The "Five Types in Anglo-Saxon Verse"

ALL investigation of old Germanic rhythm is now necessarily based on Sievers' classical work. His famous scheme of the five types has on the whole stood the test of time, and has proved itself an efficient instrument of classification and analysis. Nevertheless, there is perhaps no student to whom it has not at first sight appeared arbitrary and artificial. The object of the following paragraphs is to inquire whether it is not possible to state the facts of Germanic verse, at least as regards Old English, in a form which will be more helpful in suggesting the logical development of the scheme and the relationship of the various types. The fundaniental fact about Old English verse is that each half-line consists of two strongly stressed syllables (viz. arses) combined with a varying number of groups of one or more lighter syllables (these groups being known as theses). Starting with this fact, and considering for the moment only abstract possibilities, it will be seen that there are eight conceivable schemes for the half-line, which may be arranged as follows (writing for arsis and for thesis):