ELA Final Flashcards
What does the word Beowulf come from?
Beo means bee. Bears steal honey from bees. Wolfs hunt/
Does Beowulf have biblical references in it?
There is a lot of modifications made to the old manuscript to have Christianity in it
What is the purpose of gift giving in Beowulf
Every gift necessitates a return, usually loyalty.
What descent is Grendel from
He is a descent of Kane, Kane’s have no reason to like God. He is a fiend from Hell.
What is important to the people of Herot?
Lineage is important to the Anglosaxon’s. Hrothgar knew Beowulf as a kid. Unferth is not liked because he was a kin slayer.
Define flyting
An insult contest. Happens between Unferth and Beowulf
What are peace weavers
Peace weavers marry people from other clans to try and form peace between clans
Who enforces social order in Beowulf
Wealhtheow (Hrothgar’s wife) enforces social order by giving the King (Hrothgar) the drinking cup first and gives it to Beowulf last after everyone’s drank from it
Why is Hrothgar humiliated?
He’s humiliated that he has to give control to Beowulf to fight his battles and let him use his mead hall
What is the mead hall called?
Herot
Why and where do do they hang Grendel’s arm?
They hang Grendel’s arm from the hall for the for the village to see that they no longer have to live in fear
How much strength does Beowulf have
Has the strength of 30 men. Grendel killed 30 men at once, therefore since Beowulf defeated Grendel he is just as strong.
What is the purpose of the swords in Beowulf
Tells the story of the destruction of God’s enemies. It is used to wipe out monsters, similar to the flood in Noah’s Arc.
What is the Hero’s Journey and what are steps of the Heroe’s Journey
• A monomyth – a common pattern in almost all narratives.
- Ordinary World
- Call to adventure
- Refusal of the call
- Meeting the mentor
- Crossing the threshold
- Tests, allies, enemies
- Approach
- Ordeal, Death, and rebirth
- Reward, seizing the sword
- The road back
- Resurrection
- Return with Elixir
What will happen after Beowulf dies?
Wiglaf says that once everyone knows Beowulf is dead they are going to be attacked. Beowulf can no longer suppress relations that were close to having a feud
What is the difference between a Dragon and King q
They burn and destroy things and hoard treasures, instead of letting it circulate
Examples of Christianity in Beowulf
The dragon might represent the demonic
Jesus went to his death to save his people, so did Beowulf
What does Chaucer do in the Cantebury Tales
Puts himself into his writing, but it’s a literary fiction. There is verisimilitude: an appearance of truth.
Ways to analyze the general prologue
- Type
- Plot
- Characters
- Argument(s)
- Tale to teller
- Context
- Literary style
How are people in the Cantebury tales introduced
Introduced by class
Military estate of cantebury tales
knight, squire, yeoman
Clergy estate of cantebury tales
Prioress, nun, monk, 3 priests, friar
Working estate of cantebury tales
The franklin, the clerk, the man of Law, the Guildsmen, the physician, the cook, the plow man, the shipman, the host, merchant, and the Parson
Bums of cantebury tales
the miller, the manciple, the reeve, Chaucer, the summoner, the pardoner
Prioress of Cantebury tales
Has a nice modest smile, she’s very courtly and well mannered, if she swears it’s a very well mannered swear, is of gold smiths
Nun of Cantebury tales
Has dogs, cries when animals or people get mistreated/hurt grey eyes (standard of beauty), self-indulgent but doesn’t hurt anyone
Monk of Cantebury tales
Likes hunting and ride, he likes vennery (hunting or sport of venus), sounds like chapel bell, rejects his monastic vows because he doesn’t like them, wears expensive clothing, carriers a love know (he’s sexually active)
Friar of Cantebury Tales
Violates all his vows; hangs with the rich instead of begging with the poor. Sells confessions, has gifts for wives (for favors). Does the exact opposite of what he’s suppose to be doing. Dresses better than the Pope. Fat (means you’re wealthy)
Miller’s tale of Cantebury tales
Two opposite men (Nicholas and Absilon) fighting for a woman (John’s wife). Making fun of the lower class by telling the story because its perceived that they like dirty jokes
What’s the difference between John and Nicholas’ love interests
Nicholas is interested in Earthly love and John has December and May love (old and young)
Bob and wheel poetry
Bob: 1 long line followed by,
Wheel: 4 short lines
When does Gawaine set off on his journey
November 2nd (all souls day)
What is on Gawaines shield
A pentangle
Who does Gawaine pray to
Saint Mary
When does Gaiwaine get to the castle where he stays
Christmas eve.
