The Middle English poems in this book exemplify three major genres in medieval religious writing: saint's legend, Bible epic and religious debate. "St Erkenwald" tells how a bishop of London raised a pagan judge from the dead and sent his soul to heaven. In "Cleanness" (often known as "Purity") such events as the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Belshazzar's feast are recounted. "The Owl and the Nightingale" is a contest between an owl and a nightingale who debate the traditional morals of the Church and the ideals of courtly love.
