An examination of the depiction and representation of performative acts in Old English texts.

Introduction: Realising the Intangible
1 Instruments of the Poet: Exploiting the Old English Lexis
2 Multiformity and the Orality of Associative, Architectonic Poetics
3 Providence and Pleasure: Performance as Symbol
4 Storytelling in Beowulf and Meta-storytelling in Andreas
5 Wisdom and Power: Philosophies of Performance
6 Theme Songs: An English Tradition of Performance?
7 The Lure of the Lyre: Interpretation, Reenactment, and the Corpus
Conclusion: 'Poetic Performance'