6 important parts of drama
Plot, themes, diction, characterization, melody, spectacle,
Who is Feste
The fool, the clown
Who devises the plan for Malvolio?
Maria
What is Malvolio day dreaming about before he picks up the letter?
Being the count, disciplining Toby for drinking so much
What’s the name Viola creates?
Cesario
What’s the name Sebastian creates
Roderigo
Romanticism
- The shortest period of the 6 traditional periods of English Literature (less than 100 years)
- A period of great change, societies reorganized themselves on every level
- French Revolution and Industrial Revolution occurred during the Romantics
- grew out of a response to the Scientific Revolution
- Started in 1780
What is a Luddite
people against the Industrial Revolution who were smashing the machines (machines take away opportunities for labor/workers). They rioted because their tradition way of life was threatened
Blake Wordsworth
Questioned that some religions were not from the church of England
- Was interested in Nature
- exhibited a relationship with humanity and nature
- A radical influenced by his father’s death and was on the receiving end of aristocratic deception
- Was disillusioned by the Revolutions in France
- Often made the powerless and dispossessed the focus of his poems
- Focuses on nature and the things we can learn
- collaborated with Coleridge on poems that defined the Romantic age
- viewed the revolution as the freedom of the human race
William Blake
- A lyrical poet
- inspired by mystical visions
- used lyrical poems to examine contemporary issues (Child labour)
- self taught, but widely read, influenced by German mystics
- Owned a print shop then was an engraver the rest of his life
- most popular songs were the Songs of Innocence
- Most of work is on Religion and commented on theoretical tyranny
- He made poetry during the Romantics and attacked industrialization
Who created Lyrical Ballads
Coleridge and Wordsworth together created lyrical ballads
- were a poem of Romantic ideas
- were relocating freedom
Coleridge
- stirred by the ideals of the 17th century
- wrote poetry against the slave trade; it flourished and he spoke against it
- wanted to establish a utopian society
- wrote in praise of radical thinkers
Jack in the Importance of being earnest
- protagonist
- Was forgotten in a handbag as a baby
- Guardian to Cecily
- In love with Gwendolen and pretends to be Earnest
- His name ends up truly being Earnest
Algernon in the importance of being earnest
- nephew of Lady Bracknell
- High status
- Best friend of Jack who he knows as Ernest
- invented a fictional friend Bunbury which allows him to escape unpleasant or social obligations
Gwendolen in the importance of being ernest
Algernon’s cousin and Lady Bracknell’s daughter
- is in love with Jack who she knows as Ernest
- is of high status, sophisticated, and straight-forward
- fixated on the name Ernest and will not marry someone without the name
Cecily in the importance of being ernest
- Jack’s god daughter
- most realistic character
- obsessed with the name Ernest and intrigued by the idea of wickedness which prompts her to fall in love with Jack’s brother Ernest
- straightforward and well off
Lady Bracknell
-Snobbish, mercenary, and dominant
-Gwendolen’s mother and Algernon’s aunt
-is of high status, but wasn’t born into it (gold digger)
-Doesn’t want
Gwendolen to marry Jack because of his wealth/status which is ironic
Accent
the natural emphasis (stress) speakers place on a syllable
Apostrophe
a figure of speech in which a writer directly addresses an object-or a dead or absent person-as if the imagined audience were actually listening
Archetype
in literature and mythology, a recurring idea, symbol, motif, character, or place/ To some scholars and psychologists, an archetype represents universal human thought-patterns or experiences
Alliteration
The grouping of words with the same initial consonant
Allegory
A narrative with both a literal meaning and secondary, often symbolic meaning or meanings.
Assonance
the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds in stressed syllable in which the surrounding consonants are different
Ballad
a folk song, or a poem originally recited to an audience which tells a dramatic story based on legend or history
Ambiguity
an “opening” of language created by the writer to allow for multiple meanings or differing interpretations.
Allusion
a reference, often indirect or unidentified, to a person, thing, or event.
Analogy
A broad term that refers to our processes of noting similarities among things or events
Bathos
an anticlimactic effect brought about by a writer’s descent from an elevated subject or tone to the ordinary or trivial
Burlesque
satire of a particularly exaggerated sort, particularly that which ridicules its subject by emphasizing its vulgar or ridiculous aspects
Canon
works that are commonly accepted as possessing authority or importance
Catharsis
the arousal through the performance of a dramatic tragedy of “emotions of pity and fear” to a point where “purgation” or “purification” occurs and the feelings are released or transformed.
