Eduard Sievers developed a theory of the meter of Anglo-Saxonalliterative verse, which he published in his 1893 Altgermanische Metrik.[1] Widely used by scholars, it was in particular extended by Alan Joseph Bliss.[2] Sievers' system is a primarily method of categorization rather than a full theory of meter. It does not, in other words, purport to describe the system the scops actually used to compose their verse, nor does it explain why certain patterns are favoured or avoided.
A line of Anglo-Saxon verse is made up of two half-lines. Each of these half-lines contains two main stresses (or 'lifts'). Sievers categorized three basic types of half-line that were used. Here a stressed syllable is represented by the symbol '/' and an unstressed syllable by the symbol 'x'.
Type
Description
Example 1
Example 2
Type A
Falling
/ x / x
/ x x x / x
Type B
Rising
x / x /
x x x / x x /
Type C
Rising / falling
x / / x
x x x / / x x
He also noted that three possible types of half-line were not used:
/ x x /
/ / x x
x x / /
However the first two of these can be used if one of the 'dips' is changed into a half-stress (or 'half lift' ... notated here 'x́'):
Type D
Two stresses at start
/ / x́ x
/ / x x́
Type E
Falling / rising
/ x x́ /
/ x́ x /
Influenceedit
Regardless of how successful a description of Old English metre Sievers's system is, it was most likely the theory of Anglo-Saxon prosody that Ezra Pound would have been familiar with, and influenced Pound's verse.[1]
sievers, theory, anglo, saxon, meter, eduard, sievers, developed, theory, meter, anglo, saxon, alliterative, verse, which, published, 1893, altgermanische, metrik, widely, used, scholars, particular, extended, alan, joseph, bliss, sievers, system, primarily, m. Eduard Sievers developed a theory of the meter of Anglo Saxon alliterative verse which he published in his 1893 Altgermanische Metrik 1 Widely used by scholars it was in particular extended by Alan Joseph Bliss 2 Sievers system is a primarily method of categorization rather than a full theory of meter It does not in other words purport to describe the system the scops actually used to compose their verse nor does it explain why certain patterns are favoured or avoided Contents 1 Summary of Sievers categories 2 Influence 3 References 4 SourcesSummary of Sievers categories editA line of Anglo Saxon verse is made up of two half lines Each of these half lines contains two main stresses or lifts Sievers categorized three basic types of half line that were used Here a stressed syllable is represented by the symbol and an unstressed syllable by the symbol x Type Description Example 1 Example 2Type A Falling x x x x x xType B Rising x x x x x x x Type C Rising falling x x x x x x xHe also noted that three possible types of half line were not used x x x x x x However the first two of these can be used if one of the dips is changed into a half stress or half lift notated here x Type D Two stresses at start x x x x Type E Falling rising x x x x Influence editRegardless of how successful a description of Old English metre Sievers s system is it was most likely the theory of Anglo Saxon prosody that Ezra Pound would have been familiar with and influenced Pound s verse 1 References edit Sievers Eduard Altgermanische Metrik Sammlung kurzer Grammatiken germanischer Dialekte Erganzungsreihe 2 Halle Niemeyer 1893 Bliss Alan Joseph The metre of Beowulf Oxford Blackwell 1958 Sources edit Brooke Rose Christine A ZBC of Ezra Pound Faber and Faber 1971 ISBN 0 571 09135 0 page 88 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sievers 27s theory of Anglo Saxon meter amp oldid 1149708128, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
