A Guide to Old English 5th Edition

by Bruce Mitchell (Author), Fred C. Robinson (Author)

9 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0631166573

ISBN-10: 0631166572

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A Guide to Old English
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A Guide to Old English is now the standard and most popular introduction to Old English language and literature. The fifth edition has been revised and corrected to take into account suggestions from teachers and students. The two most important new features are a substantial introduction to Old English metre (Appendix C of Part One) and the addition of &AEliglfric's account of Edmund King and Martyr to the prose texts of Part Two.

Key features of Part One are the fact that sound changes are not treated as an abstract system divorced from the texts, but are discussed when they become relevant to an understanding of the apparent irregularities in inflexion; the authoritative section on syntax; and the introduction to Anglo-Saxon studies, which discusses language, literature, history, archaeology, and ways of life. In Part Two the prose texts selected are those traditionally chosen by teachers precisely because they offer the best introduction to the literature and culture of the period. The verse texts, which with the exception of four extracts from Beowulf are all complete, show something of the range that Old English poetry offers in mood, intensity of feeling, humour, and natural observation. The texts are accompanied by full explanatory notes at the foot of the page and a detailed glossary.

Although most readers of A Guide to Old English will be undergraduate and graduate students, the book has been written so that it can be used by those working on their own who wish simply to gain a greater understanding and enjoyment of the language and literature of the Anglo-Saxons.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Although most readers of A Guide to Old English will be undergraduate and graduate students, the book has been written so that it can be used by those working on their own who wish simply to gain a greater understanding and enjoyment of the language and literature of the Anglo-Saxons.

About the Author

Bruce Mitchell is Fellow Emeritus of St. Edmund Hall, Oxford.

Fred C. Robinson is Douglas Tracy Smith Professor of English at Yale University.

Product details

Publisher : Wiley-Blackwell; 5th edition (April 15, 1992)
Language : English
Paperback : 400 pages
ISBN-10 : 0631166572
ISBN-13 : 978-0631166573
Item Weight : 1.49 pounds
Dimensions : 1.25 x 6 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #4,607,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,896 in English Literature
- #10,267 in British & Irish Literary Criticism (Books)
- #33,679 in British & Irish Literature & Fiction

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9 ratings

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antistat

The perfect guide

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2003

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This book is brilliantly executed though out. It makes learning Old English wonderful, challenging fun. By far the best book of it's kind available.

7 people found this helpful

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Peter S. Roland

Exceptionallly useful for self-study

Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 1999

An excellent beginning grammer and reader. It is especially useful for self study. The explanation of grammatical points is clear, detailed and presumes no prior information. The "reader" is graded--i.e the easy stuff comes first. The glossary is absolutely invaluable because it lists every use of the word in the readings, identified by inflectional ending. If you look up a word, and it is used in the reading, that use will be specifically referrred to in the glossary (identified by line number in the work). Moreover, the specific form of the word used in that citing will be identified: if a noun, by case and number;if a verb by tense, mood and person. This means that if you are trying to teach yourself, you can attempt to parse a reading and then check your work using the glossary. The notes to the readings clarify exceptions, varient usages and dialectical anomalies. A Super Book!

102 people found this helpful

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K. Ostertag

Latin isn't the only language to improve your vocabulary!

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2000

Any student of English or German will find Old English a fascinating-- and familiar!-- language. (And don't forget FUN-- where else could you learn jaw-breakers like "neorxenawanges"? No, I'm not going to tell you what it means. Buy the book.)
The revised 4th edition of this work was my textbook through two semesters of Old English in college, and its ragged and well-thumbed condition is a testament to how much I loved it. Mitchell and Robinson offer a clear and well-balanced approach to the language, literature, and culture of Anglo-Saxon Britain. The authors include both prose and poetry in their broad sampling of literary styles, and their short-but-sweet introductions to each reading help to place the text in both lingustic and historical context. The readings themselves are both interesting (for example, anyone who thinks Anglo-Saxons had no sense of humor should try the Riddles) and short enough for a beginner to handle, and increase in difficulty as one proceeds through the book. The glossary provides references back to the texts, notes variations, and (most helpful!) provides "see" references for variant forms, including inflections. Best of all, they incorporate a pronunciation guide. Although you may feel silly doing it at first, Old English is best read aloud (it started that way, after all!), the better to hear its modern cognates.
Having since surveyed several other Old English "beginning" readers, I can honestly say this work is head and shoulders above everything else I've found. This is an excellent text for beginning students, I highly recommend it.

76 people found this helpful

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Carlos Hortuvia Pino

An easy way to learn Old English.

Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2001

Even for me, being spanish my mother tongue, this book has opened a way plenty of fruits. However, It wasn't that difficult because I speak German as second language: It's really amazing when you discover how related both languages once were.

6 people found this helpful

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Jelly Roll

Old English

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 21, 2016

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Intended for those with some background in linguistics. Well written with many examples. Heavy on morphology rather than history.

2 people found this helpful

Giulia donati

super ottimo

Reviewed in Italy on December 18, 2013

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libro che in commercio costa sulle 24 euro,pagato 4 euro. era usato ma è arrivato completamente illeso come nuovo!! fantastici

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boz

Disappointed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2015

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Diasappointed with the condition of the book: significant highlighting and annotations and spine broken. Described as good but fair would have been more accurate and a little generous. But at a penny and intended for occasional reference, it will do the job, hence two stars rather than one.

One person found this helpful

Mrs R

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2014

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Needed for a study course.

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A Guide to Old English 5th Edition

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Editorial Reviews

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