Classical
implies a strong sense of formal order
Consonance
the pairing of words with similar initial and ending consonants, but with difference vowel sounds
Closet drama
a play written for private performance
Comedy
drama in which the actions ends happily
Common wealth
a term roughly equivalent to the modern “state”, but tending to emphasize the commonality of interests among all citizens
Conceit
an unusually elaborate metaphor or simile that extends beyond its original tenor and vehicle, sometimes become a “master” analogy for the entire poem
Connontation
the implied, often unspoken meaning(s) of a given word, as distinct from its denotation, or literal meaning
Convention
aesthetic approach, technique, or practice accepted as characteristic and appropriate for a particular form.
Couplet
a pair of rhyming lines, usually in the same meter
Caesura
a pause or break in a line or verse occurring where a phrase, clause, or sentence ends, and indicated in scansion by the mark II.
Diction
word choice
Didacticism
aesthetic approach emphasizing moral instruction
Dissonence
harsh, unmusical sounds or rhythms which poets may use deliberately to achieve certain effects
Dramatic monologue
a lyrical poem that takes the form of an utterance by a single person addressing a silent listener
Dialogue
words spoken by characters to one another
Dramatic irony
this form of irony occurs when the audience’s reception of a speech by a character on the stage is affected by the possession by the audience of information not available to the character
Epic
A lengthy narrative poem, often divided into books and sub-divided into cantos
Epic simile
an elaborate simile, developed at such length that the vehicle of the comparison momentarily displaces the primary subject with which it is being compared
Episodic plot
plot comprising a variety of episodes that are only loosely connected by threads of story material
Exposition
the setting out of materials in an ordered form, either in speech or in writing
Elegy
a poem which formally mourns the death of a particular person
Epigraph
a quotation placed at the beginning of a discourse to indicate or foreshadow the theme
Eulogy
text expressing praise, especially for a distinguished person recently deceased
Epiphany
a moment at which matters of a significance are suddenly illuminated for a literary character, typically triggered by something small and seemingly of little import
Euphamism
mode of expression through which aspects of reality considered to be vulgar
Elegiac stanza
a quatrain of iambic pentameters rhyming abab, often used in poems meditating on death or sorrow
Folio
largest of several sizes of book page commonly used in the first few centuries after the introduction of the printing press
Franklin
in the late medieval period, a landholder of free status, but ranking below the gentry
First person narrative
narrative recounted using “I” and “me”
Figures of speech
deliberate, highly concentrated uses of language to achieve particular purposes or effects on an audience
Foot
a unit of a line of verse which contains a particular combination of stressed and unstressed syllables
Free indirect discourse
commentary in which a seemingly objective and omniscient narrative voice assumes the point of view of one or more characters
Gothic
a term used to describe work with a sinister or grotesque tone that seeks to evoke a sense of terror on the part of the reader or audience
Guilds
non-clerical associations that arose in the late Anglo-Saxon period, devoted both to social purposes and to piety.
