SKALDIC TECHNIQUE IN BRUNANBURH

Abstract

to established wisdom, Scandinavian settlements in England left little imprint on language of Anglo-Saxon literature even though and Norse were long spoken side by side. As H. R. Loyn puts it, Traditional literary Anglo-Saxon, affected by conservatism of a mature written convention, shows (except in legal field) comparatively little sign of this long linguistic symbiosis (118). Although sound in main, this negative judgment may have to be modified in light of recent studies. Fred C. Robinson has pointed out a cluster of Scandinavian locutions in Battle ofMaldon that appear to add up to the first literary use of dialect in English (26). Roberta Frank, in a 1981 article as well as in her essay in present volume, has called attention to apparent skaldic influence on Beowulf and a striking skaldic configuration in Exodus, among other possible points of Norse influence on poetry. Joseph Harris has called attention to some skaldic passages that throw light on a noted crux in verses 12b13a of Battle of Brunanburh.1 Following Harris in particular, I wish to suggest that Battle of Brunanburh is best read within context of an emerging tenth-century Anglo-Norse poetics. Given haphazard nature of our literary records from period before Conquest, it is not clear that this poetics was ever much more than an inviting road not taken. Still, existence of Brunanburh suggests that at least one Anglo-Saxon poet developed his language, verse technique, and authorial voice with some knowledge of Old Norse and some appreciation for art of skalds. Though often grouped with Maldon, Brunanburh is clearly a poem of a different order. Unlike neighboring prose entries in Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, poem is not a summary of a military campaign but rather a panegyric composed on occasion of great triumph of 937. More precisely, author celebrates victory that confirmed Athelstan's control of a combined Anglo-Danish kingdom, including Mercia and York, in face of an invasion by an allied force consisting of armies of Olaf Guthfrithson of Dublin, Constantine II of Scotland, and (as we know from other sources) Owen of Strathclyde. The invaders' local allies doubtless included Hiberno-Norse settlers who during preceding decades had established themselves from Wirral peninsula

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