Reflection on Caedmon's Hymn Meter

What is the meter used in Caedmon's Hymn?

Does it use a syllabic or accentual meter?

Answer:

Caedmon's Hymn uses accentual meter

Caedmon's Hymn, an Old English poem traditionally attributed to an Anglo-Saxon herdsman named Caedmon, employs the use of accentual meter. In accentual meter, also known as strong-stress meter, the primary meter depends on the number of stressed syllables in a line, regardless of the total syllable count. That is, it's the stresses or accents in a line that create the rhythm, not the specific number of syllables. This is common in Old English poetry, like Caedmon's Hymn.

By contrast, in a syllabic meter, the number of syllables in each line is precisely regulated, often lending a smooth and measured rhythm to the poem. This form is not seen in Caedmon's Hymn.

In a 150 word summary, Caedmon's Hymn is recognized for its use of the accentual meter common to Old English poetry, with the rhythm formed by the stressed syllables rather than the total number of syllables in each line.