Question

What are the (3) characteristics of Old English Poetry?

a) Strict rhyme schemes, complex metaphors, and dramatic monologues.
b) Alliteration, caesura, and kennings.
c) Sonnets, ballads, and epic narratives.
d) Similes, anapestic meter, and iambic pentameter.

Answer 1

Old English Poetry is characterized by alliteration, caesura, and kennings, differing from other poetic forms that may use strict rhyme schemes or specific meters like iambic pentameter. The correct answer is B.

Step-by-step explanation:

The characteristics of Old English Poetry include alliteration, caesura, and kennings. These features are distinct from the strict rhyme schemes, complex metaphors, dramatic monologues, sonnets, ballads, epic narratives, similes, anapestic meter, and iambic pentameter associated with other poetic forms.

Old English poetry often exhibits a rhythmic and metered structure, but it does not adhere to the strict rhyme schemes found in later poetry. Alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, is a key sound device.

The caesura, a deliberate pause in the middle of lines, is used to create a rhythm and provide a moment for reflection. Kennings, which are metaphorical compounds, are used to describe everyday objects and phenomena in a creative and indirect manner.The correct answer is B.

Answer 2

Old English Poetry is characterized by the use of alliteration, caesura, and kennings, which contribute to its unique auditory and metaphorical style.

Step-by-step explanation:

The three characteristics of Old English Poetry are b) Alliteration, caesura, and kennings. These elements are key in defining the poetic style of that period. Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words, which adds a musical quality to the poem. A caesura is a pronounced pause in the middle of a line of verse, which helps to break the line into two halves and adds a rhythmic complexity. Finally, kennings are metaphorical compounds words or phrases used to describe something in a more evocative way, often found in Old English epic poetry, such as 'whale-road' for the sea.