Christ I
Encyclopedia
Christ I, also Christ A or (The) Advent Lyrics, is a collection of twelve anonymous Old English poems on the coming of the Lord
, preserved in the Exeter Book
. Claes Schaar suggests that it may have been written between the end of the 8th century and the beginning of the 9th century.
The poem is assigned to a triad of Old English
religious poems in the Exeter Book
, known collectively as Christ. Christ comprises a total of 1664 lines and deals with Christ's Advent, Ascension and Last Judgment. It was originally thought to be one piece completed by a single author, but the poem is now broken up into three parts.
. The Exeter Book is a collection of Old English poetry containing 123 folios. The book contains the items of the Cynewulf
group, which is made up in part by Christ I. The collection also contains a number of other religious, allegorical, and category poems.
”, which receive their name because they all begin with the Latin
interjection “O”. An antiphon
is a verse from the Holy Scripture that is to be sung before and after the reading of a psalm (Otten 1). The verse selected for the antiphon is chosen to reflect the fundamental ideas presented during the psalm. Seven of the antiphons in Christ I have come to be known as the “Seven Greater Antiphons” for their use in the Magnificat
. The opening interjections of the “Seven Greater Antiphons” include, "O Sapientia", "O Adonai", "O Radix Jesse", "O Clavis David", "O Oriens", "O Rex Gentium", and "O Emmanuel". The remainder of the antiphons used in Christ I had come to be included with the “Greater Antiphons”: “O Virgo virginum”, “O Gabriel”, “O Rex pacifice”, “O Mundi Domina”, and “O Hierusalem”.
, in its most general definition, is the time period leading up to the anniversary of the coming of Christ. Advent at that time, as it is today, would have been a period of spiritual and symbolic significance within the church. Followers, following the rules governed by the church, would often fast during these times. St. Gregory the Great
, who lived from 590-604, wrote a sermon on the second Sunday of Advent in a collection of his homilies (Mershman 1). With this evidence, it is understood that the Advent was celebrated as early as the time of Christ I’s composition and celebrated within the church. The lyrics, playing off the Latin antiphons, are poetry commenting on this period of symbolic preparation.
(Elene, Juliana
, Christ II, and Fata Apostolorum) and eight by other authors (Andreas
and The Dream of the Rood from the Vercelli Book
, and Christ I, Christ III, Guthlac A and B
, The Phoenix, and Physiologus from the Exeter Book
). Although the Christ I poem is generally associated and analyzed alongside the works of Cynewulf, it is in fact an anonymous writing and its construction is unrelated to either of the other Christ poems.
and his character Eärendil
.
Translated,
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, preserved in the Exeter Book
Exeter Book
The Exeter Book, Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501, also known as the Codex Exoniensis, is a tenth-century book or codex which is an anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry. It is one of the four major Anglo-Saxon literature codices. The book was donated to the library of Exeter Cathedral by Leofric, the...
. Claes Schaar suggests that it may have been written between the end of the 8th century and the beginning of the 9th century.
The poem is assigned to a triad of Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
religious poems in the Exeter Book
Exeter Book
The Exeter Book, Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501, also known as the Codex Exoniensis, is a tenth-century book or codex which is an anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry. It is one of the four major Anglo-Saxon literature codices. The book was donated to the library of Exeter Cathedral by Leofric, the...
, known collectively as Christ. Christ comprises a total of 1664 lines and deals with Christ's Advent, Ascension and Last Judgment. It was originally thought to be one piece completed by a single author, but the poem is now broken up into three parts.
Exeter Book
Christ I can be found on fols. 8a-14a of the Exeter BookExeter Book
The Exeter Book, Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501, also known as the Codex Exoniensis, is a tenth-century book or codex which is an anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry. It is one of the four major Anglo-Saxon literature codices. The book was donated to the library of Exeter Cathedral by Leofric, the...
. The Exeter Book is a collection of Old English poetry containing 123 folios. The book contains the items of the Cynewulf
Cynewulf
Cynewulf is one of twelve Anglo-Saxon poets known by name today, and one of four whose work survives today. He is famous for his religious compositions, and is regarded as one of the pre-eminent figures of Old English Christian poetry. Posterity knows of his name by means of runic signatures that...
group, which is made up in part by Christ I. The collection also contains a number of other religious, allegorical, and category poems.
Formation
The lyrics included within Christ I selection derive from the antiphons known as the “O AntiphonsO antiphons
thumb|The [[Annunciation]]The O Antiphons are Magnificat antiphons used at Vespers of the last seven days of Advent in various liturgical Christian traditions.Each antiphon is a name of Christ, one of his attributes mentioned in Scripture...
”, which receive their name because they all begin with the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
interjection “O”. An antiphon
Antiphon
An antiphon in Christian music and ritual, is a "responsory" by a choir or congregation, usually in Gregorian chant, to a psalm or other text in a religious service or musical work....
is a verse from the Holy Scripture that is to be sung before and after the reading of a psalm (Otten 1). The verse selected for the antiphon is chosen to reflect the fundamental ideas presented during the psalm. Seven of the antiphons in Christ I have come to be known as the “Seven Greater Antiphons” for their use in the Magnificat
Magnificat
The Magnificat — also known as the Song of Mary or the Canticle of Mary — is a canticle frequently sung liturgically in Christian church services. It is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn...
