My gentle friends, if you will heed this call
and answer in good faith, my simple test,
I will provide a challenge for the best -
t'will test the full potential of you all!
So here's what I want:
Write me a poem in an older version of English. Give me good description, liberally sprinkled with metaphor and simile, and a definite structure - iambic if possible, but it's not necessary. Rhyme is not necessary, but rhythm is - if you want to do blank verse then that's fine by me.
If you want an example, I've written one: allpoetry.com/Poem/555638
Most likely trophies will go to people who have good language, structure and some amount of depth to the poem. Do what you can - prewrites are allowed, and trophies will be awarded based on the poem itself.
First place gets 500 points, second place gets 200, and third gets 150. Honourable mentions are also possible and will get some sort of points bonus.
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Help (if you need it) on 'thou'
The word 'thou' is now obsolete. When it was used, it formed the singular part of the word 'you'. In modern English, of course, 'you' is both singular and plural.
There are different forms of 'thou'. 'thou' itself is valid as the subject of the sentence: that is, when the person in question is performing the act of the verb. Generally, in my limited experience, the verb form ends in either -st or -t (I guess this comes from German). eg - 'thou canst', 'thou willst'. [that is, where, in the third person, we would use "he".]
'thee' is used as the object of the sentence - so when the act of the verb is performed on the person. So 'I wait with thee', 'my heart longs for thee', 'he bespoils thee'. [that is, where, in the third person, we would use "him"]
'thy' is the possesive form of thou. So 'the beat of thy heart', 'for thy pleasure'. [that is, where, in the third person, we would use "his"]
'thine' is also possessive, but used when the next word begins with a vowel, or when there is no following word: 'the stars in thine eyes', 'that is ever thine'.
Unfortuneately, we learn very little grammar in modern English these days, and the necessary distinction between different parts of the sentence is often a subconcious one.
and answer in good faith, my simple test,
I will provide a challenge for the best -
t'will test the full potential of you all!
So here's what I want:
Write me a poem in an older version of English. Give me good description, liberally sprinkled with metaphor and simile, and a definite structure - iambic if possible, but it's not necessary. Rhyme is not necessary, but rhythm is - if you want to do blank verse then that's fine by me.
If you want an example, I've written one: allpoetry.com/Poem/555638
Most likely trophies will go to people who have good language, structure and some amount of depth to the poem. Do what you can - prewrites are allowed, and trophies will be awarded based on the poem itself.
First place gets 500 points, second place gets 200, and third gets 150. Honourable mentions are also possible and will get some sort of points bonus.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Help (if you need it) on 'thou'
The word 'thou' is now obsolete. When it was used, it formed the singular part of the word 'you'. In modern English, of course, 'you' is both singular and plural.
There are different forms of 'thou'. 'thou' itself is valid as the subject of the sentence: that is, when the person in question is performing the act of the verb. Generally, in my limited experience, the verb form ends in either -st or -t (I guess this comes from German). eg - 'thou canst', 'thou willst'. [that is, where, in the third person, we would use "he".]
'thee' is used as the object of the sentence - so when the act of the verb is performed on the person. So 'I wait with thee', 'my heart longs for thee', 'he bespoils thee'. [that is, where, in the third person, we would use "him"]
'thy' is the possesive form of thou. So 'the beat of thy heart', 'for thy pleasure'. [that is, where, in the third person, we would use "his"]
'thine' is also possessive, but used when the next word begins with a vowel, or when there is no following word: 'the stars in thine eyes', 'that is ever thine'.
Unfortuneately, we learn very little grammar in modern English these days, and the necessary distinction between different parts of the sentence is often a subconcious one.
Contest is Over
- Contest was judged on June 17, 2004
- Rewards: Gold: 500
- Final notes: Thanks to everyone who entered - I had a very hard time judging! Well done to the winners.
Entries [9]
1 - 9 of 9
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Into the night, becomes the prey,
Into the light, as night becomes day.• Commented on by judge. -
To love, or not to love. That is my question.
Whether 'tis nobler to suffer the slings and arrows of love's follyby sans.paroles 38 lines, 4 comments, on May 13 4:11 PM 2004. In Love• Commented on by judge. -
The star that shines above the moon once took a glance at me.