Genre
a particular literary form
Heroic couplet
a pair of rhymed iambic pentameters, so called because the form was much used in seventeenth and eighteenth century poems and plays on heroic subjects
Horatian ode
an ode that is usually calm and meditative in tone, and homostrophic in form
Humors
the four humors were believed in until the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries to be elements in the makeup of all humans; a person’s temperament was thought to be determined by the way in which the humors were combined
Hymn
a song whose theme is usually religious, in praise of divinity
alliterative verse
poetry that employs alliteration of stressed syllables in each line as its chief structural principle
iamb
the most common metrical foot in English verse, containing one unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable
image
the recreation in words of objects perceived by the senses, sometimes thought of as “pictures”, although other senses besides sight are involved
irony
a subtle form of humor in which a statement is understood to convey a quite dfferent meaning
lament
a poem which expresses profound regret or grief either because of death, or because of the loss of a former, happier state
litotes
a figure of speech in which a writer deliberately uses understatement to highlight the importance of an argument, or to convey an ironic attitude
lyric
a poem, usually short, expressing an individual speaker’s feelings or private thoughts
mass
a church service that includes the sacrament of the Eucharist in which bread and wine are consumed
melodrama
a term used to describe nineteenth century plays featuring sensational story lines and a crude separation of characters into moral categories, with the pure and virtuous pitted against evil villains
metaphor
a figure of speech in which a comparison is made or identity is asserted between two unrelated things or actions without “like” or “as”
meter
the pattern of stresses, syllables, and pauses that constitutes the regular rhythm of a line of verse
mood
this can describe the writer’s attitude, implied or expressed, towards the subject
motif
an idea, image, action, or plot element that recurs throughout a literary work, creating new levels of meaning and strengthening structural coherence
metonymy
a figure of speech meaning “change of name” in which a writer refers to an object or idea by substituting the name of another object or idea closely associated with it
monologue
words spoken by a character to him or herself or to an audience directly
narrative perspective
in fiction, the point of view from which the story is narrated
nobility
privileged class, the members of which are distinguished by the holding of titles
nobility
privileged class, the members of which are distinguished by the holding of titles
ode
a classical poetry form used to convey serious themes
octosyllabic
a line of poetry with eight syllables, as in iambic tetrameter
onomanapia
a figure of speech in which a word :imitates” a sound, or in which the sound of a word seems to reflect in meaning
oxymoron
a figure of speech in which 2 words whose meanings seem contradictory are placed together, a paradox
parliament
the legislative body, comprising both the House of Commons and the House of Lords
parody
a close, usually mocking imitation of a particular literary work, or of the well-known style of a particular author, in order to expose or magnify weaknesses
pastiche
a discourse which borrows or imitates other writers’ characters, forms, style, or ideas
pastoral
in general, pertaining to country life
pathetic fallacy
a form of personification in which inanimate objects are given human emotions
persona
the assumed identity or “speaking voice” that a writer projects in a discourse. The term literally means “mask”
personification
a figure of speech in which a writer refers to inanimate objects, ideas, or animals as if they were human, or creates a human figure to represent an abstract entity such as Philosophy or Peace
plot
the organization of story materials within a literary work
prosody
the study and analysis of meter, rhyme, stanzaic pattern, and other devices of versification
protagonist
the central character in literary work
pun
a play with words, in which a word with two or more distinct meanings, or two words with similar sounds may create humorous ambiguities
puritans
refers to those in England who favoured religious reforms that went beyond those instituted as part of the Protestant Religion, or more generally, who were more forceful and uncompromising in pressing for religious purity both within the Church and in society as a whole
quadrivium
group of four academic subjects that made up part of the university coursework in the Middle Ages
Pathos
the emotional quality of discourse; or the ability of a discourse to appeal to our emotions
realism
The presentation through literature of material closely resembling real life.
refrain
One or more words or lines repeated at regular points throughout a poem, often at the end of each stanza or group of stanzas.
rhyme (don’t need to know the types)
The repetition of identical or similar sounds, usually in pairs and generally at the ends or metrical lines. Ex. End-rhyme: a rhyming word or syllable at the end of a line.
rhyme royal
A stanza of seven iambic pentameters, with a rhyme-scheme of ababbcc. This is also known as the Chaucerian stanza, as Chaucer was the first English poet to use this form.
romanticism
A major social and cultural movement, originating in Europe, that shaped much of Western artistic thought in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Opposing the ideal of controlled, rational order of the Enlightenment, Romanticism emphasizes the importance of spontaneous self-expression, emotion, and personal experience in producing art. In Romanticism, the “natural” is privileged over the conventional or artificial.
sarcasm
A particularly strong, crude form of irony in which the meaning is conveyed largely by the tone of voice adopted; something said sarcastically is meant clearly to imply its opposite.
satire
Literary work designed to make fun of or seriously criticize its subject. In the Renaissance age, served as a way to correct certain behaviour. Ex. IOBE
serf
In the medieval period, a person of unfree status, typically engaged in working the land.
shire
Originally a multiple estate; since the late medieval period a larger territory forming an administrative unit – also referred to as a county.
simile
A figure of speech which makes an explicit comparison between a particular object and another object or idea that is similar in some way. Often uses ‘like’ or ‘as’ to signal the connection.
sonnet
A highly structured lyric poem, which normally has 14 lines of iambic pentameter.
Shakespearian
Often called the English Sonnet. This form has 3 quatrains and a couplet. The quatrains rhyme internally, but do not interlock. The turn may occur after the second quatrain but is usually revealed in the final couplet.
