Final answer:
The sole surviving copy of Beowulf is dated to approximately 1000 AD, placing it within the Old English period from 450 to 1066 A.D.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sole surviving copy of Beowulf, an epic poem composed in Old English, can be dated to roughly 1000 AD. This dates back to a period well within the Old English era, which spans from 450 to 1066 A.D. The manuscript of Beowulf is a central piece of Anglo-Saxon literature and provides a unique window into the language and storytelling of the period. Its preservation is fortuitous, as many other works from that era have been lost to time.