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English > Brit Lit Exam > Flashcards

Brit Lit Exam Flashcards

0
Q

What group of people left England and that then made it easy for people to invade the country?

A

Romans

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1
Q

Who inhabited Britain when Julius Caesar invaded?

A

Celts

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2
Q

How long did the Romans occupy Britain?

A

About 470 years

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3
Q

Who really was King Arthur?

A

The figure of a Celtic leader who organized determined resistance after the Romans left the country and invaders from the North Sea started to attack.

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4
Q

The celts of England were first known as:

A

Britons and Gaels

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5
Q

What was the heptarchy?

A

Celts, Jutes, Angles, Saxons, Normans, Danes

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6
Q

Anglo-Saxon chronicles:

A

The first historical record to be kept in English, initiated by Alfred

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7
Q

Venerable Bede:

A

Author of the Ecclesiastical History.
“The father of English history”
An Anglo-Saxon churchman

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8
Q

Wyrd

A

Fate

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9
Q

Exeter book

A

Discovered manuscripts from the reign of Alfred the Great.

“Seafarer” “wanderer” “wife’s lament”

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10
Q

Epic poem:

A

Long narrative poem that recount the adventures of a hero

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11
Q

Characteristics of an epic:

A

1) high social status
2) Hero’s actions determine fate of many people
3) performs courageous and superhuman deeds
4) supernatural beings and events
5) setting is large scale
6) long speeches
7) formal diction, serious tone, poetic language
8) universal themes: good and evil, life and death

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12
Q

Old English gives us:

A

Our common nouns and verbs

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13
Q

Old English dates:

A

From the middle of the 5th century to the middle of the 12th century

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14
Q

Middle English dates:

A

Late 12th century to late 15th century

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15
Q

Norman conquest

A

1066

Started medieval period

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16
Q

What is the main theme of Beowulf?

A

Create a legacy that lives on after death

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17
Q

An illuminated manuscript of the gospel book in Latin. Created my Celtic monks

A

Book of kells

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18
Q

Traditional code if conduct associated with medieval institution of knighthood

A

Chivalry

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19
Q

Manuscript that surveys the citizens in England in medieval times

A

Domesday book

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20
Q

First document that limited the powers of a king, 1215

A

Magna carta

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21
Q

Religious conflicts during the Middle Ages which aimed to restore Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem

A

The crusades

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22
Q

Kinds of plays performed during Middle Ages:

A

Morality and miracle

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23
Q

Something added to something else as helpful or useful but not essential; an assistant or helper; a valuable quality or characteristic. Added or connected in a subordinate capacity; attached to a faculty or staff in an auxiliary capacity. (Associate, addition, accessory)

A

Adjunct

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24
Q

The male sheep that leads the flock to the slaughterhouse; a leader, as in a desperate or violent undertaking; an indicator of trends. (Ringleader, initiator, barometer)

A

Bellwether

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25
Q

To howl or screech like a cat; to quarrel. A harsh or noisy cry; a racket. (Whine, screech)

A

Caterwaul

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26
Q

Absurd; wildly fantastic; impossible (visionary, quixotic, pie-in-the-sky)

A

Chimerical

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27
Q

Lacking in wholesome vigor or energy; worn-out or exhausted; sterile or unable to produce; out-of-date (decadent, enfeebled)

A

Effete

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28
Q

An accomplished and presumably irreversible deed, fact, or action (accomplished fact)

A

Fait accompli

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29
Q

Narrow-minded and rigid, especially in opinions or prejudices; stubbornly and unthinkingly conservative (intolerant, inflexible)

A

Hidebound

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30
Q

Any system of things or people arranged or graded one above another in order of rank, wealth, class, etc. (chain of command)

A

Hierarchy

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31
Q

A philosophy or practice characterized by a usually deliberate abstention from direction or interference, especially with individual freedom of choice and action. (Noninterventional, nonrestrictive, hands-off)

A

Laissez-faire

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32
Q

A religious service or rite; the form of a ritual or other act of public worship. (Observance)

A

Liturgy

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33
Q

A patch of low, soft, wet ground; a swamp; a confusing situation in which one is entrapped, as in quicksand. (Bog)

