Christ II

Christ, also known as Christian II or The Ascension, is one of four the poet Cynewulf attributed to Anglo-Saxon poetry from the 9th century. The homiletic work is contained in the Exeter Book and relies on a number of ecclesiastical sources, and in particular a sermon by Pope Gregory the Great on the occasion of the Assumption church service held.

Background and content

The poem consists of 1664 lines and is a triad of religious poems assigned, collectively referred to as a Christian. It deals content with the ascension of Christ. In addition, in the first lines it contains some of the Advent O Antiphons.

When Christ was originally assumed that it was the work of a single author. Meanwhile, some scientists assume, however, that it consists of three texts by different authors. Christ I treated the arrival ( Advent ), Christ II, the Ascension, and Christ III describes how to handle on the day of Judgment. Christ in its entirety is the longest poem in the Exeter Book. Christian II overlaps thematically with Christian III, but also differs significantly from this. All three parts have their own characteristics and narrative style, which they are now associated with different authors.

The English philologist and writer JRR Tolkien was so fascinated by two lines of the poem of Cynewulf, that he let this be incorporated into the development of its mythology to the fantasy world of Middle-earth. These lines are " Eala Earendel Engla beorhtast ofer middangeard monnum sended. " ( Hail Earendel, brightest of angels, above middle -earth sent unto men -. Hail Earendel, radiant -art of the angels, sent to Middle-earth to the people. )