C D
295“OCEAN TO CYNTHIA, THE” See
RALEIGH, SIR WALTER.
OCTAVE (OCTET) In English, an octave (also
called an octet) consists of eight lines of IAMBIC PENTAM-
ETER (fi ve syllables), though in Italian, it is comprised
of hendecasyllables (11 syllable). ITALIAN (PETRARCHAN)
SONNETs, both in English and Italian, utilize an octave
as the initial part of the poem, which is then followed
by a SESTET. Traditionally, the octave concludes one
idea, paving the way for another, although ENGLISH
SONNETS tend to alter this tradition radically.
See also SONNET.
“ODE, AN” See CYNTHIA, WITH CERTAIN SONNETS.
OFERMOD In The BATTLE OF MALDON, BYRTHNOTH
makes a tactical error allowing the Vikings to cross on
to the mainland: “Þa se eorl ongan for his ofermode /
alyfan landes to fela laþere þeode” (“Then the lord
began, on account of his ofermod, to grant too much
territory to the hateful people,” ll. 89–90). The Old
English noun/adjective ofermod (ofer [excessive] + mod
[mental quality, negatively, arrogance]) translates into
the Latin term supurbia (pride).
The poem was long considered an example of heroic
praise poetry, and that the poet should take a critical
stance to the hero Brythnoth was an irritation to many
readers. In the 1960s, scholars claimed that ofermod
could have a positive meaning such as “high-spirited-
ness” or “exceeding courage”; however, general con-
sensus now holds that ofermod can only be used in the
negative sense of “pride” or “arrogance,” and that inter-
pretations of the poem must take this criticism of
Byrthnoth into consideration.
Synonymous with ofermod in the meaning of “pride”
or “arrogance” is oferhygd (ofer [excessive] + gehygd
[mental quality, consideration]). In BEOWULF, Hrothgar
says “oferhygda dæl” (“a portion of prideful thoughts,”
l. 1741) causes a ruler to begin to neglect his responsi-
bilities. He enjoins Beowulf that he “oferhyda ne gymeþ”
(“pay no attention to prideful thoughts,” l. 1760).
FURTHER READING
Cavill, Paul. “Interpretation of The Battle of Maldon, Lines
84–90: A Review and Reassessment.” Studia Neophilologica
67 (1995): 149–164.
Scragg, Donald, ed. The Battle of Maldon AD 991. Oxford:
Blackwell, 1991.
Shaun F. D. Hughes“OF UNSACIABLE PURCHASERS” ROB-
ERT CROWLEY (1550) ROBERT CROWLEY, a clergyman,
poet, prose polemicist, and publisher, was dedicated to
the Protestant cause, but he argued vociferously that
the Reformation must be managed so that it benefi ted
the poor in particular. Most of his writing was contrived
to argue against the exploitation of the poor, and his
poems, such as “Of Unsaciable Purchasers,” present
moral tales delivered with acerbic sharpness, attacking