Chaucer's Verse and Alliterative Poetry: Grammar, Metre, and Some Secrets of the Syllable Count

Author / Editor
Putter, Ad.

Title
Chaucer's Verse and Alliterative Poetry: Grammar, Metre, and Some Secrets of the Syllable Count

Published
Poetica (Tokyo) 67 (2007): 19-35.

Description
Putter compares Chaucer's techniques to the "close control" of syllable counting by alliterative poets. Although the metrical goals of these poets differ from those of Chaucer, the means whereby alliterative poets achieve control are similar to Chaucer's--e.g., using verbs that allow various forms ("lien" and "shinen") and capitalizing on flexible morphology, especially final -e.

Chaucer Subjects
Style and Versification.
Language and Word Studies.