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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:
- xml
- Published as:
- Journal article
- Status:
- Published
- Last Updated:
- 3 years ago
- License:
- All Rights Reserved
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