Poetic, Compounding in the Vercelli, Blinking, and Wulfstan Homilies
Keywords
poetry, Old English, compounding
Abstract
The importance of compounds in Old English poetic style is well known. Compounding is repeatedly listed in descriptions of Old English poetic style in even the most introductory textbooks,1 and its importance is underscored by the numerous compounds that occur only or predominantly in poetry, from the evocative kennings like "swan-path" and "whale-road" to the more literal compounds like "battle-sword" or "battle-helmet." The poetic quality of compounds has been frequently noted in such terms as "the richest and most meaningful content words" (Brodeur 1959: 8), "imaginative," "suggestive," "elevation of tone" (Godden 1992: 499-500), and "poetic elevation" (Rübke 1954: 2).
Original Publication Citation
“Poetic Compounding in the Vercelli, Blickling, and Wulfstan Homilies.” Neuphilologische Mitteilungen 103 (2002): 409-21.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Chapman, Don William, "Poetic, Compounding in the Vercelli, Blinking, and Wulfstan Homilies" (2002). Faculty Publications. 6557.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/6557
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2002
Publisher
Modern Language Society
Language
English
College
Humanities
Department
Linguistics
Copyright Status
Neuphilologische Mitteilungen © 2002 Modern Language Society
Copyright Use Information
https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/