Rhythm
In speech, the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables creates units of sound. In song or verse, these units usually form a regular rhythmic pattern, a kind of beat, which is the meter.
stanza
Any lines of verse that are grouped together in a poem and separated from other similarly structured groups by a space
subplot
A line of story that is subordinate to the main storyline of a narrative.
syllable
Vocal sound or group of sounds forming a unit of speech; may be formed with a single effort of articulation.
symbol
A word, image, or idea that represents something more, or other that for what it at first appears to stand. Extends meaning. Ex. William Blake’s The Sick Rose.
synecdoche
A kind of metonymy in which a writer substitutes the name of a part of something to signify the whole. Ex. “sail” for the ship or “hand” for a member of the ship’s crew.
theme
A governing idea of a discourse, conveyed through the development
tone
The writer’s attitude towards a given subject or audience, as expressed through an authorial persona or “voice.” Can be projected through particular choices of wording, imagery, figures of speech, and rhythmic devices.
tragedy
In the traditional definition originating in discussions of ancient Greek drama, a serious narrative recounting the downfall of the protagonist. More generally, darkly toned narratives that do not end happily.
transcendentalism
A mode of Romantic thought. Places the supernatural and the natural with one great unity and believes that each individual person embodies aspects of the divine.
trivium
Group of 3 subjects (dialectic, grammar, and rhetoric) that were part of the university curriculum in the Middle Ages.
Trope (list of tropes)
Any figure of speech that plays on our understanding of words to extend, alter
unities
The idea that a play should ideally be presented as representing a single place and confining the action to a single day and a single dominant event; disapproving of gaps in plots, long periods of time, shifts from place to place, and subplots.
verse
A general term for works of poetry, usually referring to poems that incorporate some kind of metrical structure.
zeugma
A figure of speech in which one word likes two others in the same sentence, often to comic or ironic effects. Ex. “Or stain her honour, or her new brocade.”
Describe Beowulf
The protagonist of the epic; a Geatish hero who fights the monster Grendel, Grendel’s mom, and the dragon to save the Danes. Proves himself to be the mightiest warrior of all time.
-a messiah-type figure
Describe Hrothgar
King of the Danes. A wise and aged ruler. A mentor-like figure to Beowulf; grows to have an extremely close relationship with Beowulf.
Describe Grendel
A demon descended from Cain who preys on the Danes in Heorot. Causes extreme grief and strife for the members of Heorot. Anger stems from God’s murder of Abel. Killed by Beowulf in a battle.
Describe Grendel’s mother
Another great threat to the kingdom of Heorot who seeks revenge for her deceased son by terrorizing Heorot. Killed in an underwater battle by Beowulf.
Describe the dragon
An ancient serpent who guards the treasure of the kingdom and is woken by a man stealing his precious goblet. Terrorizes Heorot until he is killed by Beowulf in an epic battle.
Define Shyl Scheiffing and describe Shield Sheafson
Shyl Schieffing: protects and feeds
Shield Sheafson: “The one who protects and feeds.” Hrothgar’s ancestor. Embodies the Danes’ high values of heroism and leadership. Son is Beow, grandson is Halfdane (Hrothgar’s father).
Describe Wealhtheow
Hrothgar’s wife; Queen of the Danes who maintains peace and equality among Heorot. Name means “treasure bearer.”
Unferth
A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf’s success in battle. Name means “un-peace.” Brings up what he believes to be Beowulf’s failures in attempt to make himself look better, but is proven wrong.
Hygelac
Beowulf’s uncle and king of the Geats
Wiglaf:
Beowulf’s right-hand man. Helps Beowulf succeed in battle against the dragon. Remains faithful to Beowulf when the other warriors did not.
About the Cantebury Tales
- Written in 1392 by William Chaucer
* Story of ‘host’ who goes on journey in the spring and meets 29 other characters who share their stories with him.
What are the four social classes that the Cantebury Tales divides its characters into.
Nobility, Clergy (those who prayed), Peasant Class (those who worked), and the Bums.
List the members of the Nobility class of Cantebury Tales
♣ Knight: Represents the ideal, medieval, Christian man. Brave and admired.
♣ Squire: Knight’s son
♣ Franklin: Free man
List the members of the Clergy class (those who prayed) of Cantebury Tales
♣ Prioress: Described as a charitable, compassionate lady who dresses not how a nun should.
