My recent foray into OE recitations:
"HWÆT, WĒ GĀR-DEna in gēardagumþēodcyninga þrym gefrūnon,
hū ðā æþelingas ellen fremedon!
Oft Scyld Scēfing sceaþena þrēatum,
monegum mǣgþum meodosetla oftēah,
egsode eorlas, syððan ǣrest wearð
fēasceaft funden; hē þæs frōfre gebād,
wēox under wolcnum weorðmyndum þāh,
oð þæt him ǣghwylc ymbsittendra
ofer hronrāde hȳran scolde,
gomban gyldan; þæt wæs gōd cyning!"
My students too have shown a great deal of interest in the uncanny strangeness and familiarity of their own ancient tongue. I've been sure to stress the importance of picturing oneself in a torch-lit mead hall while pronouncing this in a booming, sonorous voice. Round out those vowels, lads!
And lasses, of course!
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