Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon Poetry

The first English poetic form

I. Person to person

A. Began life in the oral traditionB. Recited by wandering bards called

scops

II. Poetic Form

A. No rhymeB. Strong rhythm

1. Four beats per line2. Each line divided in half

a. two beats in each halfb. line divided by a caesura

caesura = strong pause

II. Poetic Form (cont’d)

C. Alliteration1. Repetition of initial consonant sounds2. Used to bind the two halves together

How?One or more of the accented

syllables in the first half must alliterate with an accented syllable in the second half

Let’s look at an example

Remember this nursery rhyme?Old King Cole was a merry old soul,And a merry old soul was he.He called for his pipe, And he called for his bowl,And he called for his fiddlers three.

Let’s look at an example

Here’s how the Anglo-Saxons would do it:Cole was the King; he was keen and merry;

Mirthful he was, with minstrels in mead-hall.He called for his cup; he called for his pipe.His fiddlers were three, and fine was their trilling.

Let’s look at an example

And the real thing:

III. Another Literary Device

KenningA Kenning is metaphorical phrase or compound wordused instead of the name of a person or thing.

For example: Grendel is the “shepherd of evil.” Can you find more?