♣ Monk: Large, loud man who not care much for working and prayer like a monk should; only concerned with hunting and eating.
♣ Friar: Readily befriends young women and rich men. Accepts bribes.
♣ Parson: Only good member of the clergy; preaches about being good and holy and practices what he preaches.
♣ Summoner: Lecherous, drunken, irritable man not qualified for his position. Has leprosy.
♣ Pardoner: Grants people pardons in exchange for money; is a fraud. Long, greasy, yellow hair. Gifted with preaching.
List the Peasant Class (those who worked) of Cantebury Tales
♣ The Man of Law: Successful lawyer.
♣ Haberdasher
♣ Carpenter
♣ Weaver
♣ Dyer
♣ Tapestry Maker
♣ Shipman: Experienced sailor; rascal, known for stealing from the ship’s captain.
♣ Physician: Extremely good doctor who is driven by wealth.
♣ Wife of Bath: Described as being a promiscuous, attractive woman who has been married several times and loves to talk.
♣ Yeoman
♣ Cook: Unhygienic cook.
♣ Plowman: Good-hearted man.
♣ Host: Narrator of the play. Is a different Chaucer than the author in his personality. Gregarious and naïve.
List of the Bums (class) in Cantebury Tales
♣ Miller: Strong, stout vulgar man who likes to drink and tell stories.
♣ Manciple: In charge of getting provisions for college or court; very smart.
♣ Reeve: Keeps people in line but steals from his master.
♣The summoner
♣Chaucer
♣The pardoner
Themes of Beowulf
o Good vs. Evil
o Fidelity – retaining Beowulf’s strength after his various battles over time
o Heroism
o Wealth – always giving Beowulf gifts after he was successful in his missions
o Courage
o Tradition and customs
What is Elixir in Beowulf
Beowulf being sent to heaven
About Sir. Gawain and the Green Knight
- Another motif about people being saved by a messiah-type figure.
- Green Knight: Handsome, huge, rich, muscular, believes he’s better than the others.
- Gawain: King’s nephew, polite, natural-born leader.
- The head chopping was made a covenant (a sacred promise), a year and a day later for Gawain to have the same done to him, or else he will be known as a coward.
- Pentangle on Gawain’s armour symbolizes fidelity and faithfulness in 5 ways (5 points), 5 wounds of Christ, 5 joys of Mary; never-ending.
- Many symbols throughout the story that allude to Gawain being sent off to his death.
- Armour is red and gold.
- There are many obligations Gawain agrees to honour along his journey and finds himself tangled up in them.
- Time spent at Bersilak’s resisting the Lady of the Manor was the true test of character, not the head chopping game.
- Gawain proved to be a good knight, even though he believed he was dishonest, cowardly, and coveted.
- Gawain’s scar is a symbol of the wound of sin and his recovery from it; serves as a visual reminder.
- Test of fidelity, not valour.
- Gawain returns to his kingdom grown up and mature because he learned from his failures.
- Motto suggests not to think poorly of Gawain because he is only human.
Themes of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
o War, grief, wonder
o Joy & turmoil
Describe Sir Gawain
Story’s protagonist, Arthur’s nephew. Great knight, courtly lover. Gains great knowledge from his challenge. A model for integrity, nobility, loyalty, honesty, and Christianity.
Describe the Green Knight
The interruption of the great feast in Camelot. Huge, green, supernatural, confident, mysterious. Proposes a challenge to those who would take it. AKA, Bertilak – tester of Sir Gawain’s noble virtues.
Describe Bertilak of Hautdesert (Gawain and the Green Knight)
The lord of the castle where Sir Gawain resides until he continues his journey to find the Green Knight. Welcoming, generous, brave hunter. AKA, the Green Knight.
Describe Bertilak’s Wife (Gawain and the Green Knight)
Attempts to seduce Sir Gawain into breaking one of his noble virtues – testing his character.
Describe Morgan le Faye (Gawain and the Green Knight)
The controller of the poem’s action – the old hag.
Describe King Arthur (Gawain and the Green Knight)
The leader of Camelot. Is a good king – attempts to take on the Green Knight’s offer but Sir Gawain steps forward instead. Sir Gawain’s lessons also teach him.
Describe Queen Guinevere (Gawain and the Green Knight)
Arthur’s wife. Is attempted to be sabotaged by Bertilak’s wife.
