Through the time period under consideration, the biography shows how Alfred expanded his influence, politically, educationally, and religiously. In part due to Asser’s biography, later readers came to understand that Alfred’s social improvement programs had impacted English society in profound ways, and the historical distance allowed for this elevation of Alfred’s reputation. The modern reader finds that Alfred, while respected by his contemporaries, was not considered “great” until the sixteenth century (p. On occasion, Asser even reminds his readers that his content is moving too far from his true topic, and so redirects the narrative back to Alfred. Utilizing a similar framework as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (compiled under the authority of Alfred), Asser presents a chronological history of Anglo-Saxon society, with particular focus upon Alfred. While Alfred’s military success was impressive, his cultural impact was staggering (p. It presents the work of Alfred, as undertook a program of increasing literacy and education among the Anglo-Saxon people, as well as how he established his authority over the various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, and unified them. It serves as a totem for the respect that Asser had for Alfred, as they had a close relationship (p. Asser’s biography of Alfred the Great is the oldest known biography of an Anglo-Saxon king (p.
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