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<b>Foreword to the Eighth Edition</b> vi <p><b>Map of Anglo-Saxon England</b> vii</p> <p><b>Abbreviations and Symbols</b> xv</p> <p><b>How to Use this Guide</b> 1</p> <p><b>PART ONE.</b></p> <p>1 <b>Preliminary Remarks on the Language (§§1–4)</b> 11</p> <p>2 <b>Orthography and Pronunciation (§§5–9)</b> 13</p> <p>i Orthography (§5) 13</p> <p>ii Stress (§6) 13</p> <p>iii Vowels (§7) 14</p> <p>iv Diphthongs (§8) 14</p> <p>v Consonants (§9) 15</p> <p>3 <b>Inflexions (§§10–135)</b> 17</p> <p>Introduction (§§10–14) 17</p> <p>i Pronouns (§§15–21) 18</p> <p>ii Nouns and Sound-Changes Relevant to Them (§§22–62) 20</p> <p>Weak Nouns (§§22–25) 20</p> <p>Some Technical Terms (§§26–32) 20</p> <p>Strong Nouns like st<i>a</i>n (masc.) and scip (neut.) (§§33–44) 22</p> <p>Masculine and Neuter Nouns in -e (§§45–46) 26</p> <p>Strong Feminine Nouns (§§47–51) 27</p> <p>i-Mutation (§§52–57) 28</p> <p>Nouns Affected by i-Mutation (§§58–60) 29</p> <p>u-Nouns (§§61–62) 30</p> <p>iii Adjectives (§§63–76) 31</p> <p>Introduction (§§63–64) 31</p> <p>Weak Declension (§65) 31</p> <p>Strong Declension (§§66–67) 31</p> <p>Stem Changes in Adjectives (§§68–73) 32</p> <p>Comparison of Adjectives (§§74–76) 33</p> <p>iv Observations on Noun, Adjective, and Pronoun</p> <p>Declensions (§§77–81) 34</p> <p>v Numerals (§§82–86) 34</p> <p>vi Strong Verbs and Sound-Changes Relevant to</p> <p>Them (§§87–114) 35</p> <p>Introduction (§§87–89) 35</p> <p>Principal Parts of the Strong Verbs (§§90–95) 36</p> <p>Breaking (§§96–99) 38</p> <p>Influence of Initial <i>i</i>, sc, <i>h</i> (§100) 39</p> <p>Influence of Nasals (§101) 40</p> <p>Summary of the Strong Verbs of Class III (§102) 40</p> <p>The Effects of Sound-Changes on Other Strong Verbs (§103) 40</p> <p>Strong Verbs of Class VII (§104) 41</p> <p>Grimm’s Law and Verner’s Law (§§105–109) 41</p> <p>Conjugation of the Strong Verb (§§110–114) 43</p> <p>vii Weak Verbs and Sound-Changes Relevant to</p> <p>Them (§§115–126) 46</p> <p>Introduction (§115) 46</p> <p>Class 1 (§§116–123) 46</p> <p>Class 2 (§§124–125) 49</p> <p>Class 3 (§126) 50</p> <p>viii Anomalous Verbs (§§127–130) 51</p> <p>B<i>b</i>on (§127) 51</p> <p>D<i>d</i>n and g<i>a</i>n (§128) 51</p> <p>Willan (§129) 52</p> <p>Preterite-Present Verbs (§130) 52</p> <p>ix Is a Verb Strong or Weak? To which Class does it Belong? (§§131–134) 53</p> <p>x Adverbs (§135) 54</p> <p>Formation (§135) 54</p> <p>Comparison (§135) 54</p> <p>4 <b>Word Formation (§§136–138)</b> 55</p> <p>Introduction (§136) 55</p> <p>i Compounding (§137) 56</p> <p>ii The Addition of Affixes (§138) 57</p> <p>Prefixes (§138) 58</p> <p>Suffixes (§138) 59</p> <p>5 <b>Syntax (§§139–214)</b> 61</p> <p>Introduction (§§139–142) 61</p> <p>i Word-Order (§§143–147) 63</p> <p>ii Sentence Structure (§§148–153) 66</p> <p>Recapitulation and Anticipation (§148) 66</p> <p>The Splitting of Heavy Groups (§149) 67</p> <p>Correlation (§§150–153) 68</p> <p>iii Noun Clauses (§§154–161) 70</p> <p>Introduction (§154) 70</p> <p>Dependent Statements and Desires (§§155–156) 70</p> <p>Dependent Questions (§§157–160) 72</p> <p>The Accusative and Infinitive (§161) 75</p> <p>iv Adjective Clauses (§§162–165) 75</p> <p>Definite Adjective Clauses (§§162–163) 75</p> <p>Indefinite Adjective Clauses (§164) 79</p> <p>Mood (§165) 80</p> <p>v Adverb Clauses (§§166–181) 81</p> <p>Introduction (§§166–167) 81</p> <p>Non-Prepositional Conjunctions (§168) 83</p> <p>Prepositional Conjunctions (§§169–171) 83</p> <p>An Exercise in Analysis (§172) 86</p> <p>Clauses of Place (§173) 87</p> <p>Clauses of Time (§174) 88</p> <p>Clauses of Purpose and Result (§175) 89</p> <p>Causal Clauses (§176) 89</p> <p>Clauses of Comparison (§177) 89</p> <p>Clauses of Concession (§178) 90</p> <p>Clauses of Condition (§179) 91</p> <p>Adverb Clauses Expressing Other Relationships (§180) 92</p> <p>Other Ways of Expressing Adverbial Relationships (§181) 93</p> <p>vi Parataxis (§§182–186) 93</p> <p>Introduction (§§182–183) 93</p> <p>List of Conjunctions and Adverbs Commonly</p> <p>Used (§184) 94</p> <p>Parataxis without Conjunctions (§185) 96</p> <p>Some Special Idioms (§186) 96</p> <p>vii Concord (§187) 97</p> <p>1. Nouns, Pronouns and their Modifiers (§187) 97</p> <p>2. Pronouns and their Antecedents (§187) 97</p> <p>3. Subject and Verb (§187) 98</p> <p>viii The Uses of the Cases (§§188–192) 98</p> <p>Nominative (§188) 98</p> <p>Accusative (§189) 99</p> <p>Genitive (§190) 99</p> <p>Dative (§191) 99</p> <p>Instrumental (§192) 100</p> <p>ix Articles, Pronouns, and Numerals (§§193–194) 100</p> <p>Articles and Pronouns (§193) 100</p> <p>Numerals (§194) 101</p> <p>x Verbs (§§195–212) 101</p> <p>The Uses of the Present and Preterite Tenses (§§195–198) 101</p> <p>The Resolved Tenses (§§199–204) 103</p> <p>Introduction (§199) 103</p> <p>The Verb 'to have' as an Auxiliary (§200) 103</p> <p>The Verb 'to be' as an Auxiliary of Tense (§201) 104</p> <p>The Passive (§§202–203) 104</p> <p>Other Uses of the Present and Past Participles (§204) 105</p> <p>The Uses of the Infinitives (§205) 105</p> <p>The 'Modal' Auxiliaries (§§206–211) 106</p> <p>Introduction (§206) 106</p> <p>Magan (§207) 107</p> <p>*M<i>d</i>tan (§208) 107</p> <p>Cunnan (§209) 108</p> <p>*Sculan (§210) 108</p> <p>Willan (§211) 108</p> <p>Impersonal Verbs (§212) 109</p> <p>xi Prepositions (§§213–214) 109</p> <p>List of Prepositions (§214) 110</p> <p>6 <b>An Introduction to Anglo-Saxon Studies (§§215–251)</b> 111</p> <p>i Some Significant Dates (§§215–216) 111</p> <p>ii History (§§217–218) 111</p> <p>iii Archaeology (§§219–230) 117</p> <p>Introduction (§219) 117</p> <p>List of Abbreviated Titles (§220) 118</p> <p>Weapons and Warfare (§221) 120</p> <p>Life and Dress (§222) 120</p> <p>Architecture and Buildings (§§223–224) 121</p> <p>Sculpture and Carving (§225) 122</p> <p>Jewellery and Metalwork (§226) 123</p> <p>Embroidery (§227) 123</p> <p>Coins (§228) 124</p> <p>Manuscripts and Runic Inscriptions (§229) 124</p> <p>The Sutton Hoo Ship-Burial (§230) 124</p> <p>iv Language (§§231–235) 125</p> <p>Changes in English (§231) 125</p> <p>The Danish Invasions (§232) 126</p> <p>The Norman Conquest (§233) 127</p> <p>Vocabulary (§234) 127</p> <p>Some Questions (§235) 128</p> <p>v Literature (§§236–251) 128</p> <p>Introduction (§§236–246) 128</p> <p>Poetry (§§247–249) 134</p> <p>Prose (§§250–251) 135</p> <p>7 <b>Select Bibliography (§§252–269)</b> 137</p> <p>General (§252) 137</p> <p>Chapter 1 Preliminary Remarks on the Language (§253) 137</p> <p>Chapter 2 Orthography and Pronunciation (§254) 138</p> <p>Chapter 3 Inflexions (§254) 138</p> <p>Chapter 4 Word Formation (§255) 138</p> <p>Chapter 5 Syntax (§256) 138</p> <p>Chapter 6 Introduction to Anglo-Saxon Studies (§§257–269) 139</p> <p>History (§257) 139</p> <p>Archaeology (§258) 139</p> <p>Language (§§259–261) 140</p> <p>History of English Prose (§259) 140</p> <p>Vocabulary (§§260–261) 140</p> <p>Word Formation 140</p> <p>Changes of Meaning (§260) 140</p> <p>Borrowings (§261) 140</p> <p>Literature (§§262–269) 141</p> <p>Topics Raised in §§236–246 (§262) 141</p> <p>General Criticism (§263) 141</p> <p>Poetry Texts (§264) 141</p> <p>Appreciation of the Poetry (§265) 143</p> <p>The Use of Oral Formulae (§266) 143</p> <p>Metre (§267) 143</p> <p>Prose Texts (§268) 144</p> <p>Sources (§269) 144</p> <p><b>Appendix A</b> Strong Verbs 146</p> <p><b>Appendix B</b> Some Effects of i-Mutation 154</p> <p><b>Appendix C</b> Metre 156</p> <p><b>Appendix D</b> List of Linguistic Terms Used in this Book 163</p> <p><b>Appendix E</b> The Moods of Old English 174</p> <p><b>Appendix F</b> Grimm's and Verner’s Laws 175</p> <p><b>PART TWO: PROSE AND VERSE TEXTS.