A

Morass

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34
Q

Offensive or disgusting; foul-smelling; harmful or injurious. (Fetid, noxious, vile, loathsome)

A

Noisome

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35
Q

Forgetful; unaware. (Insensible)

A

Oblivious

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36
Q

A base coward. (Craven, dastard, “chicken”)

A

Poltroon

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37
Q

A convert; a disciple. (Novice, neophyte)

A

Proselyte

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38
Q

Resembling but not actually being; seemingly but not actually or completely. (Kind of, as if)

A

Quasi

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39
Q

Good-humored ridicule; teasing. (Persiflage)

A

Raillery

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40
Q

Irreverently mocking; coarse, vulgar, or indecent in language. (Risqué)

A

Ribald

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41
Q

Lying flat on one’s back; listless or lethargic; apathetic or passive. (Prone, prostrate; inert)

A

Supine

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42
Q

A short description or sketch; a picture or illustration with edges that gradually shade off; a decorative design on the title page of a book or at the beginning or end of a chapter. (Thumbnail sketch, anecdote)

A

Vignette

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43
Q

Protection; patronage; sponsorship (auspices)

A

Aegis

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44
Q

To inform of; to make aware of by giving oral or written notice. (Acquaint)

A

Apprise

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45
Q

Fond of or inclined to drink; absorbent. (Inebrious)

A

Bibulous

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46
Q

A group of people hired to applaud a performer of performance; enthusiastic or fawning admirers; an opera hat. (Fan club, flatterers)

A

Claque

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47
Q

To pull up by the roots; to root out, uproot, or dislocate; to eliminate all traces of. (Extirpate, eradicate, expunge)

A

Deracinate

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48
Q

An explanation or critical interpretation (especially of a text). (Analysis, explication)

A

Exegesis

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49
Q

Originating in the country or region where found, native; inborn; inherent. (Endemic, domestic, homegrown)

A

Indigenous

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50
Q

Given to tears or weeping; causing to shed tears; mournful, lugubrious. (Tearful, doleful, dolorous)

A

Lachrymose

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51
Q

A dictionary of a language: the special vocabulary of a person, group, or subject; a compendium. (Wordbook, glossary)

A

Lexicon

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52
Q

A confused struggle; a violent free-for-all; a tumultuous mingling. (Fracas, brawl, scuffle, donnybrook)

A

Melee

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53
Q

A miniature world or universe; a group or system viewed as the model of a larger group or system. (Epitome, world in little)

A

Microcosm

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54
Q

Very small, tiny. A lowercase letter. (Infinitesimal, insignificant)

A

Minuscule

55
Q

To darken or obscure; to confuse or bewilder. (Muddy the waters)

A

Obfuscate

56
Q

The policy or practice of treating or governing people in the manner or a father dealing with his children. (Benevolence, solicitude, fatherliness)

A

Paternalism

57
Q

To cause to concentrate around two conflicting or contrasting positions; to cause to light to vibrate in a pattern. (Split, alienate, estrange)

A

Polarize

58
Q

The range, extent, or scope of something; in law, the scope or limit of what is provided in a statute. (Orbit)

A

Purview

59
Q

Having ruddy complexion; of a naturally cheerful, confident, or optimistic outlook. (Flushed, rosy)

A

Sanguine

60
Q

A substandard or ungrammatical usage; a breach of etiquette; any impropriety or mistake. (Misusage, blunder)

A

Solecism

61
Q

A person under the protection if a feudal lord to whom he or she owes allegiance; a subordinate or dependent; a servant. Subservient. (Minion. Servile)

A

Vassal

62
Q

The quality of appearing to be true, real, likely, or probable. (Realism, lifelikeness, authenticity)

A

Verisimilitude

63
Q

Subordinate or supplementary. (Auxiliary, accessory)

A

Ancillary

64
Q

To remove material considered offensive (from a book, play, film, etc). (Purge, expurgate)

A

Bowdlerize

65
Q

To come down or stoop voluntarily to a lower level; to deal with people in a patronizing manner. (To talk down)

A

Condescend

66
Q

To trick; to cheat or swindle (dupe, deceive, beguile, inveigle)

A

Cozen

67
Q

An enclosed district, region, or area inhabited by a particular group of people or having a special character. (Island, subgroup)

