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A line of poetry in Old English consists of two half-lines or verses, distichs, with a pause or caesura in the middle of the line. The following example from The Battle of Maldon, spoken by the warrior Byrthnoth shows this: |
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A line of poetry in Old English consists of two half-lines or verses, 'distichs, with a pause or caesura'' in the middle of the line. Each half-line has two accented syllables. The following example from The Battle of Maldon, spoken by the warrior Byrthnoth shows this: |
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Alliteration is the principal binding agent of Old English poetry. The beginning sound of the first stressed syllable of the on-verse, or first half-line, is generally the same as the beginning sound of the first stressed syllable of the off-verse, or second half-line. The secondary stress of the on-verse may alliterate with the others. This usually means they begin with the same letter. |
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Alliteration is the principal binding agent of Old English poetry. Two syllables alliterate when they begin with the same sound; all vowels alliterate together, but a consonant cluster such as st- only alliterates with the same cluster (so st- does not alliterate with s-). The first stressed syllable of the off-verse, or second half-line, usually alliterates with one or both of the stressed syllables of the on-verse, or first half-line. The second stressed syllable of the off-verse does not usually alliterate with the others. |
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