The Old English Physiologus

Name: The Old English Physiologus
Author: Cynewulf

By Cynewulf

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British Literature Mythology, Legends & Folklore Poetry

About This Book

A trio of Old English poems adapts a classical bestiary pattern to describe a land animal, a mythical sea creature, and a bird, each followed by a Christian moral reading. The first poem portrays a multicolored panther that sleeps in caves, awakes after three days, and issues a captivating song and sweet fragrance that draws other beasts while it alone wages war with a dragon. The second treats a sea-monster often identified with the whale, offering symbolic interpretation, and the third, a fragmentary partridge poem, survives chiefly in brief devotional application and poetly exhortation. Descriptive natural history alternates with explicit ethical and religious reflection.

About the Author

Cynewulf

Cynewulf was an Old English poet active during the late 8th to early 9th century, recognized for his contributions to early English literature. He is best known for his religious and allegorical works, which reflect the Christian themes of his time. Among his notable pieces are "The Elene of Cynewulf," a poem that explores the story of Saint Helena and the discovery of the True Cross, and "The Old English Physiologus," a translation of a Latin text that combines moral lessons with descriptions of animals. Cynewulf's unique style and use of alliteration have left a lasting impact on the development of English poetry.