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The Language of Old and Middle English Poetry

  • Textbook
  • © 1996

Overview

Authors:
  1. G. A. Lester

    1. Sheffield, UK

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Part of the book series: The Language of Literature (LOL)

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-vii
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  2. Introduction

    • G. A. Lester
    Pages 1-10

  3. The Social Context

    • G. A. Lester
    Pages 11-25

  4. The Literary and Linguistic Context

    • G. A. Lester
    Pages 26-46

  5. Old English Poetic Diction

    • G. A. Lester
    Pages 47-66

  6. Old English Verse: Structure and Organisation

    • G. A. Lester
    Pages 67-87

  7. Middle English Poetic Diction

    • G. A. Lester
    Pages 88-106

  8. Middle English Verse: Structure and Organisation

    • G. A. Lester
    Pages 107-130

  9. Linguistic Varieties

    • G. A. Lester
    Pages 131-147

  10. Examples of Analysis: Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

    • G. A. Lester
    Pages 148-165

  11. Back Matter

    Pages 166-182
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Keywords

About this book

This book gives a linguistic overview of the first eight centuries of English poetry - years which produced such key works as Beowulf, Layaman's Brut and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It begins with chapters on the social and literary context, before turning in more detail to subjects such as poetic diction, rhymed and alliterative verse, borrowed words, recurrent phrases, rhetoric and linguistic variety. Aimed at the beginning student and general reader, the book seeks to enhance appreciation and enjoyment by making the linguistic resources of the poets better understood.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Sheffield, UK

    G. A. Lester

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