History of English Literature

Writing systems are distinguished from other possible symbolic communication systems in that one must usually understand something of the associated spoken language to comprehend the text. One of the earliest Old English texts in prose is the Martyrology information about saints and Martyrs according to their anniversaries and feasts in the church calendar. It has survived in six fragments. It is believed to date from the 9th century by an anonymous Mercian author. Research in the 20th century has focused on dating the manuscripts 19th century scholars tended to date them older, locating where the manuscripts were created there were seven major scriptoria from which they originate.