Beowulf/Chaucer Flashcards
What is physiognomy?
It was a science used in the Middle Ages that was based on the idea that mental and emotional characteristics of an individual could be determined from physical characteristics.
Why is Beowulf important to the English language?
- It is one of the earliest known works in English language, the first story to be exact, gives us an idea of the starting point from which later English literature develops
(First epic in English language) - Beowulf provides valuable insight into the culture and values of the society in which it was composed and retold
How did the church use this story?
It was used to evangelize the church
They used it to convert people to Christians
They took out the Norse mythology and inserted Christian things instead to convert people
Summarize Beowulf
There is an evil monster called Grendel who attacks Heorot so Beowulf comes to attack Grendel and beats him. Then Grendels mom comes to kill Beowulf so they start battling then swim a day down a pond and get to a cave where grendels mom poisons Beowulf then bewoulfs companion distracted her and Beowulf killed her
Why didn’t Beowulf use a sword to kill Grendel?
He was immune to steel and couldn’t be pierced by it
Where do the Canterbury tales take place?
On a pilgrimage from Southwark, London to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury.
Who was each pilgrim challenged by and what did he do?
Harry Bailley
He was the keeper of the Tabard Inn
Describe the knight including his rank, personality, and mode
The knight was a respectable man
Honest and noble
Was a Christian and was never rude to anyone in his life
The Knight was in the aristocrat class and fought for his king in many wars
He wore a fustian tunic that was stained by his armour and didn’t care what he looked like
Expository mode
Describe who the prioress is including rank, personality and the mode
Very classy woman
Enjoyed proper etiquette and manners
Very nice but too focused on appearance
Bright spirit was very caring
Prioress was in the clergy class and was a nun
Truly beautiful everything perfect she never let her make up get ruined
Romantic mode
Describe the wife of bath including rank, personality, and mode
Very fun to be around
Cared about her image
Had 5 husbands and many more “things”
Loved to travel
Belonged to the middle class and was a cloth maker for a living
Dressed to be noticed bright red leggings lots of fabric on
Ironic mode
Describe the miller including rank, personality and mode
Stereotypical big dumb brute
Loved getting drunk breaking doors down with head
Loved wrestling
Mouth full of jokes
Belonged to peasant class and grinder up grain for a living
Large scary looking big muscles
Comic mode
Describe the pardoner including rank, personality and mode
Has a very ironic personality
Thought he looked very good but actually came off as feminine
Was a lying cheat who made money off taking advantage of the people he goes to church with
Veryone hated him but he was good in Church
Belonged to clergy class and gave out pardons to people of the church for a living
Feminine look
Ironic mode
