The Sound and Rhythm and Features of Old English Poetry
Douglas Ryan VanBenthuysen | The University of New Mexico | [email protected]
Beowulf, Lines 1-11
Hwæt! wē Gār-Dena
in geār-dagum
þēod-cyninga
þrym gefrūnon,
hū þā æðelingas
ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scēfing
sceaðena þrēatum,
monegum mǣgðum
meodo-setla oftēah.
Egsode eorl,
syððan ǣrest wearð
fēa-sceaft funden:
hē þæs frōfre gebād,
wēox under wolcnum,
weorð-myndum ðāh,
oð þæt him ǣghwylc
þāra ymb-sittendra
ofer hron-rāde
h ran scolde,
gomban gyldan:
þæt wæs gōd cyning!
Simple Pronunciation rules
These are just a few general rules that will get you started. These rules apply most of the time, but you
will find nuances and exceptions when you study the subject further.
The “Old Letters”
þ, ð (thorn and eth) = th (beginning or end of words, like “think,” between vowels, like “brother”)
æ (ash) = a (like in math, ash)
Vowels
a = ah (father, hot)
e = ay (day, make) -- Note: this is like the Modern English long ‘a’
i = ee (meet, heal) -- Note: this is like the Modern English long ‘e’ y sort of like u
þæt | maðelode | Dena | Grendel | rinc | wæs | min nama | cyning
Alliteration
In Old English (and other Old Germanic) poetry, one or both syllables in the first half-line alliterate with
the first, and only the first, stressed syllable of the second half-line.
From R. M. Liuzza’s Translation of Beowulf (lines 710-711)
Then from the moor, in a blanket of mist
Grendel came stalking
-- he bore God's anger;
The same lines in Old English:
(All emphasized syllables in bold, alliteraters also underlined)
Þā cōm of mōre
Grendel gongan,
under mist-hleoðum
godes yrre bær.
Beowulf, Lines 1-11
Stressed syllables in bold / Alliteraters underlined.
Hwæt! wē Gār-Dena
in geār-dagum
þēod-cyninga
þrym gefrūnon,
hū þā æðelingas
ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scēfing
sceaðena þrēatum,
monegum mǣgðum
meodo-setla oftēah.
Egsode eorl,
syððan ǣrest wearð
fēa-sceaft funden:
hē þæs frōfre gebād,
wēox under wolcnum,
weorð-myndum ðāh,
oð þæt him ǣghwylc
þāra ymb-sittendra
ofer hron-rāde
h ran scolde,
gomban gyldan:
þæt wæs gōd cyning!
The Rhythm of Old English Poetry
“Cædomn’s Hymn” (The first English poem)
A
’ x x
1 Nū sculon
A
ú x x
2 Metodes
D
’
3 weorc
’ x x
herigean
’
x
meahte
’ x
Drihten,
D
’
5 Hē
’ x
‘
ǣrest sceōp
A
’ x
x
6 heofon tō
A ’ x
8 ēce
A
’ x
9 fīrum
’ x
x
‡ ond his
’ x ù x
Wuldorfæder
A ’ x
4 ēce
B ’ x
7 ‡ þā
’ x ù x
heofonrices
’
ōr
’ x
hrōfe,
’ x ‘
middangeard
’ x
Drihten,
’ x
foldan
D
’
x
bearnum
’ x
hālig
A
’ x
Scyppend;
’
‘ x
monncynnes
’ x
tēode,
’ ‘ x
ælmihtig.
E
B
’
x x ‘
wundra gehwæs,
’
‘
x
onstealde.
’ x
æfter
’
Frēa
’ x ‘
mōdgeþanc,
’
x x
‡ swā hē
’ x
eorðan
’
Weard,
A
’
Weard,
A
D
’ = Stress (Primary)
úx = Resolved Stress (Primary)
‘ = Stress (Secondary)
ùx = Resolved Stress (Secondary)
x = Unstressed
‡ = Musical Rest
Alliterating syllables are printed in boldface.
E
B