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The poetic sound of Beowulf
Date
The text below is an example of Burton Raffel’s (the translator) attempt to include a caesura in
his version of Beowulf. According to convention, one of the accented syllables after the caesura
has to alliterate with at least one of the accented syllables in the first half of the line.
1. Mark the accented syllables
2. Mark the caesura, a break in the line.
3. Underline the appropriate letter in a stressed symbol showing alliteration before and
after the caesura.
NOTE: Alliteration is the repetition of the same sounds or of the same kinds of sounds at the
beginning of words or in stressed syllables of a phrase.
A path for his evil soul, but their points
Could not hurt him, the sharpest and hardest iron
Could not scratch at his skin, for that sin-stained demon
Had bewitched all men’s weapons, laid spells
That blunted every mortal man’s blade.