A

Enclave

68
Q

A person’s strongpoint; what a person does best. (Gift, aptitude, specialty)

A

Forte

69
Q

Free. Without charge. (On the house)

A

Gratis

70
Q

A representation or image of a sacred personage, often considered sacred itself; an image or picture; a symbol; a graphic symbol on a computer monitor display; an object of blind devotion. (Emblem)

A

Icon

71
Q

A small, narrow space between things or parts of things. (Gap, slot, crevice, interval, lacuna)

A

Interstice

72
Q

The universe considered as a whole; the entire complex structure of something. (Cosmos, entirety)

A

Macrocosm

73
Q

A trickster or swindler; a charlatan. (Impostor, quack)

A

Mountebank

74
Q

A song of praise, joy, or triumph. (Ode, anthem)

A

Paean

75
Q

Lighthearted joking, talk, or writing. (Banter, jesting, badinage)

A

Persiflage

76
Q

Overfullness; superabundance; superfluity. (Surplus, glut, excess)

A

Plethora

77
Q

Concerned with practical consideration or values; dealing with actions and results rather than with abstract theory; stiff in one’s opinions. (Down-to-earth)

A

Pragmatic

78
Q

Puzzled; mocking; odd; equivocal. (Peculiar, perplexed, mystified, derisive)

A

Quizzical

79
Q

Inordinate greed; the disposition to obtain one’s desires by force, extortion, or plunder. (Avarice, cupidity, voraciousness)

A

Rapacity

80
Q

A formal split within a religious organization; any division or separation of a group or organization into hostile factions. (Rift)

A

Schism

81
Q

Having the power to heal or cure; beneficial. (Salutary, salubrious)

A

Therapeutic

82
Q

A brilliant performer; a person with masterly skill or technique. Masterly or brilliant. (Expert, prodigy, maestro)

A

Virtuoso

83
Q

A natural attraction to a person, thing, or activity; a relationship, connection. (Inclination, penchant)

A

Affinity

84
Q

Peevish or irritable; sickeningly unpleasant. (Choleric, irascible, peevish, splenetic)

A

Bilious

85
Q

Closely related in origin, essential nature, or function. Such a person or thing. (Allied, affiliated. Relative)

A

Cognate

86
Q

A proposition that follows from one already proven; a natural consequence for result. Resultant or consequent. (Deduction, conclusion)

A

Corollary

87
Q

A blind alley or dead-end street; any situation in which further progress is impossible; an impasse.

A

Cul-de-sac

88
Q

Valor or heroism; daring deeds or exploits (often used to poke fun at false heroics). (Audacity, bravado, pyrotechnics).

A

Derring-do

89
Q

The art or act if predicting the future or discovering hidden knowledge. (Prophecy)

A

Divination

90
Q

A potion once thought capable of curing all ills and maintaining life indefinitely; a panacea; a sweet liquid used as a vehicle in medicines. (Nostrum, tonic)

A

Elixir

91
Q

Foolish talk, ideas, or procedures; nonsense; a trifle. (gibberish)

A

Folderol

92
Q

An entire range or series. (Compass, sweep)

A

Gamut

93
Q

The common people, the masses. (Rank and file)

A

Hoi polloi

94
Q

Not expressible in words; too great or too sacred to be uttered. (Inexpressible)

A

Ineffable

95
Q

Laborious study or thought, especially at night; the result of such work. (Burning the midnight oil)

A

Lucubration

96
Q

Relating to or designed to assist the memory. A device to aid the memory. (Reminder, clue)

A

Mnemonic

97
Q

Public abuse indicating strong disapproval or censure; the disgrace resulting from such treatment. (Discredit, opprobrium, dishonor)

A

Obloquy

98
Q

A determining or characteristic element; a factor that shaped the total outcome; a limit, boundary.

