• The Fall of Arthur and The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún : A Metrical Review of Three Modern English Alliterative Poems

    Author(s):
    Nelson Goering (see profile)
    Date:
    2015
    Subject(s):
    Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973, Literature--Study and teaching, Germanic philology, Poetics, Poetry, Medievalism, English language--Old English
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Alliterative verse, Arthurian, Edda, Tolkien studies, Poetics and poetry, Old English, Old Norse
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/4qb4-mq90
    Abstract:
    J.R.R. Tolkien produced a considerable body of poetry in which he used the traditional alliterative metre of Old Norse and Old English to write modern English verse. This paper reviews three of his longer narrative poems, published in The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún and The Fall of Arthur, examining Tolkien’s alliterative technique in comparison to medieval poetry and to the metrical theories of Eduard Sievers. In particular, the two poems in The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, which are adapted from Old Norse material, show a number of metrical and poetic features reminiscent of Tolkien’s sources in the Poetic Edda. The Fall of Arthur, on the other hand, is in a style that is, in detail and in general, strongly reminiscent of Old English poetry. Throughout all these compositions, Tolkien employs a distinctive alliterative style, closely based on medieval and philological models, but adjusted according to the linguistic needs of modern English and to his own preferences.
    Metadata:
    Published as:
    Journal article    
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    3 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved
    Share this:

    Downloads

    Item Name: pdf goering-2014-the-fall-of-arthur-and-the-legend-of-sigurd-and-gudrún.pdf
      Download View in browser
    Activity: Downloads: 508