Anglo-Saxon Test Flashcards
Is killed by a giant’s magical sword
Grendel’s mother
Embodies the knowledge of the price paid for spiritual and physical survival
The Dragon
Killed with Beowulf’s bare hands
Grendel
Character responsible for mortally wounding Beowulf
The Dragon
Shows loyalty even though he faces certain death
Wiglaf
Attacks and kills 30 men
Grendel
Jealous of Beowulf
Unferth
Defeated in an underwater lair
Grendel’s mother
Goes seeking fame
Beowulf
Weapons are useless against this creature
Grendel
What are the 2 types of people that were dominant during early British history?
Anglo-Saxons and Celts
What are 2 things that happen to Britain following the lost of Roman rule?
The loss of central government and loss of protection from invaders.
Angles, Saxon, and Jutes take control of Britain (449). A monastery is established in Canterbury (597). Vikings begin a century of British invasions (793). Alfred the Great becomes King and rids England of the Danes (849).
Who was the real King Arthur?
King Arthur came from the Welsh Chieftain who fought against Anglo-Saxons; his name was Arthur.
What book was the Seafarer in?
Exeter Book
Who promoted the deeds of heroes?
Bards/Storyteller in Pagan society
Beowulf’s tales of conquests are an example of what Pagan idea?
Pagan look for fame
How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?
Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands by ripping off his arms (weapons are useless against him because of a spell)
What does the dragon represent? (Pagan and Christian)
Dragon often equates destiny. Represents the valley of the shadow of death. Embodies the knowledge of the price paid for spiritual and physical survival
Two characteristics of Anglo-Saxon literature
It is male dominated. Anglo Saxon heroes were revered for courage, loyalty, and strength. It is written in Olde English language. Dragon was a symbol of evil and death
Two characteristics of Celtic literature
It was often of a fantasy genre. These tales included strong women characters. They were stories of adventures. Fairies were a common character.
Two things King Alfred did
He unified England with Christianity, he rid the country of the Danes.
3 of 5 major influences on English language
- Latin
- Greek
- German
- Scandinavian-mostly Danish: Vikings
- French-Norman invasion 1056
5 major topics of The Seafarer
The character’s aspirations, life experiences, hopes, disillusionments, and religious insights.
3 examples of the number 3 in Beowulf
3 struggles against forces of evil, 3 monsters in demonic shapes, 3 sites of fear (barricaded night house, infested underwater current, reptile haunted rocks in the wilderness)
4 of the 8 parts of the epic hero cycle
- The hero (protagonist who often possesses supernatural abilities larger than life)
- The quest (the hero is charged with at least one quest) 3. The test (the hero is tested to prove he is worthy of his quest)
- Companions & helpers (mythical beings, loyal followers, and even helpful animals)
- Supernatural settings (the hero finds himself in supernatural worlds)
- Low Point (the cycle reaches a low point in the action. Sometimes the hero feels defeated and appears to give up on his quest)
- Resurrection and/or Restitution
Draw Beowulf plot structure
Down: Intro
Up: Grendel
Down: Grendel’s Mother
Up: Dragon
a poem that mourns the death of a person or laments something lost
Elegy
a story in which the characters, settings, and events stand for abstract or moral concepts
Allegory
A pause or break within a line of poetry, usually indicated by the natural rhythm of the language. Used beginning of English poetry (today most commonly iambic) rhythmic breaks in the middle of lines, so the reciter could pause for breath. Example?
Caesura; “With churning oar () in the icy wave”
Repetition of consonant sound in words that are close to one another. Old English is heavy in this. the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words in accented syllables. Example?
Alliteration; “Grown so brave, so graced by God”
a part used to express the whole, or vice versa. Example/
Synecdoche; 50 sails = 50 boats
special poetic renaming of things. Most often two words for one. two word poetic renamings of people, places, and things. Example?
Kennings; whale’s home for “the sea”
the naming of a person, or human characteristic by some object or attribute with which is closely associated. Example?
Metonymy; crown, majesty = ruler
the repetition of vowel sounds in unrhymed, stressed syllables. Example?
assonance; “the eagle’s screams”
