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Reference.org
Maxims (Old English poems)
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<p>"Maxims I" (sometimes treated as three separate poems, "Maxims I, A, B and C") and "Maxims II" are pieces of <a href="/facts/Old_English/9rsmQG2a">Old English</a> <a href="/facts/Gnomic_poetry/Hgdkh71p">gnomic poetry</a>. The poem "Maxims I" can be found in the <a href="/facts/Exeter_Book/9rRfYapr">Exeter Book</a> and "Maxims II" is located in a lesser known manuscript, London, British Library, Cotton Tiberius B i. "Maxims I" and "Maxims II" are classified as wisdom poetry, being both influenced by <a href="/facts/Wisdom_literature/Q7aBlbF8">wisdom literature</a>, such as the <i><a href="/facts/Havamal/ENAuWPuE">Havamal</a></i> of ancient Germanic literature. Although they are separate poems of diverse contents, they have been given a shared name because the themes throughout each of the poems are similar. </p>