. The opening interjections of the “Seven Greater Antiphons” include, "O Sapientia", "O Adonai", "O Radix Jesse", "O Clavis David", "O Oriens", "O Rex Gentium", and "O Emmanuel". The remainder of the antiphons used in Christ I had come to be included with the “Greater Antiphons”: “O Virgo virginum”, “O Gabriel”, “O Rex pacifice”, “O Mundi Domina”, and “O Hierusalem”.
Subject
The foundation of the work derives from the topic of the Advent. The AdventAdvent
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...
, in its most general definition, is the time period leading up to the anniversary of the coming of Christ. Advent at that time, as it is today, would have been a period of spiritual and symbolic significance within the church. Followers, following the rules governed by the church, would often fast during these times. St. Gregory the Great
Pope Gregory I
Pope Gregory I , better known in English as Gregory the Great, was pope from 3 September 590 until his death...
, who lived from 590-604, wrote a sermon on the second Sunday of Advent in a collection of his homilies (Mershman 1). With this evidence, it is understood that the Advent was celebrated as early as the time of Christ I’s composition and celebrated within the church. The lyrics, playing off the Latin antiphons, are poetry commenting on this period of symbolic preparation.
Classification
The selection known as Christ I is often referred to as being part of the collection of work known as “the Cynewulf group” (Schaar 9). This set of poems comprises four works by the author CynewulfCynewulf
Cynewulf is one of twelve Anglo-Saxon poets known by name today, and one of four whose work survives today. He is famous for his religious compositions, and is regarded as one of the pre-eminent figures of Old English Christian poetry. Posterity knows of his name by means of runic signatures that...
(Elene, Juliana
Juliana (poem)
Juliana [Exeter Book, fol.65b-76a], is one of the four signed poems ascribed to the mysterious poet, Cynewulf, and is an account of the martyring of St. Juliana of Nicomedia. The one surviving manuscript, dated between 970 and 990, is preserved in the Exeter Book between the poems The Phoenix and...
, Christ II, and Fata Apostolorum) and eight by other authors (Andreas
Andreas
Andreas is a common male name in Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Flanders, Germany, Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The name derives from the Greek noun ἀνήρ – with genitive ἀνδρός –, which means "man" . See article on Andrew for more information...
and The Dream of the Rood from the Vercelli Book
Vercelli Book
The Vercelli Book is one of the oldest of the four Old English Poetic Codices. It is an anthology of Old English prose and verse that dates back to the late 10th century...
, and Christ I, Christ III, Guthlac A and B
Guthlac poems A and B
Guthlac A and Guthlac B are poems about a title hero, unique in that they are the only known poems in Old English written about a Mercian saint, Saint Guthlac, whose reputation as a plain-living hermit is well-known. Both are preserved in the Exeter Book, consecutively, because for a long time,...
, The Phoenix, and Physiologus from the Exeter Book
Exeter Book
The Exeter Book, Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3501, also known as the Codex Exoniensis, is a tenth-century book or codex which is an anthology of Anglo-Saxon poetry. It is one of the four major Anglo-Saxon literature codices. The book was donated to the library of Exeter Cathedral by Leofric, the...
). Although the Christ I poem is generally associated and analyzed alongside the works of Cynewulf, it is in fact an anonymous writing and its construction is unrelated to either of the other Christ poems.
Structure
The poem of Christ I is broken down into twelve smaller subsections of individual verse. Each subsection is introduced with a selection from a Latin antiphon, followed by lines of poetry in Old English. Sections I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VIII, and IX derive from the “Greater Antiphons”, while sections VII, X, XI, and XII do not. It is unknown if the author intended to use all of the selections from the “Great Antiphons”, but some scholars speculate that the antiphons not used, “O Sapientia”, “O Adonai”, and “O radix Jesse”, have been lost. The order the antiphons used by the author in laying out the Advent Lyrics appears to have no predetermined structure and have not followed the pattern of the list used in observed in all other sources containing the list.Interpretation of Structure
The order of antiphons that the author uses for the lyrics imply that the poet was not concerned about any distinctions between antiphons, or the order that he had found them in his sources. Upon analysis of the position of each poem, no rational order can be found, therefore it appears as though the order of each poem is unimportant.Influence on other writers
J.R.R. Tolkien was influenced by the following couplet from Christ I (lines 104-5), which inspired his portrayal of Middle-earthMiddle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
and his character Eärendil
Eärendil
Eärendil the Mariner is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. He is depicted in The Silmarillion as a great seafarer who, on his brow, carried the morning star across the sky.-Etymology:...
.
"Eálá Earendel engla beorhtast
Ofer middangeard monnum sended."
Translated,
"Hail Earendel brightest of angels,
over Middle EarthMidgardMidgard is one of the Nine Worlds and is an old Germanic name for our world and is the home of Humans, with the literal meaning "middle enclosure".-Etymology:...
sent to men."
External links
- The Old English poems, Christ I-III
- A Modern English translation (PDF), by Charles W. Kennedy. From "In Parentheses".