This analysis critiques Bredehoft's claims on Ælfric's rhythm in Old English texts, suggesting he viewed rhythmical style as prose.
In 2016, Thomas A. Bredehoft wrote a reply to my criticism of his theory of Old English metre, according to which Ælfric's rhythmical compositions ought to be considered verse rather than prose. Here, I provide an answer to some of the points and some of the objections raised in his 2016 essay. I conclude that Bredehoft's criticism of traditional Old English metrical theory is unwarranted, and that Ælfric appears to have regarded his rhythmical style as a special manner of prose composition. The piece ends in a positive note, commending Bredehoft for his work on Laȝamon's Brut and Chronicle verse.
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Rafael J. Pascual (2025) studied this question.
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