The subject matter of the poetry is principally war, the sea, and religion. The martial spirit and love of the sea are typical of the nation that has raised her flag in every clime. The chief qualities of the poetry are earnestness, somberness, and strength, rather than delicacy of touch, exuberance of imagination, or artistic adornment.
The golden period of prose coincides in large measure with Alfred's reign, 871-901, and he is the greatest prose writer. His translations of Latin works to serve as textbooks for his people contain excellent additions by him. AElfric, a tenth century prose writer, has left a collection of sermons, called Homilies, and an interesting Colloquium, which throws strong lights on the social life of the time. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is an important record of contemporaneous events for the historian.
REFERENCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
HISTORICAL
In connection with the progress of literature, students should obtain for themselves a general idea of contemporary historical events from any of the following named works:—
Gardiner's_ Students' History of England_.
Green's Short History of the English People.
Walker's Essentials in English History.
Cheney's A Short History of England.
Lingard's History of England.