This study elucidates four fundamental structural types of Old English similes of equality and examines their chronological usage patterns. The analysis establishes correlations between comparison markers employed in these similes and the peculiarities of their formation, elucidating the basic and most frequently used structural models, including such comparison markers as gelice, gelicra, gelicost, gelicnysse, swylce, and swa, along with their orthographical variants. The paper also sheds some light on the semantic features of these similes, exploring their intensified similarity and ability not to specify a tenor, shaped by their specific structural characteristics. Furthermore, the investigation studies the timing of specific comparison marker appearances in manuscripts. The research uncovers a positive correlation between early appearances of comparison markers in similes and heightened potential for figurativeness. These findings illuminate a gradual divergence between simile and metaphor over time, unveiling an increased cognitive complexity within figures of speech. This nuanced exploration contributes to a deeper understanding of the evolving nature of figurative expressions, offering valuable insights into the historical development of linguistic devices in Old English manuscripts and enhancing our comprehension of the intricate interplay between language structure and figurative meaning.
Mariana Oleniak (Fri,) studied this question.