Anglo-Saxon Age and Beowulf Terms

Question 1

Repetition of beginning consonant sounds; found in almost every line of Anglo- Saxon poetry.

Answer 1

Alliteration

Question 2

Barbaric Scandinavian invaders of England in 449 A.D; Vikings, also called Norsemen.

Answer 2

Angles, Saxons and Jutes

Question 3

450-1066 A.D. time period when the angles, Saxons and Jutes controlled England; corresponds to the Dark Ages in Europe.

Answer 3

Anglo- Saxon Age

Question 4

Structures built by Romans in England.

Answer 4

Aqueducts, baths and roads

Question 5

A grave covered with a mound of Earth.

Answer 5

Barrow

Question 6

Kenning for sword ( Means Sword).

Answer 6

Battle- Flasher

Question 7

Chain mail.

Answer 7

Byrny

Question 8

A pause in a line of poetry; in Anglo- Saxon verse, the pause comes in the middle of the line.

Answer 8

Caesura

Question 9

Barbaric people who first inhabited England in 1000 B.C. and were conquered by the Romans; also known as Brytons.

Answer 9

Celts

Question 10

Came to England in 597 A.D. and have been accepted by 650.

Answer 10

Christianity

Question 11

A long narrative poem in an elevated style and language which records the deems of a national hero.

Answer 11

Epic

Question 12

Passes down by word of mouth for generations before being written down. Usually unsigned.

Answer 12

Folk Epic

Question 13

The product of one man’s mind and written down and signed. John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” is the greatest of these in English.

Answer 13

Literary Epic

Question 14

The super- human main character in an epic.

Answer 14

Epic Hero

Question 15

Watery swamps

Answer 15

Fen- Lands

Question 16

The flame throwing monster who kills Beowulf; guardian of ancient treasure.

Answer 16

Fire Dragon

Question 17

A drinking stein, usually with a lid.

Answer 17

Flagon

Question 18

Wife of the chief viking god and namesake of Friday.

Answer 18

Frig/ Frida

Question 19

Sweden; Beowulf is a Geat.

Answer 19

Geatland

Question 20

Monster who terrorizes scxld- land (Denmark) for 12 years.

Answer 20

Grendel

Question 21

Mother of grendel who wants to avenge her son’s death.

Answer 21

Grendel’s Dam

Question 22

Built by the Romans to keep the Scots (Picts) out of England. Near the current day border between England and Scotland.

Answer 22

Hardrian’s wall

Question 23

A male deer with large antlers.

Answer 23

Hart

Question 24

Hrothgar’s Danish mead hall decorated with deer antlers.

Answer 24

Heorot

Question 25

King of the Scylds (Danes) who build Heorot.

Answer 25

Hrothgar

Question 26

Beowulf's uncle; King of the Geats (Swedes) when the story begins.

Answer 26

Hygelac

Question 27

The linking of two nouns with a hyphen which are used in place of a less expressive noun; They are found in Anglo- Saxon poetry.

Answer 27

Kenning

Question 28

Anglo-Saxon alcoholic drink made of fermented grain and honey.

Answer 28

Mead

Question 29

A dark murky pool; Home of Grendel and his mother.

Answer 29

Mere

Question 30

A Catholic male who has taken vows of poverty and Chasity.

Answer 30

Monk

Question 31

A place where monks live; Also known as a minister.

Answer 31

Monastery

Question 32

A non-beleiver; In the dark and middle ages, any non- Christian.

Answer 32

Pagan

Question 33

A water monster; Beowulf fights and kills 9 of them.

Answer 33

Nicor

Question 34

A large blazing fire used to burn a body.

Answer 34

Pyre

Question 35

Conquered England in 43 A.D. and stayed until 449 A.D. (Arturis)

Answer 35

Romans

Question 36

A traveling singer and poet; Later called a minstrel. Also known as a bard.

Answer 36

Scop

Question 37

A prehistoric monument constructed in stages between 3000 and 1500 B.C.

Answer 37

Stonehenge

Question 38

A warrior who has pleaded his allegiance to a warrior leader or king.

Answer 38

Thane

Question 39

Viking god of thunder and war; Namesake of Thursday.

Answer 39

Thor

Question 40

Viking goddess of darkness; Gives Tuesday its name.

Answer 40

Tiw

Question 41

Jealous Dane who challenges Beowulf's reputation.

Answer 41

Unferth

Question 42

Beowulf's relative who scolds the other Geats for deserting Beowulf; King of the Geats after Beowulf.

Answer 42

Wiglaf

Question 43

Chief viking god; Namesake of Wednesday. Also known as Oden.

Answer 43

Woden