Uncover the deep evolution of English verse structure, charting its path from the earliest Old English alliterative poems to sophisticated iambic pentameter in Middle English. This seminal study applies linguistic principles to explain how poetic forms emerge, transform, and decline. A vital resource for academics, researchers, and students of Medieval English literature and poetry, this book provides detailed analysis of seminal works like Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, offering profound insights into literary history and meter.