Anglo-Saxon Vocabulary Image from “An Anglo-Saxon Story.” Out of Oblivion. 28/10/07.

Alliteration Repetition of initial consonant sounds –Ex.: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Anglo-Saxon/Old English The Germanic language spoken by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes who invaded Britain in the 5 th century. –Ex.: cyning = king

Caesura A pronounced pause in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line (pregnant pause) –Ex.: “I promise you this:// she’ll find no shelter,” from Beowulf

Cultural Hero/Epic Hero A brave character who overcomes great trials and embodies the ideals of his society –George Washington

Elegy A serious poem of lament, usually mourning a death or another great loss –“Elegy Written In A Country Church-yard”

Epic A long narrative poem telling about the deeds of a great hero and reflecting the values of its society –The Odyssey

Kenning In Old English poetry, an imaginative metaphorical phrase used in place of a single noun –Ex.: whale road = sea

Metaphor A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using like, as, resembles, or than.

Oral Tradition The process of passing literature by word of mouth from one generation to the next –Ex.: The story of Santa Clause

Scop An Anglo-Saxon traveling minstrel who composed or memorized oral literature and passed it down in the oral tradition. –Ex.: story tellers