poem battle old english poem preserved historical record events kept late ninth mid twelfth century poem records battle fought english army combined army scots battle resulted english victory celebrated poem style language like traditional old english battle poetry poem notable traditional elements praised authentic tone remarkable fiercely tone documents development unified england ruled historical background battle culmination conflict king northern kings defeated york scottish king recognised threat posed position began alliances neighbouring kingdoms attempt pre strike married daughter mac called poem claim throne expelled father invading army combined scots english joined brother later king ensuing battle combined forces won decisive victory poem poem preserved surviving manuscripts verse lines written poetry following common practice line long poem written saxon regular west saxon dialect surviving old english poetry copied referred celebrating victory text begins praising king brother victory mentions fall scots battle lasted entire day battlefield flowed dark blood norse weary killed west pursued people killing swords stint hard young kings killed battle seven mac flees boat constantine flees north leaving son weapons field slaughter mere boy battle poem concludes comparing battle fought earlier stages english history men island slain sword edge books aged confirm sailed east sought wide seas welsh eager glory overran land style tone style poem described sparse use language combined ample specific detail according poem comes late period gives evidence continuing attraction warrior tradition clear convincing testimony old english battle epic tradition authentic ring sounds years laid rest compares passages concerning boarding ships remarks similar imagery according language resembles old english genesis poem detractors early critic study poems said longest best written number ghost older poem treated historical text appropriate genre argued poet subjects praise heroes glory victory realised repeated criticism greatly add knowledge battle falls ground object writing epic ballad writing agrees notes praise poems contemporary men completely missing anglo saxon period cluster including compared old english poem commemorates battle english half century later notable nationalist overtones celebrates christian non christian values poem seen celebrating logical progression development england unified nation ruled battle reports sense crisis nation involved respect closer anglo saxon poem taking found chronicle year celebrating king recapture poet claims notes ironic view primarily historic concerns fact successful poet traditional poetic style peter argues opposed relies patriotic poem treat personal responsibility expansive view history sees battle line chronicle view contemporary history especially history history britain traditional according poem builds sense ideological identity english given accompanying combatants usual battle found old english poems wolf raven eagle include fourth animal war hawk line editors scholars poem suggested war hawk actually earn coated white tailed eagle lines editions adaptations translations poem included accepted standard edition poem edition edited published includes alternative translations poem essays battle poem twelfth century chronicler likely account treatment des english poet alfred lord translated modernized poem publishing ballads poems son published prose translation poem contrast translations poetry praised faithful sensitive recreation source argentine writer wrote short poem translation published new_yorker lecture harvard_university praised translation stating sounds saxon original translation included anthology poems prose
Battle of Brunanburh (poem)