Literary Criticism and Old English Poetry

FAIN: FA-10212-70

Stanley B. Greenfield
University of Oregon (Eugene, OR 97403-5219)

Study of relationship between linguistics, stylistic and cultural conventions of Anglo-Saxon times; application of modern literary techniques to the interpretation of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) poetry. Although fellow to incorporate some material from previous articles and monographs, study has wider scope, going beyond previous researchers in formulas and syntax to cover such areas as rhetorical conventions, relationship of Old English poems to Latin originals and models, assumed or conventional cultural and religious knowledge on part of audience and assumed or conventional critical attitudes of the time. Relates modern to "historical" criticism in realm of Old English poetry.