About Twelfth Night
- Written in 1601 by William Shakespeare
- Comedy – people are united with marriage
- Olivia falls in love with Viola because she dresses like a handsome young man
- Satirizes Puritans
- Miscommunication creates for comedy
Themes of Twelfth Night
o Mistaken identity o Unrequited love o Happy ending o Schemes o Disguises o Duels o Use and abuse of imagination o Deliberate deception o Drunks vs. Puritans o Sexual tensions
Describe Viola of Twelfth Night
A young, aristocratic woman whose boat got wrecked at sea and she washed up on the shore of Illyria. She disguises herself as a man called “Cesario” for a job for Duke Orsino – who she ends up falling in love with, and Olivia falls in love with “Cesario.” She feels trapped in her disguise. As well, she is in search for her missing twin brother.
Describe Orsino of Twelfth Night
A powerful, egotistical nobleman in Illyria who is hopelessly in love with Lady Olivia and becomes good friends with his new page boy, Cesario.
Describe Olivia of Twelfth Night
Wealthy, beautiful, noble lady from Illyria who is being smothered with unwanted love from Orsino. She choses to be independent because she is mourning the loss of her brother. She breaks this promise, however, when she meets Cesario, as she falls in love with him.
Describe Sebastian of Twelfth Night
Viola’s twin brother who was lost at sea. Finds Antonio, the pirate, and arrive in Illyria, where he is mistaken for Cesario by Olivia and gets married to her.
Describe Malvolio of Twelfth Night
Head servant to Olivia who is tricked by Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria into believing Olivia is in love with him and going through ridiculous measures to keep her interest. Ends up thinking he has gone insane by the end of the play as Toby, Andrew, and Maria take the joke too far.
Describe Fest of Twelfth Night
The clown/fool of Olivia’s house. Enjoys making jokes and singing.
Describe Sir Toby
Olivia’s crazy, drunken uncle who steals from his “friend” Sir Andrew and plays dirty tricks on Malvolio. He later gets married to Maria.
Describe Maria of Twelfth Night
Olivia’s clever, young gentlewoman. She gives Olivia good advice throughout the play but plays a nasty trick on Malvolio. She later gets married to Sir Toby.
Describe Sir Andrew of Twelfth Night
Foolish “friend” of Sir Toby who believes Toby is increasing his chances with Olivia, but he is just stealing money from him.
Describe Antonio of Twelfth Night
Sebastian’s rescuer after the shipwreck who has a bad reputation in Illyria and goes to jail for it. Has a strong relationship with Sebastian.
About Romanticism
- Began in ~1780 – shortest period; less than 100 years.
- One of the six periods of English literature: Medieval, Renaissance, Mondare, Romanticism, and Victorian
- A great era of change where societies reorganized themselves on many levels: Industrial Revolution.
- Rebelled against the Industrial Revolution; believed it threatened spiritual and creative nation.
- Believed the point of existence was discovered in creative activity
- IMPORTANCE OF NATURE!!! Stimulus for imagination; an escape from reality.
- Grew out of a response of the Scientific Method; reacted against the fact that people believed it answered everything.
- Believed imagination and insight were connected.
- Rebelled against poetic conventions in their day.
- Inspired by original motives of the French Revolution regarding personal freedom, democracy, giving people a voice, equality, and that everyone is unique and different.
- Used modern language – wanted to use real language used by common people to describe incidents/events in their everyday life.
- Sometimes may contain a response to how workers in this era were wrongfully treated.
Themes of Romanticism
Hope, fear, tension
About Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Worked with Wordsworth
- Also stirred by revolutionary ideals of the 1700s.
- Wrote against slave trade and British Prime Minister.
- Wrote in praise of radical thinkers and became a radical thinker himself
About Oscar Wilde and the Importance of Being Ernest
• 1857-1900s – during reign of Queen Victoria
• Many changes/progressions occurring in this era – scientific and technological advancements (railroad, printing press invented).
• Was gay – many parts of his literature allude to his double life.
o Went to labour jail for 2 years for ‘gross indecency.’
o Went against Victorian sex ideals – have kids
• Challenged tradition and progressiveness
• Cynical – playful and lighthearted
Examples of Satire in The Importance of Being Ernest
o Upper class society/people with money (points out hypocrisy)
o Women (silent treatment, cat fights, ‘less powerful’ than men)
o The belief that sexual restraint is vital
o Victorian ideals being questioned and creating distress for people
o Typical theatre in the Victorian era.
o Lack of socialization
o Literature – ex. Cecily’s diary used as a benchmark for chronological order of life but nothing makes sense.
