Accentual Verse

[Leanne]

When done properly in either Anglo-Saxon poetry or using the Irish notion of uaim (with amus -- assonance and uaithne -- consonance), alliteration is not oppressive but necessary. Heaney studied both schools extensively and grew up in the tradition; still, reading Beowulf in one sitting without a fireside and a lot of whiskey can indeed become slightly tedious. The one redeeming feature of most modern attempts at alliterative verse is that at least they run out of steam very quickly.

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PS. Ella, there's nothing wrong with writing with accent rather than perfect meter, it's just that if it's only accentual by accident then a smoothing-over with a meter rule will definitely serve you well