Ælfric's Life of St Edmund, part of his Lives of Saints, has long been a staple on first year curricula, more because it is representative of Ælfric's hagiography and homiletic writings than because it is exceptional. A translation and adaption of a Latin life written by Abbo of Fleury in the 980s, Ælfric's life attests to the popularity of Edmund's cult during the second phase of the Benedictine Reform. You'll need to consider the place of the cult of saints in the late Anglo-Saxon church, the relationship between vitae of Edmund and the historical record and how to respond critically to the genre of hagiography.
Ælfric begins by identifying his source, Abbo's Passio Sancti Eadmundi. He tells how Abbo heard the story from Dunstan, who had learnt it from Edmund's armour-bearer, and gives a thumbnail biography of Abbo. After this introductory section, Ælfric outlines Edmund's qualities as man and king: wise, honourable and pious. During his reign, the Danes, led by Hinguar and Hubba, arrive with a naval fleet, slaying many people as they march through the countryside. Hinguar reaches East Anglia and demands Edmund's submission. In conversation with one of his bishops, Edmund resolves to defy Hinguar and is captured. The Vikings beat Edmund and shoot at him with missiles, but his faith does not waver. Enraged by his piety, Hinguar orders Edmund to be beheaded.
Having killed Edmund, the Vikings hide his head and depart. After a while, the native population begins to look for the head, which cries out to them. They find it protected by a wolf, reunite the head with the body and build a small church by the tomb. Several years afterwards, the people see fit to build a more fitting memorial, and, having exhumed his body, find it to be incorrupt. Ælfric describes two miracles that occur at the site of Edmund's reburial. Several thieves, attempting to despoil the shrine, are frozen in position during their plundering through the power of the saint. A local magnate called Leofstan, after demanding to see the body of the saint, is struck mad. These two miracles are just a selection of the many Ælfric claims to have heard. He concludes by observing that England, like other Christian countries, has its share of saints working miracles.