A

Parameter

99
Q

A learned person; one who gives authoritative opinions. (Expert, authority, savant)

A

Pundit

100
Q

Pertaining to laughter; able or inclined to laugh, laughable. (Droll, ludicrous)

A

Risible

101
Q

Typical or characteristic; bring or concerned with a symptom of a disease. (Indicative)

A

Symptomatic

102
Q

An about-face; a complete reversal. (Turnabout)

A

Volte-face

103
Q

An enthusiastic and usually expert follower or fan. (Devotee, enthusiast)

A

Aficionado

104
Q

To intimidate by a stern or overbearing manner; to bully. (Cow, coerce)

A

Browbeat

105
Q

Equal in size, extent, duration, or importance; proportionate; measurable by the same standards. (Comparable, corresponding, coordinate)

A

Commensurate

106
Q

Very sheer and light; almost completely transparent. (Translucent, gossamer)

A

Diaphanous

107
Q

Profit derived from an officer or position or from employment; a fee or salary. (Pay, wages)

A

Emolument

108
Q

A quick raid, especially for plunder; a venture into some field of endeavor. To make such a raid. (Sally, sortie)

A

Foray

109
Q

A type, class, or variety, especially a distinctive category of literary composition; a style of painting in which everyday scenes are realistically depicted. (Species, sort, school)

A

Genre

110
Q

A sermon stressing moral principles, a tedious moralizing lecture or discourse

A

Homily

111
Q

To enclose it confine within walls; to imprison; to seclude or isolate. (Mew up)

A

Immure

112
Q

Blithely indifferent or unconcerned; carefree; happy-go-lucky. (Blasé, devil-may-care)

A

Insouciant

113
Q

A mold; the surrounding situation or environment. (Pattern, model)

A

Matrix

114
Q

Funeral rites or ceremonies. (Funeral services)

A

Obsequies

115
Q

A confident and stylish manner, dash; a strikingly elaborate or colorful display. (Style, verve, élan, éclat)

A

Panache

116
Q

A character in a novel or play; the outward character or role that a person assumes. (Personality, image, role)

A

Persona

117
Q

A bitter verbal attack. (Harangue , diatribe)

A

Philippic

118
Q

Having lustful desires or interests; tending to arouse sexual desires. (Lascivious, lewd, titillating)

A

Prurient

119
Q

Very sacred or holy; inviolable; set apart or immune from questioning or attack.

A

Sacrosanct

120
Q

Of or pertaining to the entire body; relation to a system or systems. (Extensive, comprehensive, system-wide)

A

Systematic

121
Q

Intended to promote a particular point of view, doctrine, or cause; biased or partisan. (Partial)

A

Tendentious

122
Q

A change, variation, or alteration. Successive or changing phases or conditions. (Fluctuation, vacillation)

A

Vicissitude

123
Q

What is Anouilh’s theme?

A

Is a man more faithful to god or a king when confronted by both? Can a man be both god and king?

124
Q

Why do the Normans hate the Saxons?

A

The Normans think the Saxons are barbarians

125
Q

Where does becket hold his honor?

A

With god

126
Q

What looks good to people

A

Estheties

127
Q

Why does Henry underestimate becket so gravely?

A

Because he has such a big head and his goal get in the way of seeing the reality of life

128
Q

What purpose does the gesture of giving all to the poor at the end of act 2 serve? Why does Anouilh include it and why at this point?

A

The purpose is that Becket is gaining power and he feels sympathy towards the Saxons and peasants. Anouilh demonstrates his theme through Becket’s act of giving to the poor. It’s a godly act to give to the poor and becket loves god more than anything. Shows how Becket is favoring god more than his friend.

129
Q

Who else underestimates becket, other than Henry? Why?

A

The pope because becket truly loves god and the pope doesn’t because the pope is corrupt.

130
Q

Why does king Louis decide to try to persuade Henry to make peace with becket?

A

So he can benefit by getting favors from Henry

131
Q

Why does becket say that he will never see the king again?

A

He can’t come back to England because he doesn’t want to take the excommunication back

132
Q

Why does becket allow the young monk to keep his intention of killing a Norman?

A

Because the young monk wants to kill a Norman out of justice

133
Q

Does becket love anything told anyone prior to becoming archbishop?

A

Becket loves king Henry but that wears off when he learns the kings intentions

134
Q

Does king Henry love or hate becket?

A

Yes. He loves the friendship, but he hates the fact that becket loves god more than Henry

135
Q

What is the tragedy of becket and Henry?

A

Becket is killed for being true and pure while Henry is allowed to live while being sinful and corrupt.

English (3 decks)

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