1. Tori, Kristen, Mallory, and Julianna
Alliterative Poetry
Tori, Kristen, Mallory, and Julianna

2. Poetic Features Modern Alliterative Poetry:
Alliteration: The repetition of similar sounds in a series of words or phrases
Assonance
Ex. On a proud round cloud in white high night
Consonance
Ex. Peter Piper picked a pickled pepper

3. Poetic Features Forming of this Alliterative Verse:
Anglo Saxon Alliterative Poetry:
uses alliteration as the main structuring device to join lines of poetry
unlike other devices that uses rhyme
Forming of this Alliterative Verse:
The line has two verses divided by a boundary called a caesura.
Each of the two halves contain two stressed syllables, called lifts, and two or more groups of unstressed syllables, called drops.
An alliterative pattern must be carried over across the caesura
Any of the stressed syllables may alliterate except the last syllable
For example:
Lade ne letton. Leoht eastan com.
Has a distinctive set of rhetorical devices
most common is kenning

4. Examples of drops and lifts

5. Examples of Alliterative Poetry in Other Poems
Germanic languages
Some poetry that uses alliteration include:
Muspilli
Heliand
Poetic Edda
Also found in other languages as well:
Kalevala
Kalevipoeg

6. Alliterative Poetry in J.R.R Tolkien Poems
J.R.R. Tolkien- “Turin Turambar”, “Song of the Mounds of Mundberg”, “The Lord of the Rings”
He majored in Anglo Saxon and Middle English
Style unknown in modern English literature
This style dominated English literature from Chaucer’s time until early 20th century

7. Tolkien's Poem “Song of the Mounds of Mundburg”:
We heard of the horns in the hills ringing,
the swords shining in the South-kingdom.
Steeds went striding to the Stoningland
as wind in the morning. War was kindled.

8. Alliterative Poetry in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Written during “Alliterative Revival -14th century
Followed the alliterative verse style
Except made a few changes called bob and wheel

9. Alliterative Poetry in Beowulf
Germanic Anglo-Saxon Poetry
Old English language
Alliterative Poetry used instead of usual rhyme schemes
Usually three alliterations in every line
Ex. Now Beowulf bode in the burg of the Scyldings
Kennings (epithets) are also used to enhance the poetry
“mail shirt” for armor
“dwelling place” for residence

10. Examples Found in Beowulf
In the translation by Seamus Heaney alliteration is sometimes only in half the line
These are examples of proper ones:
The fortunes of war/ favoured Hrothgar (l.64)
The highest in the land/ would lend advice (l.172)
And find friendship/ in the Father’s embrace (l.188)
Heaney tries to use many analogies like the original
Lord of the nation could be:
“ring-giver”
“treasure-giver”
“his people’s shield”
“shepherd”