Question

Read the passage from "A Shield."

A lonely warrior,I am wounded with iron,
Scarred with sword-points,sated with battle-play,
Weary of weapons.I have witnessed much fighting,
Much stubborn strife.

Which feature most helps indicate to the reader that this modern translation was originally an Old English poem?

alliteration
character
plot
rhyme

Answer 1

Alliteration.

Old English poetry relies on stressed alliterative sounds rather than end rhyme. The lines repeat initial sounds ("wounded with," "sword‑points, sated," "Weary of weapons," "much fighting, Much...") — a clear alliterative pattern.