ИСТИНА

The Old English poem known as Genesis B contained in the so called Junius manuscript (Bodleian Library MS Junius 11), dating second half of the 10th- early 11th century, but the date of the poem itself is presumable much more earlier. It is supposed to be a translation of an original work in Old Saxon (may be the work of some of Anglo-Saxon missionaries in Saxony); at some time it was interpolated in the larger poem (so called Genesis A) which contains a bit tedious poetical paraphrase of the biblical book Genesis . By contrast Genesis B contains a rather particular story of the Fall. This story contradicts the biblical narrative in so many details that many hypotheses have been put forth about its sources and its theological message. Being really sophisticated these explanations in my opinion leave open the opportunity to set the poem in another context. In my paper I wish to propose an interpretation the poem’s message rooted in some features of the society in which it was created and performed. I am going to demonstrate, that the story of the Fall in Genesis B, concerned with two problems burning enough for Anglo-Saxon audience. The first is the conflict between the loyalty to the commands of the king and the demands of local lords. The second is the problem of fake (that is unauthorized by the Church) prophetic visions, which endangered the souls even of the more devoted believers. Thus, I am dare to conclude that the message of the poem political and moral as well as theological and as such it appeal not to perfectly formulated theological concepts, but to ideas and images familiar and understandable to its readers/listeners.