Page "English poetry" Paragraph 7

Much of the poetry of the period is difficult to date, or even to arrange chronologically ; for example, estimates for the date of the great epic Beowulf range from AD 608 right through to AD 1000, and there has never been anything even approaching a consensus.

It is possible to identify certain key moments, however.

The Dream of the Rood was written before circa AD 700, when excerpts were carved in runes on the Ruthwell Cross.

Some poems on historical events, such as The Battle of Brunanburh ( 937 ) and The Battle of Maldon ( 991 ), appear to have been composed shortly after the events in question, and can be dated reasonably precisely in consequence.