Alliterative Verse · English Literature

How are vowel sounds treated in Old English alliteration?

  1. Only identical vowels may alliterate with each other
  2. Vowels never alliterate in verse
  3. Any vowel may alliterate with any other vowel
  4. Vowels may only alliterate with consonant sounds
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Correct answer: Any vowel may alliterate with any other vowel

In Old English poetry, any vowel can alliterate with any other vowel regardless of the specific vowel sound. What matters is the presence of an initial vowel, not the identity of that vowel.

Difficulty: Medium Question 7 of 20

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