THE FIELD OF ALFREDIAN KNOWLEDGE
David A. Pratt
Part II offers a full exploration of Alfredian royal learning. It begins by establishing its context in educational delivery and ruling discourse; it then moves to situate role the complex dynamics power, as basis for analysis individual texts. This chapter is concerned with overall scope learned innovation, against backdrop existing West Saxon practices. As ever, such questions gain much from awareness parallel structures Carolingian world, accentuating significance developments European context. ALFREDIAN INNOVATION: WISDOM AND THE SHIFT TO VERNACULAR PROSE Much material owes existence what has commonly been termed Alfred's ‘educational programme’, though was not so limited. In effect this amounted reorientation aristocratic education, towards model placing special weight on reading vernacular texts, principally form prose. Texts were mainly translations Latin originals; serviced provision literate instruction. The acquisition literacy provided access ‘wisdom’; entire scheme could be presented revival, reversing sapiential decline. Dominating all accorded Alfred, an extraordinary array king-centred evidence. There are many early medieval examples kingship: striking inclusion authorship among activities, beyond patronage, reception consumption. places Alfred smaller body rulers identified actual authors texts; each raises very interesting processes lying behind production.
Cambridge University Press eBooks