Beowulf

Question 1

Language of the celts

Answer 1

Gaelic

Question 2

Language of the Romans

Answer 2

Latin

Question 3

Language of the Anglo-Saxons

Answer 3

Germanic languages

Question 4

Language of Vikings

Answer 4

Danish

Question 5

Language of Normans

Answer 5

French

Question 6

When does Beowulf take place?

Answer 6

During the Anglo- Saxon period between 450-1066

Question 7

Where does Beowulf take place?

Answer 7

Britain

Question 8

What did invaders of Britain bring?

Answer 8

Sorrow, blood shed, new people, and a new culture

Question 9

Order of invasions

Answer 9

1. Iberian Penisula invaders
2. Celts
3. Romans
4. German Barbarians
5. Vikings
6. Normans

Question 10

Legend of Arthur

Answer 10

Came from the people who fled to Wales after being defeated by the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons. May have been a Romanized Briton that defeated the Germanic tribesman, but was eventually defeated. Fate unknown.

Question 11

Why was a Kong’s position never secure?

Answer 11

Because there were rival warriors seeking to take power and the kingdoms were under constant threat.

Question 12

Thanes

Answer 12

Fighting men pledged to protect the King

Question 13

How did the King reward his faithful thanes?

Answer 13

He gave them treasure

Question 14

Mead- hall

Answer 14

The main structure in the royal quarters where King’s, wives, thanes, and servants feasted and a scop entertained them.

Question 15

Mead

Answer 15

A fermented drink made of water, honey, malt, and yeast

Question 16

What was a part of the scops job besides entertaining?

Answer 16

Preserving a record of their achievements for future generations

Question 17

Bretwalda

Answer 17

A ruling King who would bring unity and peace to the land

Question 18

Aethelbert

Answer 18

The 1st bretwalda

Question 19

Who was sent from Rome to introduce Christianity to the pagan Anglo-Saxons?

Answer 19

St Augustine

Question 20

What skill did Christianity bring to the Anglo Saxon culture?

Answer 20

Writing

Question 21

Hygelac

Answer 21

Is a historical figure and Swedish King.

Question 22

What is the pagan god’s name?

Answer 22

Odin

Question 23

Themes in Beowulf

Answer 23

Nature of success, true friendship, the final value to be found in life and death

Question 24

How did a scop compose poetry?

Answer 24

Spontaneously and orally before an audience who knew the story already

Question 25

Caesura

Answer 25

A pause in poetry

Question 26

Poetic devices used in Beowulf

Answer 26

Alliteration 
Kennings
Caesuras in the middle of a line
Meter
Words with connotations

Question 27

Modern Vs. Old English sentence meaning

Answer 27

Modern English depends on the arrangement of words in a sentence to give mean, while Old English relies more on the spelling of words to give a sentence meaning. Old English is an inflected language

Question 28

What is the difference between a strong and weak verb in old English?

Answer 28

In a weak verb the principle vowel was changed. In a strong verb, the ending is changed.

Question 29

How many of our Modern English words are derived from Old English?

Answer 29

1/4 or 25%

Question 30

Who unsuccessfully attacked the celts in 55 B.C.?

Answer 30

Julius Cesear

Question 31

How long was Britain a part of the Roman Empire?

Answer 31

For 400 years

Question 32

How does the Celtic language survive today?

Answer 32

As welsh, Irish, Scots, Gaelic, and Breton

Question 33

Where did Old English come from?

Answer 33

It came from the Germanic tribes known as the Anglo-Saxons

Question 34

What does it mean when it refers to a scop as having a word hoard?

Answer 34

They had a large vocabulary of words

Question 35

What is a kenning?

Answer 35

2 or more combined words which name something by a metaphor

Question 36

What is the story of Beowulf called?

Answer 36

A folk epic

Question 37

What knowledge did a the Beowulf poet have ?

Answer 37

He knew the costume and traditions of the Anglo-Saxons, Hebrew scripture, and Latin literature.

Question 38

What two phases of Beowulf’s life does the poem tell?

Answer 38

His youth and his last days

Question 39

What famous author was inspired by Beowulf?

Answer 39

J. R. R. Tolkien

Question 40

Iberian Peninsula Invaders accomplishments

Answer 40

Built the Stone henge in Salisbury Plain

Question 41

Celts accomplishments

Answer 41

Built walled farms and hut villages. Introduced agriculture by using bronze tools and growing crops.

Question 42

Druids

Answer 42

Celtic tribe priests who conducted sacrificial rites in forest shrines

Question 43

Why did the Roman Julius Cesear invade Britain?

Answer 43

He wanted to punish the Britons for helping the celts in their fight with the Romans

Question 44

What empires successfully invaded Britain?

Answer 44

Roman Claudius

Question 45

What happened to the Celtic tribes after Rome conquered Britain?

Answer 45

They were driven into the highlands of Wales and Scotland.

Question 46

Why did Emperor Hadrian build a wall?

Answer 46

Hadrian built a 73 mile long wall to protect the northern border and keep the celts out of Romanized Britain

Question 47

Roman Accomplishments

Answer 47

Created one hundred towns and many rural villages. Built large buildings like amphitheater’s, meeting halls, law courts, temples, baths, and a sanitation system. They also built roads.

Question 48

Wyrd

Answer 48

The Anglo-Saxon concept of fate

Your life’s end is already predetermined but an immense display of courage can sway the fates

Question 49

Comitatus

Answer 49

The heroic code in which a King provides for his thanes and gives them gifts in return for their loyalty and protection of the King

Question 50

Wergild

Answer 50

The death price which can be paid after killing someone to keep them from avenging their death