Cynewulf
(flourished AD 750), Anglo-Saxon poet, possibly a northumbrian minstrel.
He was a man of learning familiar with the religious literature of his day.
His works include: religious works in Old English; «Christ», a three-part work, and «The Dream of the Rood». With Caedmon, he was one of the earliest English Christian poets
Introdused the genre of the legend into the Anglo-Saxon poetry — the homilies were written as poetic narratives about the lives of the saints.
The Ruthwell Cross
carved in early 8th century. It is the most important Anglo-Saxon cross in Scotland. In 1664 it was pulled down and smashed on the instructions of the Church of Scotland. In 1802 it was re-erected.
The cross is richly decorated with Christian symbols. The two faces are carved with panels, each one illustrating a scene from the Gospels and accompanied by a Latin text. The sides are carved with vine leaves and animals and around the border runs a runic inscription - «Dream of the Rood».
The Dream of the Rood
Hear, while I tell of the best of dreams
which came to me at midnight
when humankind kept their beds.
It seemed that I saw the Tree itself.
Borne on the air, light wound round it...
…
They drove me through with dark nails
…
Alfred
called the Great (849 — 899), king of the West Saxons (871 — 899), and one of the outstanding figures of English history.
By early 878 the Danes had conquered much of his territory, but he then defeated them. By 886 he had captured the city of London, and soon afterward he was recognized as the King of all England.
Laid the foundation for the unification of England.
Alfred was a patron of learning. He began a court school and invited British and foreign scholars.