Much time and ink has been spent on the study of the so called Beowulf manuscript which nowadays constitutes the presumably “most discussed“ (LUCAS 1990: 363) Old English manuscript. Contained in this manuscript is the apocryphal Letter of Alexander to Aristotle that will be central to this paper. The multitude of medieval manuscripts (cf. GUNDERSON 1980: 48) of the Letter leave little doubt that it certainly belongs to some of the “most successful literary impostures of the medieval ages“ (RYPINS 1971: xliii). However, its Anglo-Saxon version “has excited little attention over the years“ (ORCHARD 1995: 116).
Scholar's interest seems to have been much more with the study of the earlier Latin form of the manuscript (RYPINS 1971: xxx): the Epistola Alexandri ad Aristotelem, which seems to derive from an older Greek version (cf. GUNDERSON 1980: 48). The version of the Letter dealt with here is a copy of an earlier (and apparently lost) Old English translation of the Latin Epistola: Thus “it is at least twice removed from the Latin” (Rypins xxxvii).
It is my purpose to show within this paper that neither the various monstrous beings (vs. SISAM 1962: 96) nor their “aggression as a particular problem for foreign rulers“ (vs. POWELL 2006: 1) that are most commonly said to be the connecting theme of the 'community of manuscripts' of the Norwell Codex are the central aspects of the Letter.
Until further studies prove me wrong, we may assume that the Anglo-Saxon scribe consciously altered the Latin Epistola in a way as to ply the reader's attention to the biblical view on Alexander. He did so by opting for biblical phrasings rather than those found in the Epistola. Thus the Letter stresses that Alexander indeed is an paradigm of superbia, as ORCHARD suggests (1995: 135): an eordcyning 'earthly king',who does not accept his limits and rather than being content with his glory (cf. II Regum 14:104) provokes malum. This interpretation perfectly harmonizes with
POWELL's suggestion that “Wonders [...], the Letter [...], and Beowulf form an ideal core for a collection focused on rulership” (POWELL 2006: 15).
Beginning with a rather short introduction to the Norwell Codex and the discussion concerning its thematic unity (ch. 2) I shall focus my attention to the Christian dimension of the Letter (ch. 3). Countering SISAM (1962:88) I shall argue that the Letter indeed serves a moralizing function.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Manuscript
- The Christian Dimension of the Letter
- Superbia
- Punishment for Alexander's superbia
- The Monsters
- The Oracle
- Literature
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the Old English Letter of Alexander to Aristotle, focusing on its Christian context. It argues that the Letter serves a moralizing function, highlighting the theme of Alexander's superbia and its consequences. The main objective is to counter the prevalent view that the Letter's central theme is the depiction of monsters and their significance for foreign rulers. Key themes of the paper include: * The Christian context of the Letter * Alexander's superbia as a central theme * The moralizing function of the Letter * The influence of biblical phrasings on the Old English text * The connection between the Letter and other texts, particularly BeowulfZusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction establishes the context of the Letter, outlining its historical and literary significance. The manuscript is then examined, exploring its relationship to earlier Latin and Greek versions. The paper focuses on the Christian dimension of the Letter, arguing that it presents a moralizing perspective on Alexander's character. This analysis examines themes of superbia, its punishment, and the role of monsters within the narrative. The final chapter highlights the significant body of literature on the topic and outlines the paper's limitations.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The paper focuses on key themes and concepts such as the Christian dimension of the Letter, Alexander's superbia, moralizing function, biblical phrasings, and the connections to Beowulf. It examines the role of monsters and the significance of the Letter's historical and literary context.- Quote paper
- Jörn Martin Behrens (Author), 2007, The Old English 'Epistola Alexandri ad Aristotelem', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/138447
