Beowulf Flashcards
What does druids mean
The priestly class who ensured that stories passed on
What was the group of people in Ireland
Gaels
What was the group of people in northern Britain
Picts
What was the group of people in southern Britain
Britons
What did Roman armies introduce to British isles
Roads and architecture, military influence, Roman culture , Latin
What were the anglo saxons
Seafarers, nomad , violent warriors ,pagans
What does heptarchy mean
7 kingdoms that the Germanic tribes divided Britain into
What does wyrd mean
Fate - whatever is desired to happen happens
What year did Anglo Saxon invasion begin
449 AD
What did Saint Augustine do
Established monastery at Canterbury in Kent
What is the other name for Danes
Vikings
What is the order of events of the invasions on the original British isles
Roman armies, Anglo Saxons , Danish invasions
What is Julius Caesar known for
First recorded contact with British isles
who is the beowulf poet
guy who learned old english and translated it into present day english
most likely a man, educated, familiar w christianity
where does beowulf take place
herot, denmark
what is beowulf
swedish, part of tribe of the geats
what is caesuras
a pause in the middle of a line of anglo saxon poetry, story is originally told out loud so there’s pauses, in writing there is punctuation in the midlde of a line
what is a kenning
a noun phrase that replaces a concrete noun in a sentence by remaing that noun phrase in a more poetic way
what does in medias res mean
in the middle of things. the story behins in the middle of things
what is an epic
a long narrative poem written in an elevated styel
what are the characteristics of an epic
1) epic hero on a uqest
2) supernatural forces
3) valarous deeds
4) elevated style
explain epic hero on a quest
hero = central character, goes on a journey that involves 1+ nations. noble
explain supernatural forces
dieties watch over hero and monster
explain valorous deeds
acts that reveal hero’s extraordinary qualities, reflect culture cherished values
