Mjǫðr Óðins

Reconstructing Germanic verse formulae

by C Ryan Moniz

original research· spring 2013 - harvest 2021
updated & published· spring 2022

The articles shared below are documentation that pair with a more in-depth analysis presented in my graduate thesis. The research for this thesis began in spring 2013, and was finally compiled in harvest 2021. It is also growing — more data is being added to it as my independent research continues.

These articles catalogue cognate alliterative verse formulae which appear in multiple old Germanic languages including Old Norse, Old English, Old Saxon, and Old High German, with a focus on formulae present in early mythological, heroic, legendary, and elegiac Germanic alliterative poetry.

“Verse-internal” formulae are formulaic halflines, which make up an entire or the majority of a metrical halfline in Germanic alliterative verse. “Verse-spanning” formulae are collocations or repeating thematic connections between specific cognates within Germanic alliterative verse.

For an explanation of the methodology and more background on this research, you can view my thesis theater presentation.

Verse-internal formulae

West Germanic verse-internal formulae

Temporal halflines · PWG *langā hwīlā & *uʀlaghwīlu
His son spoke · PWG *[X_NOM] maþlōdē [Y_GEN] sunu/barn
The sea’s stream · PWG *gebanas straum

With words & works · *wurdą ⁊ wurką
Herdsman of the people · *[X_GEN] hirdijaz
Each among men · *[X_GEN.PL] gahwaz
Children of men · *[X_GEN.PL] barnō/suniwiz
The sword’s edge · *mēkijas agjō

Verse-spanning formulae

The life of the ettin · *ferhwą… etunas
Rime-cold deprivation · *hrīmakaldaz
Of gods & elves · *ansiwǫ̂… albijǫ̂
Battle-gear clustering · *brunjǭ… helmaz

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