Abstract

This article examines the significance of promise in two Old English poems, Andreas and Guthlac A. At once spiritual and moral, promise connects God with His pious followers on earth. Beginning with linguistic analysis that interprets saintly promise through the lens of biblical covenant, this article proceeds to show both the external and internal features of promise as presented in those two poems. It argues that the poetic portrayal of promise underscores verbal performance and heightened inner qualities, both of which are crucial in showing saints' commitment to, and fulfilment of their promises. In the Andreas, particularly, we also see that Andreas's transformation from a flawed to a flawless apostle suggests that saintly promise to God is also a form of self-promise which enhances Christian virtue.

Keywords: promise, Old English poems, Andreas, Biblical covenant, saints

How to Cite:

Xiao, B. N., (2026) “Saintly Promises: The Spiritual Bond Between God and Saints in the Old English Andreas and Guthlac A”, Moveable Type 16(1): 7, 55–70. doi: https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444.1755-4527.2292