Heroic epic poetry in the Middle Ages
Karl Reichl
In his biography of Charlemagne, Einhard (d. 840) speaks highly the emperor's educational programme and mentions among achievements that he ordered 'the age-old narrative poems, barbarous enough, it is true, in which were celebrated warlike deeds kings ancient times' to be written down this way preserved for posterity. These native songs from times ('barbara et antiquissima carmina') no doubt heroic vernacular, celebrating past heroes ancestors. Almost 750 years earlier, Germania, Roman historian Tacitus had mentioned 'ancient songs' Germanic peoples, according him reached back into a mythic their only kind historical tradition. Charlemagne's efforts have these recorded writing came at time when oral traditions still flourishing but predominant culture West was Latin, Christian, literate. although illiterate himself, did much spread literacy, not least by gathering leading minds Latin Christendom Palace School. One them Alcuin, an Englishman, most learned man time' Einhard. 797 Alcuin wrote letter bishop Lindisfarne complaining come notice monks Northumbrian monastery preferred listen harpist singing vernacular lays rather than reader holy books refectory. 'What has Ingeld do with Christ?' asks, continues, 'The house Lord narrow, cannot hold both.'
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