Week 10

Question 1

Caedmon

Answer 1

father of English sacred song (poetry)

Question 2

Characteristics of OE poetry: origins as oral poetry

Answer 2

• formulas
• typescenes
• alliteration (3 stressed syllables that alliterate, one (the 4th) that doesn’t)
• 2 half-lines per line (2 stressed syllables per half-line)
• Variation/apposition

Question 3

Variation functions

Answer 3

gives more information about the thing that is repeated

allows the audience to catch up

Question 4

Grammar of poetry

Answer 4

• different word order options
• omission of subject/prepositions/objects
• mec and thec
• verse-specific vocabulary
• kennings

Question 5

Genres OE poetry

Answer 5

1. Heroic poetry (beowulf)
2. Religious poetry (exodus)
3. Elegiac poetry (wanderer)
4. Wisdom poetry (Maxims I and II)