have known biographies.

I'm not sure it really makes sense to get into the details of this trivia as the first sentence in the article. Can we re-phrase this somehow? Also maybe restore the circa date (8th century) that he lived? -- Stbalbach 15:35, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

(BTW great article, Shaw.md ). -- Stbalbach 15:40, 1 November 2006 (UTC)


I may have erred in taking Stokes's statement to be common knowledge. I originally thought Stokes meant that the Caedmon and Cynewulf were the first two Anglo-Saxon poets in the strictest sense (that poesy was their main craft), while Bede and Alfred were more diversified in their literary achievements. The new sentence you inserted is clearer and I have no problem with it :)
Regarding the date he flourished, I have found sources that range anywhere from c.750-950. I admit that I was hasty in saying he was a ninth century poet at the end of Origin and Date, but I have misgivings about assigning any single century to the poet. After searching a bit more I think the most we can get away with is accepting the assertion of Peter Blair in his third edition Introduction to Anglo-Saxon England: that Cynewulf lived in the late eight or in the ninth before the Danish Invasion.
Either way feel free to change the article to as you see fit; just by your resume you look as if you know what you are talking about;) Cheers -- Shaw.md 19:52, 1 November 2006 (UTC)