Anglo-Saxon Literary Terms

Epic A long narrative poem On a serious subject Written in a grand or elevated style Centered on a larger-than-life hero

Epic Conventions A concern with the fate of a nation or people A correspondingly large scale, often ranging around the world The intervention of supernatural figures Extended similes, generally called epic similes: A simile is an explicit comparison of two things, usually with the word "as" or "like." Long catalogues, whether of ships, characters, or places Extensive battle scenes; Begins “in medias res”

Caesura a pause somewhere in the middle of a verse. Some lines have strong (easily recognizable) caesurae, which usually coincide with punctuation in the line, while others have weak ones.

Kenning a compound poetic phrase substituted for the usual name of a person or thing. For example the sea in Old English could be called seġl-rād 'sail-road', swan-rād 'swan-road'. In line 10 of the epic Beowulf the sea is called the hronrāde or 'whale-road'

Epic Boast- Flyting A proclamation of things a character has done or will do in the epic

Archetype The word archetype is commonly used to describe an original pattern or model from which all other things of the same kind are made.

Comitatus The word archetype is commonly used to describe an original pattern or model from which all other things of the same kind are made.

Oral Tradition A process by which songs, ballads, folklore, and other material are transmitted by word of mouth. The tradition of oral transmission predates the written record systems of literate society.

Fate The word archetype is commonly used to describe an original pattern or model from which all other things of the same kind are made.

Thane The word archetype is commonly used to describe an original pattern or model from which all other things of the same kind are made.

Mead A fermented beverage made of water and honey, malt, and yeast

Pagan Paganism is a catch-all term which has come to bundle together (by extension from its original classical meaning of a non-Christian religion) a very broad set of not necessarily compatible religious beliefs and practices that are usually, but not necessarily, characterized by polytheism

Alliteration Alliteration occurs when the initial sounds of a word, beginning either with a consonant or a vowel, are repeated in close succession. The function of alliteration, like rhyme, might be to accentuate the beauty of language in a given context, or to unite words or concepts through a kind of repetition.

Epithet A word or phrase, often but not always disparaging or abusive, that expresses a character trait of someone or something.

Motif A theme, character type, image, metaphor, or other verbal element that recurs throughout a single work of literature or occurs in a number of different works over a period of time.

Scop An Anglo-Saxon poet The scop fulfilled many roles in an Anglo Saxon tribe. Among those functions were: court singer tribal historian genealogist teacher composer critic warrior traveler and reporter