It stared so brightly up in the sky, looking upon me intensely.• Commented on by judge. -
She of lighted candle flame
Danced in obscurity , solitary in frame• Commented on by judge. -
O son of mine, how oft wilt thou resist
the fair correction of thy mother dear,• Commented on by judge.
Silver trophy winner
Gold trophy winner
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Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Nice contest! I entered...though my poem really isn't packed with similes metaphors and all those figures of style. I tried
. Anyways really good idea, I was waiting for one of those!
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I would but I don't even speak NEW English, let alone old...
Eddy -
What you are looking for in your contest is middle English. Old English is the language of Chaucer in "Canterbury Tales." Middle English however is the movement of language of around the time of Shakespeare. Saying you want a poem in Old English might deter people from entering your contest because it is a most complex language that very few people can read accurately let alone write. I just thought I'd drop in here with that little bit of information. If you want to see an example of Old English just check out oldpoetry.com/poetry/10822 Sorry to be such a bother. I just don't want you to miss out on some good entries because people misunderstood what you were looking for. zee
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Thanks for that. I'll make the change...
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OK, I stole this from a website (www.wordorigins.org/histeng.htm#oldeng), but it needs to be done.
Old English (500- 1100 A.D.)
(This example circa 1000):
Fęder ure žuže eart on heofonum
si žin nama gehalgod tobecume žin rice gewurže žin willa on eoršan swa swa on heofonum
urne gedęghwamlican hlaf syle us to dęg
and forgyf us ure gyltas swa swa we forgyfaš urum gyltendum
and ne gelęd žu us on costnunge ac alys us of yfele sožlice.
Middle English (1100- 1500 A.D.)
(This example 1384):
Oure fadir žat art in heuenes halwid be ži name;
ži reume or kyngdom come to be. Be ži wille don in herže as it is dounin heuene.
yeue to us today oure eche dayes bred.
And foryeue to us oure dettis žat is oure synnys as we foryeuen to oure dettouris žat is to men žat han synned in us.
And lede us not into temptacion but delyuere us from euyl.
Early Modern English (1500- 1800)
(This example 1611- KJV):
Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen.
Giue us this day our daily bread.
And forgiue us our debts as we forgiue our debters.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliuer us from euill. Amen.
Just wanted to try to clear this all up. -
Point being, Chaucer, Middle English. Shakespeare, Early Modern English.
Edited on May 28, 7:28 p.m. because 'punctuative craziness'. -
Okay, hmm, I can not believe I entered this contest but I did o.o It was my first time writing a poem in Old English! Funny thing is....I wrote the poem I submitted just 25 minutes before I found this contest! hehe. I wrote it in some what old english because I am reading Romeo and Juliet and the book inspired me to try. I hope I used old english properly! =\ Farewell! -Rachel-
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Thanks to everyone for your informative comments about old English... I should point out that I am by no means an expert either on old languages in general, old English in particular, or even Shakespeare. I think that, however wrong my terminology may be, it's clear what I am looking for, which is a poem written in an older version of the language. I would prefer it if I could still understand it, though
Thanks for your entries so far - I've been quietly enjoying reading them! -
aye you are correct. I can't imagine what I was thinking when I was making my comment before. Glad to see you corrected my error. Kinda makes me laugh when I think about what my favorite English professor would have said about that particular slip. Since he spent 2 semesters drilling it into us. I do tend to confuse it the time periods... this is however why my chosen field of study is in American Literature. zee
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I edited mine, I wasn't sure about the way I wrote it so I made a copy and worked on it last night, I hope you like it . Good luck everyone!
VwwV
§~rAvE~§ -
Hey, edit away, SecretWispers! I actively encourage development of poems! Hence why I've made no comments on the poems I've received: I want to see them as they are when I judge, not how they were when first posted!
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Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is a first for me, to win with two poems in one contest, and I am very grateful to you for this grand experience!
I agree that Romhain's poem is excellent! -
yet again......*sigh*
Congrats Peaseeker and Romhain
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1 - 13 of 13
