Question

read the passage from beowulf.
we are retainers
from hygelac’s band. beowulf is my name.
if your lord and master, the most renowned
son of halfdane, will hear me out
and graciously allow me to greet him in person,
i am ready and willing to report my errand.

how did seamus heaney incorporate old english
poetry elements in this modern translation?
○ his punctuation copies the half - lines used in old
english poetry.
○ his capitalization style mimics old english poetry
capitalization.
○ he uses character names that were popular in old
english poetry.
○ he solely uses unstressed syllables like poets of
old english poetry.

Explanation:

Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf preserves a key formal feature of Old English alliterative poetry: the structure of half-lines, which is reflected in his punctuation choices that echo the rhythmic and structural breaks of the original form. The other options are incorrect: Old English poetry did not use the same capitalization style as seen here, character names are not a poetic element specific to the translation's form, and Old English poetry relied on stressed syllables, not unstressed ones.

Answer:

His punctuation copies the half-lines used in Old English poetry.