Wisdom Literature (Old English)

Literary/ Cultural Context Essay

Paul Cavill (University of Nottingham)

Ed. by Hugh Magennis, Queen's University Belfast
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.02: English Writing and Culture: High and Late Medieval, 1066-1485.
Vol. editors: Kate Ash-Irisarri (University of Edinburgh), Rory Critten (Université de Lausanne), David Fuller (University of Durham), Natalie Hanna (University of Liverpool), Hugh Magennis (Queen's University Belfast), Jamie McKinstry (University of Durham), Sarah Peverley (University of Liverpool), Sebastian Sobecki (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)

Domains

Literature Topic

Dates

Date of occurrence 600-1100

Places

United Kingdom (Location)

Genres and Modes

Aphorisms/ Maxims/ Proverbs

Resources

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Wisdom literature is difficult to define for a modern audience because the category has all but fallen out of use. For the most part, knowledge has taken the place of wisdom. And while these categories may at first sight seem very similar, the in the kind of world view they represent they are markedly different. In Anglo-Saxon England, wisdom is essentially old, handed down and traditional, whereas today knowledge is new, all about research and innovation; wisdom is concrete, obvious and knowable by all, whereas modern knowledge is abstract, difficult and expert; Old English wisdom is communal and popular, whereas knowledge today is elitist and individualistic. The Anglo-Saxons valued wisdom, and expressed it particularly in maxims and proverbs. They also valued knowledge of many kinds,…

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1276 words

Citation: Cavill, Paul. "Wisdom Literature (Old English)". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 April 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1274, accessed 21 November 2024.]