</b></p> <p>1 Practice Sentences 179</p> <p>2 Two Old Testament Pieces 181</p> <p>The Fall of Man 182</p> <p>Abraham and Isaac 186</p> <p>3 A Colloquy on the Occupations 190</p> <p>4 Two Characteristic Prose Works by Ælfric 198</p> <p>Preface to Genesis 198</p> <p>St. Edmund, King and Martyr 203</p> <p>5 Alfred the Great’s Preface to his Translation of Gregory's Pastoral Care 212</p> <p>6 Cynewulf and Cyneheard 216</p> <p>7 Selections from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 220</p> <p>8 Bede's Account of the Conversion of King Edwin 224</p> <p>9 Bede's Account of the Poet Cædmon 228</p> <p>10 The Goths and Boethius: Prose and Verse from the Introduction to King Alfred's Boethius Translation 234</p> <p>11 (a)–(p) Riddles 239</p> <p>12 The Battle of Maldon 249</p> <p>13 The Ruin 261</p> <p>14 The Dream of the Rood 264</p> <p>15 The Wife’s Lament 272</p> <p>16 The Wanderer 276</p> <p>17 The Seafarer 284</p> <p>18 Four excerpts from Beowulf 291</p> <p>Prologue 294</p> <p>(a) Beowulf’s Fight with Grendel 296</p> <p>(b) Beowulf Consoles Hrothgar for Æschere's Death 303</p> <p>(c) The Lament of the Last Survivor 306</p> <p>(d) Beowulf’s Funeral 307</p> <p>19 Wulf and Eadwacer 309</p> <p>20 Judith 312</p> <p>21 Cotton Gnomes or Maxims 325</p> <p>22 Sermo Lupi ad Anglos 329</p> <p><b>Glossary</b> 337</p> <p><b>Indexes to Part One</b> 418</p> <p>Index of Subjects 418</p> <p>Index of Words 422</p>

<b>Fred C. Robinson</b> is  Douglas Tracy Smith Professor Emeritus at Yale University. He is a Fellow and past President of the Medieval Academy of America, and has received many honors. He has written extensively on Beowulf, Old English, and English and American literature and language of all periods.<br />  <br /> <b>Bruce Mitchell</b> is late Fellow Emeritus of St. Edmund Hall, University of Oxford.

<i>A Guide to Old English</i> is a detailed but accessible introduction to the Old English language for beginners. The language section offers a simple yet comprehensive language reference, including sections on orthography and pronunciation, inflexions, word formation, and syntax. The guide then provides an anthology of the best Old English literary works, with explanatory notes and a detailed glossary, which has been arranged carefully from the simplest texts to the more challenging, to facilitate students' language development. <p>Whilst retaining many of the elements of previous editions, which have made it so attractive to teachers and students of Old English for over 50 years, the eighth edition of the <i>Guide</i> has been updated in response to feedback from users to include the following additions:</p> <ul> <li>facsimile of the manuscript page from the beginning of <i>Beowulf</i></li> <li>the first 25 lines of <i>Beowulf</i>, with an exceptionally detailed set of annotations aimed at preparing the student for a thorough study of the poem</li> <li>an explanation of Grimm's and Verner's Laws</li> <li>text revisions throughout to make the <i>Guide</i> as accessible as possible for undergraduate readers</li> </ul> <p>The book also offers a discussion of Anglo-Saxon literature, history, and culture, and a bibliography directing readers to useful publications on the subject.</p> <p>Altogether, this is a comprehensive introduction to Old English, combining simple, clear philology with the best literary works to provide a compelling and accessible beginners' guide.</p>

"This is still the most comprehensive introduction to Old English available, providing detailed analysis of the language, literature, history, and culture of the Anglo-Saxons. This new edition expands on the changes in languages, and provides additional material on Beowulf."<br /> —<b>Stuart Lee</b>, Oxford University <p>"Mitchell and Robinson's <i>A Guide to Old English</i>, now available in its eighth edition, is an invaluable resource for teaching and delighting students of Old English. It is unsurpassed in its combination of a meticulously scholarly approach with a wide-ranging selection of Old English texts. The authors' enthusiasm for the subject is evident on every page and carries the reader with it."<br /> —<b>Susan Irvine</b>, University College London</p>

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