author
Little is known for certain about this early medieval poet, but the surviving work is unforgettable: vivid Old English Christian verse marked with a distinctive runic signature. Four poems are generally accepted as his, making him one of the very few Anglo-Saxon poets known by name.
by Cynewulf
Cynewulf was an Old English poet who probably flourished in the 9th century, though scholars have proposed dates ranging more widely. Almost nothing secure is known about his life beyond his name, which survives because he wove it into his poems in runes.
Four works are usually accepted as his: Juliana, Elene, The Fates of the Apostles, and The Ascension (often called Christ II). These poems survive in major late Anglo-Saxon manuscripts, especially the Exeter Book and the Vercelli Book, and they helped make him one of the best-known voices in Old English Christian poetry.
What keeps Cynewulf interesting is the mix of mystery and craftsmanship. Even without a clear biography, his poems show a strong narrative gift, a deep engagement with Christian themes, and a rare authorial presence in a literary tradition where most works were left anonymous.