The language of the Poem

Anglo-Saxon verse had no rhyme and no regular number of syllables in its lines, but it was necessary that each line should have three stressed syllables usually beginning with the same consonant. Such a sound effect is called “alliteration”.

Note the alliteration in the following lines:

[b] Bore it bitterly he who bided in darkness

[t] Twelve-winters’ time torture suffered

[s] Soul-crushing sorrow. Not seldom in privet

[k] Set the king in his council; conference held they

[h] Heard in his home: of heroes then living

Many nouns and names of people are accompanied by one or even two descriptive words. Based on a certain likeness between two subjects in a new light. Such descriptive words are called metaphors.

Here some metaphors:

for the sea: salt-streams, wave-deeps, sail-road;

for the ship: wave-goer, fresh-tarred craft, broad-bosomed bark;

for the warriors: the case-in-helmets, folk-troop defenders, the famous-for-prowess, foot-going-champions (not on horseback), heroes-in-battle;

for armour: ring-made burnie, link-woven burnies, light-flashing helmets;

for the weapons: bill-sword, brand-sword (shield);

for a quarrel: sword-hate, hot-burning hatred;

for fighting: the hand rush of heroes;

for the cowards: tardy-at-battle (The cowards are called “tardy-at-battle” for their late arrival, probably intentional, at the place of battle.);

for the king: ring-prince, folk-chief, folk-leader, friend-lord of folks;

for the musical instrument: joy-wood, glee-wood;

for music: harp-joy.

Exercises

1. Say a few words about the language spoken in the British Isles after the Anglo-Saxon Conquest.

2. Tell the story of Beowulf.

3. Find the other examples of alliterations in the poem:

1) with [1] on page 12; 2) with [g] on page 12; 3) with [s] on page12; 4) with [h] on pages 12, 13; 5) with [e] on page 13; 6) with [t] on page 15; 7) with [k]on pages 13,15.

4. Find these descriptive combination in the extracts of the poem given in this book and explain what they mean.

1) Light-hearted laugher 5) Hand-grapple

2) Twelve-winters time 6) Devil-shaped woman

3) Soul-crushing sorrow 7) Crime-worker

4) Hero-in-battle 8) Tardy-at-battle