CHAPTER II

THE ALLITERATIVE VERSE IN OLD ENGLISH

§ 14. General remarks 15

15. Theories on the metrical form of the alliterative line 15

16. The four-beat theory 16

17. The two-beat theory 19

18. Accentuation of Old English 24

19. The secondary accent 28

20. Division and metrical value of syllables 29

21. Structure of the whole alliterative line 30

22. The structure of the hemistich in the normal alliterative

line 31

23. Number of unaccented syllables of the thesis 33

24. Order of the verse-members in the hemistich 35

ANALYSIS OF THE VERSE TYPES.

I. _Hemistichs of four members._

25. Type A, with sub-types A 1-3 36

26. Type B, with sub-types B 1, 2 41

27. Type C, with sub-types C 1-3 42

28. Type D, with sub-types D 1-4 42

29. Type E, with sub-types E 1, 2 43

II. _Hemistichs of five members._

30. Type A*, with sub-types A* 1, 2; Type B*; Type C*; Type D*,

with sub-types D* 1-3 44

31. Principles adopted in classification 45

32. Combination of hemistichs by means of alliteration 45

PRINCIPLES OF ALLITERATION.

33. Quality of the alliteration 46

34. Position of the alliterative words 48

35. Alliteration in relation to the parts of speech and to

the order of words 50

36. Arrangement and relationship of verse and sentence 54

THE LENGTHENED VERSE.

37. The lengthened line; alliteration 55

38. The origin and structure of the lengthened verse 57

39. Examples of commonly occurring forms of the lengthened

hemistich 59

FORMATION OF STANZAS AND RHYME.

40. Classification and examples 62

A History of English Versification · 第 2 / 22 章