Among the most important works of this period is the poem "Beowulf", which often begins the traditional canon of English literature, and the poem "Cædmon's Hymn" from the 7th century, which survives as the oldest extant work of literature in English.
Among the most important works of this period is the poem "Beowulf", which often begins the traditional canon of English literature. The "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" has also proven significant for historical study, preserving a chronology of early English history, while the poem "Cædmon's Hymn" from the 7th century survives as the oldest extant work of literature in English.