Anglo-Saxon Test

Question 1

Is killed by a giant’s magical sword

Answer 1

Grendel’s mother

Question 2

Embodies the knowledge of the price paid for spiritual and physical survival

Answer 2

The Dragon

Question 3

Killed with Beowulf’s bare hands

Answer 3

Grendel

Question 4

Character responsible for mortally wounding Beowulf

Answer 4

The Dragon

Question 5

Shows loyalty even though he faces certain death

Answer 5

Wiglaf

Question 6

Attacks and kills 30 men

Answer 6

Grendel

Question 7

Jealous of Beowulf

Answer 7

Unferth

Question 8

Defeated in an underwater lair

Answer 8

Grendel’s mother

Question 9

Goes seeking fame

Answer 9

Beowulf

Question 10

Weapons are useless against this creature

Answer 10

Grendel

Question 11

What are the 2 types of people that were dominant during early British history?

Answer 11

Anglo-Saxons and Celts

Question 12

What are 2 things that happen to Britain following the lost of Roman rule?

Answer 12

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).

Question 13

Who was the real King Arthur?

Answer 13

King Arthur came from the Welsh Chieftain who fought against Anglo-Saxons; his name was Arthur.

Question 14

What book was the Seafarer in?

Answer 14

Exeter Book

Question 15

Who promoted the deeds of heroes?

Answer 15

Bards/Storyteller in Pagan society

Question 16

Beowulf’s tales of conquests are an example of what Pagan idea?

Answer 16

Pagan look for fame

Question 17

How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?

Answer 17

Beowulf kills Grendel with his bare hands by ripping off his arms (weapons are useless against him because of a spell)

Question 18

What does the dragon represent? (Pagan and Christian)

Answer 18

Dragon often equates destiny. Represents the valley of the shadow of death. Embodies the knowledge of the price paid for spiritual and physical survival

Question 19

Two characteristics of Anglo-Saxon literature

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Two characteristics of Celtic literature

Answer 20

It was often of a fantasy genre. These tales included strong women characters. They were stories of adventures. Fairies were a common character.

Question 21

Two things King Alfred did

Answer 21

He unified England with Christianity, he rid the country of the Danes.

Question 22

3 of 5 major influences on English language

Answer 22

1. Latin
2. Greek
3. German
4. Scandinavian-mostly Danish: Vikings
5. French-Norman invasion 1056

Question 23

5 major topics of The Seafarer

Answer 23

The character’s aspirations, life experiences, hopes, disillusionments, and religious insights.

Question 24

3 examples of the number 3 in Beowulf

Answer 24

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)

Question 25

4 of the 8 parts of the epic hero cycle

Answer 25

1. The hero (protagonist who often possesses supernatural abilities larger than life)
2. 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)
3. Companions & helpers (mythical beings, loyal followers, and even helpful animals)
4. Supernatural settings (the hero finds himself in supernatural worlds)
5. Low Point (the cycle reaches a low point in the action. Sometimes the hero feels defeated and appears to give up on his quest)
6. Resurrection and/or Restitution

Question 26

Draw Beowulf plot structure

Answer 26

Down: Intro
Up: Grendel
Down: Grendel’s Mother
Up: Dragon

Question 27

a poem that mourns the death of a person or laments something lost

Answer 27

Elegy

Question 28

a story in which the characters, settings, and events stand for abstract or moral concepts

Answer 28

Allegory

Question 29

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?

Answer 29

Caesura; “With churning oar () in the icy wave”

Question 30

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?

Answer 30

Alliteration; “Grown so brave, so graced by God”

Question 31

a part used to express the whole, or vice versa. Example/

Answer 31

Synecdoche; 50 sails = 50 boats

Question 32

special poetic renaming of things. Most often two words for one. two word poetic renamings of people, places, and things. Example?

Answer 32

Kennings; whale’s home for “the sea”

Question 33

the naming of a person, or human characteristic by some object or attribute with which is closely associated. Example?

Answer 33

Metonymy; crown, majesty = ruler

Question 34

the repetition of vowel sounds in unrhymed, stressed syllables. Example?

Answer 34

assonance; “the eagle’s screams”