Beowulf Poetic Device Vocabulary Alliteration Caesura Kenning Simile

Beowulf & Poetic Device

Vocabulary • • • Alliteration Caesura Kenning Simile Rhyme – Internal – end • Meter • Scansion

Alliteration • Repetition of consonant sounds (usually at the beginning of the word) in word that are close together • Sixteen slithering snakes snuck up on Sally as she lay sleeping.

Caesura • A pause (break) within a line of poetry that is marked with a double line [//] for the purposes of scansion • Lo! we have listened // to many a lay

Kenning • A type of metaphor where a person, place, thing is described with a two or three word combination that represents something connected with the noun –Grendel might be described as the bringer of evil or the shadow-walker, etc.

Simile • A comparison made between two unlike things using the connective words: “like, ” “as, ” “than, ” or “resembles” • Superman can fly like a bird; he is faster than a speeding bullet. . .

Rhyme • Rhyme: repetition of the end sound (syllable) of words The planet is a wonderful place, But you can’t beat traveling in space.

Internal Rhyme • where a word within the line of poetry will generally rhyme with the final word in a line • Star light, star bright

End Rhyme • words at the end of lines (usually in a pattern) rhyme • Star light, star bright • The first star I see tonight

Meter and Scansion • Meter: a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in lines of poetry. [This is similar to the beats in music] • One unstressed syllable (^) followed by a stressed syllable (‘) is one iamb or an iambic foot • Scansion: the process of marking the stressed and unstressed syllables in lines of poetry ^ / ^ / ^ / ^ The falling out of faithful friends, renewing is of / love {this is iambic septameter or 7 iambic feet}

, , “Lo! we have listened// to many a lay , , Of the Spear-Danes’ fame, // their splendor of old, , , Their mighty princes, // and martial deeds!