What is a Bunburry and ‘Bunburrying’
Bunburry: a fictional friend which allows Algernon to escape unpleasant or social obligations
Bunburrying: • Taking on another identity to have fun. Used to escape social obligations. Invented by Algernon (refers to Wilde’s double life).
o All characters take part in this at some point.
What do false identities reveal about the play The Importance of Being Ernest
o Created to hide ideals they practiced that were not publicly accepted (alluding to Wilde being a homosexual)
o Similarities between Oscar and Ernest
o Algernon assumes the identity of Ernest Worthing (the same identity that Jack assumes) in order to expose Jack’s web of lies.
What is the Decadent Movement
• Victorians were interested in honesty, modesty, and hard work.
o Decadent movement went against this
o Rejected ideas that art should imitate life and that art should support shared values.
Symbolism in food about how it is used to symbolize ‘pleasure’
o Cucumber Sandwiches: Lady Bracknell likes them, but Algernon eats all of them and gets Jack and his butler to lie about there being no cucumbers at the market. Represent selfishness and ignorance.
o Bread and Butter: Jack consumes all the bread in butter because Gwendolen likes bread and butter; symbolizing he wants to ‘consume’ Gwendolen.
o Cake: Causes a cat fight between Cecily and Gwendolen. Showing hypocrisy among aristocrats. Parallels cucumber sandwich fiasco with Algernon.
o Cigarette Case: Ties in Jack’s niece to the story, used to facilitate action. When he receives cigarette case, he realizes he’s been living a double life. Status symbol.
o Food: Hedonism (consumed entirely by one’s own pleasures) and gourmand (one who appreciates fine food) were relevant in the play and to Algernon’s character (goes to the country to indulge in his pleasures). Allows Wilde to show how rude and badly mannered aristocrats were – don’t provide a good example to society.
How are Cecily and Gwendolen the same
Have the same goal – marry an Ernest (Cecily’s Ernest is a bad boy and adventurous, Gwendolen’s is morally upright and a pillar in the community)
♣ Both are direct in their motives
♣ Both go against each other when in competition about a man
♣ Complementary of one another
Competitive, shallow, and vapid
Richard Mayhew of Neverwhere
Recently moved to London from Scotland. Meets Door and gets trapped in London Below – losing his identity Above. Embarks on a heroic journey in the world of London Below in order to get back home, and leaves with new knowledge. Killer of the Beast of London.
Door of Neverwhere
Found on the side of the street by Richard and is the reason Richard loses his identity Above and must take on his journey Below. Richard and Door grow very close. She embarks on a journey to avenge the murdering of her family. Has the power to open any door.
Croupe and Vandemar of Neverwhere
Disgusting, dynamic duo that is under the employment of Islington to capture Door to open the door to escape his prison. Cannot bleed so cannot be killed.
Garry of Neverwhere
Richard’s best friend from work.
Jessica of Neverwhere
Richard’s fiancé, dramatic and self-centered.
Marquis de Carabas of Neverwhere
Mentor-like character to Richard. Is killed by Croup and Vandemar but is revived by Old Bailey. Is believed to have bad intentions but proves himself to have a good heart.
Hunter of Neverwhere
Guardian of Door in London Below. Obsessed with killing the Beast of London. Stabs Door and Richard in the back by going against them at the end but proves herself to be good.
Islington of Neverwhere
An angel responsible for destroying Atlantis. Send to prison and is trying desperately to escape.
Rhetoric
The art of persuasion and public speaking. Today, discusses the persuasive effects of form, sounds, and word choices.
Aesthetes
Members of a late 19th century movement that valued “art for art’s sake” – for its purely aesthetic qualities, as opposed to valuing art for the moral content it may convey, for the intellectual stimulation it may provide, or for a range of other qualities. Relates to Oscar Wilde.
Religion (Common Theme among pieces)
Remaining true to religion, straying from religion, pointing out those who stray away from religion, allowing religion to guide you, etc.
Misidentification/Tricks/Dishonest (Common theme among pieces)
Twelfth Night, IOBE, The Miller’s Tale – plots are based around these themes. Create for entertainment/comedy with confusion.
Heroism (common theme among pieces)
GK, Beowulf, Neverwhere – transformation of a normal person into a hero. Follows The Hero’s Journey, gains knowledge, etc.
