AS Poetry Guide AS Poetry Background Poetry Contest A.S. Samples

Anglo Saxon Poetry Contest Judging Rubric

 

Complexity of attempt

Style and creativity

Alliteration, meter, and stress

Kennings and variations

Subject matter

4 points

The poet has attempted a work that is highly complex in all areas; the poem is an ambitious endeavor, well executed

The poem presents an exciting story or meaningful eulogy, one that is evocative, clever, and full of meaning, highly enjoyable to read or hear

The poet uses alliteration, meter, and stress accurately and skillfully throughout the poem.

The poem includes creative kennings which are witty, clever, and have double meanings. Variations occur frequently.

Subject matter clearly relates to Anglo-Saxon period historical topics and includes “classic” Anglo-Saxon references and themes

3 points

The poet has attempted a somewhat challenging work that is reasonably complex; the endeavor is fairly well realized

The poem presents a decently plotted story or thoughtful eulogy, one that has some depth and is stirring to read or hear.

The poet uses alliteration, meter, and stress throughout the poem, though there may be a minor error or two.

The poem includes some well-crafted kennings which are evocative. Variations occur several times in the poem.

Subject matter relates to Anglo-Saxon period historical topics or includes “classic” Anglo-Saxon references

2 points

The poet has attempted a work of average complexity and presented a fair, but somewhat unmemorable endeavor

The poem presents a fragmented plot or eulogy that seems incomplete. It has some meaning and depth.

The poet uses alliteration, meter, and stress throughout the poem, though there are several minor errors.

The poem includes a few attempts at kennings, with some success at creativity. At least a couple of variations occur in the poem.

Subject matter has some relation to Anglo-Saxon period historical topics, but does not include “classic” Anglo-Saxon references

1 points

The poet has made only minimal effort to create a complex, rich piece.

The poem presents a fragmented plot or eulogy that is somehow incomplete. It has little, if any, meaning and depth.

The poet uses alliteration, meter, and stress in most of the poem, though not throughout, and there are major errors.

The poem includes only one or two kennings. Few if any variations occur.

The subject matter is appropriate Anglo-Saxon poem material only in the loosest sense.

0 points

The poet has not made any attempt at creating a complex, ambitious poem

The poet has made no attempt to have a plot. There is no meaning and depth in this poetry.

The poet makes no effort at using proper alliteration, meter, and stress in the poem.

The poem has no kennings or variations.

The poem has nothing whatsoever to do with any theme one would expect from Anglo-Saxon poetry

 

Definitions
Complexity: This category addresses the “ambition” of the poet. Was he or she writing 10 half lines, or triple that number? How high did the poet set the bar for himself/herself in terms of the overall effect of the piece—and how close to the bar did the poet come?
Style and creativity: Style is admittedly subjective; it basically encompasses how well the entire piece came together and the impact it had on readers/listeners. Style might be “the big picture.” Creativity involves plot (or information, depending on the poem) and the arrangement of words in a manner to convey the parts of the plot or the pieces of information in an exciting and meaningful way.
Alliteration, meter and stress: Alliteration, meter, and stress are highly refined in Anglo-Saxon poetry. The style guide (http://www.bmarch.atfreeweb.com/as_poetry_guide.htm) offers an overview for poets. 
Kennings and variations: A kenning is a poetic compound that is interesting to the reader/listener and also provokes a strong image. In short, a kenning replaces more bland nouns with evocative impressions. Kennings also tend to be clever, mysterious, deliberately ambiguous, and possessing a sort of double meaning. A variation is a repetition of a noun previously used in the sentence, except with a different set of words, often descriptive, in place of the noun.
Subject matter: Some of the most common themes or subjects mentioned in Anglo-Saxon poetry include the following; even if not particularly appropriate to the poem’s main story, these words or ideas will often appear in the poetry: Battle, war, warriors; seas; storms; ravens; eagles; wolves; death, dying; nobles, rulers; weapons and armor. The poetry should ideally discuss a person, place, thing, or event, mythological or historical, in a manner the Anglo-Saxon culture would have understood and appreciated.
Contact Ld. Dyfn for questions or comments.