The purpose of this book is to describe the principal features of the metrical grammar of the Beowulf-poet. It is not a new theory of metre or of rhythm. I have my views on these matters, but, since all theories of metre and rhythm must necessarily be grounded in the fullest possible understanding of the principles of the metrical grammar, I have tried to keep them in the background in the hope of making this description as useful as possible to theorists of whatever persuasion. Moreover, I want to emphasize that this is not a description of the common metrical grammar exhibited by all the Anglo-Saxon poets, although many principles of the Beowulf-poet's grammar can surely be generalized.

The presentation of the metrical grammar is unavoidably detailed and argumentative. I have felt obliged to offer the evidence on which I base my conclusions, and this often consists of the listing of half-lines and the systematic review of real or apparent exceptions to the generalizations or ‘rules’ which I have proposed. This procedure, though necessary, may seem tedious. Therefore I have tried to make each chapter as self-contained as possible, so that the reader who is interested in a particular feature of the metrical grammar can move directly to the discussion which he or she finds relevant. When the argument depends upon a principle developed in an earlier chapter, I give a cross reference.