The Textuality of Old English Poetry [Paperback]

A theoretical reading of the textuality of Old English poetry.The modern reader knows Old English poetry as a discrete number of poems, set up and printed in units punctuated as modern sentences, and with titles inserted by modern editors. Carol Braun Pasternack constructs a reading of the poetry which takes into account the format of the verse as it exists in the manuscripts. In a detailed analysis, which takes up issues current in poststructuralist theory, she argues that the idea of 'verse sequences' should replace the 'poem' and 'implied tradition' should replace the idea of 'the author'.The modern reader knows Old English poetry as a discrete number of poems, set up and printed in units punctuated as modern sentences, and with titles inserted by modern editors. Carol Braun Pasternack constructs a reading of the poetry which takes into account the format of the verse as it exists in the manuscripts. In a detailed analysis, which takes up issues current in poststructuralist theory, she argues that the idea of 'verse sequences' should replace the 'poem' and 'implied tradition' should replace the idea of 'the author'.The modern reader knows Old English poetry as a discrete number of poems, set up and printed in units punctuated as modern sentences, and with titles inserted by modern editors. Carol Braun Pasternack constructs a reading of the poetry that takes into account the format of the verse as it exists in the manuscripts. In a detailed analysis, which takes up issues current in poststructuralist theory, she argues that the idea of verse sequences should replace the poem and implied tradition should replace the idea of the author .List of plates; Acknowledgements; List of abbreviations; 1. The textuality of Old English poetry; 2. The polyphony of The Wanderer; 3. Rhythm, repetition and traditional expression; 4. The designs of syntax, modes of thought and the author question; 5. Borders and time; 6. Conditions of coherence; Bibliography; Index. ...a sigl#