Part one of term paper
Our understanding of the literary achievements of King Alfred depend very much upon what we believe about his early education. If we are content to accept the stories of Asser, the famous biographer of Alfred, that he reached his twelfth birthday before he learned to read (Keynes 75), then we must reckon his literary career as a phenomenon ...

Part two of term paper
... little formal training or schooling. He did possess a highly retentive memory and particularly enjoyed listening to the court bards reciting poetry. One day his mother, holding a fine manuscript book in her hand, said to Alfred and his elder brothers, 'I will give this book to whichever of you can learn it most quickly.' Although he could not read, Alfred was greatly attracted to the book and was determined to own it. Forestalling his brothers, he took it to his teacher who read it to him. ...