Metre

Question 1

first verse/line

Answer 1

on-verse, a-line; has one or two lifts

Question 2

second verse/line

Answer 2

off-verse, b-line; first lift of the b-line will alliterate with the one or two lifts from the a-line, but may not alliterate with the other possible lifts within itself

Question 3

x

Answer 3

unstressed syllable, a ‘drop’

Question 4

/

Answer 4

a ‘lift’ or stress

Question 5

\

Answer 5

a ‘falling stress’, or half-lift

Question 6

resolved lift

Answer 6

two short syllables which are taken together to form a lift

Question 7

A-type

Answer 7

(basic form: lift, drop, lift, drop) the drop may consist of more than one syllable, so it can scan like this:
/ x x / x x
or, at the above suggests,
/ x / x
Sometimes, anacrusis will be present in the on-verse of the A-type: in this, an extra syllable may precede the first lift (see Beowulf I. 25a for an example)

Question 8

B-type

Answer 8

(basic form: drop, lift, drop, lift)

First drop may have as many as five syllables, but the second may have no more than 2

Question 9

C-type

Answer 9

(basic form: drop, lift, lift, drop) first drop may have 5 syllables, but the second may have no more than 1. The second lift is often a short syllable

Question 10

D-type

Answer 10

(basic form: lift, lift, half-lift, drop; lift, lift, drop, half-lift)

Question 11

E-type

Answer 11

(basic form: lift, half-lift, drop, lift)