Old English Poets and Poetry vs. Modern-day Rappers

Where do you see examples of Old English language and Anglo-Saxon culture today? Why do you think those vestiges survive?

Disclaimer: I am anything but a rap expert

Old English poetry makes use of a lot of alliteration.

Examples from Beowulf include "Dragging the dead men home to his den" and "Showed sea-cliffs shining."

Modern-day rappers, such as Eminem, use alliteration in most of their songs because it tends to aid rhyme.

For example, lyrics from Eminem's song "3AM" include a good bit of surprisingly elaborate alliteration:

"I’m just a hooligan who’s used to usin' hallucinogens

Causin' illusions again

Brain contusions again

Cutting and bruisin' the skin

Razors, scissors and pins

Jesus, when does it end?"

I think alliteration has survived because it is one of the most pleasing literary devices to both read and hear.

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As we learned in class, to become king, you have to boast about yourself. I feel like Old English poets definitely had to do some boasting, since their medium of poetry was oral before anything else. A poet or orator would have needed to convince prospective listeners of his abilities and needed to remind competitors that he was the best, the king of poetry.

Today, rappers have no problem talking about themselves, especially in their songs. 

For instance, when Kanye West isn't busy naming children after intermediate directions, he is apparently recording songs with titles like "I Am a God."

I don't think boasting will ever stop. We're humans, and we love talking about ourselves.