Test 1 Flashcards
1066
year of Norman invasion; beginning of French influence; French became language of courts; brought with it the feudal system
Feudal System
Noblemen held land from the king, knights got land from n-blemen, serfs and peasants worked the land from the knights
three estates
“those who fought”
“those who prayed”
“those who worked the land”
mystical social body
peasants and laborers as feet; knights as right hand; merchants as left hand; townspeople as heart; kings, princes, and priests as head
Black Death
plague during the mid 14th century that wiped out 35-50% of the population
Rising of 1381
aka the Peasant’s Revolt; led by peasants and renegade priests; swiftly put down; instilled fear in aristocrats
Old English Heroic Poetry
poetry that emphasizes the heroic tradition, which tended to be associated with paganism; had to do with battles and revelry and dying for your lord
Old English elegy
describes ups and downs of fortunes of life
ubi sunt
“where are” or “where have they gone” … relevant to the Wanderer
Arthurian Romance
emphasized chivalry, knights, honor
pilgrimage
traveling to a place of religious significance for religious purposes
Middle English
12th-15th century; more influence from French words; writers wrote about religion, love, and Arthurian romance, with the exception of Chaucer
mystical writings
writings that had mystic themes where an individual undergoes a religious experience that extends their consciousness and changes their life
anchoress
someone who withdraws from secular society to lead a prayer-oriented life
the Passion
the sufferings of Christ
Reformation
Henry VIII abandoned Catholicism and made the Church of England the official religion
Renaissance
1500-1700; means “rebirth”; reviving thoughts of classic Greek and Roman writers; learning became accessible to ordinary people instead of just religious
Virgin Queen
Elizabeth I
Shakespearean Sonnet
consists of 3 quatrains (ABAB) followed by a couplet
alchemy
practiced during and after the era of Ben Jonson; goal was to turn base metal into gold
Philosopher’s stone
substance capable of turning metal into gold; also thought to be the elixir of life
pattern poem
poem with a shape that contributes to its meaning; “Easter Wings” by George Herbert
conceit
extended comparison
Metaphysical elegy (give example)
draws on Latin tradition (love and sex) rather than lamenting things that have passed away, “To Mistress Going to Bed” by John Donne
Petrarchan Sonnet (give example)
Itallian Sonnet that consists of an octet, a turn, then a sestet; the octet is 2 quatrains of ABBA(x2) and the sestet is 2 triads of CDE(x2); “When I Consider How My Light is Spent” by Milton
English Civil War
when the Puritans revolted against Charles I and formed a republic with Oliver Cromwell at head
Commonwealth
aka Interregnum; lasted from 1649-1659; led by Puritans and Oliver Cromwell
Cavalier Poetry
wrote in support of the crown and spoke out against parliamentarians
pastoral elegy (give example)
idealized rural life, emphasizing innocence, “Corinna’s Going A-Maying” by Robert Herrick
pathetic fallacy (give example)
when human emotions are attributed to nature; “Lycidas” by John Milton
Spanish Armada
occurred in 1588; defeated by English; troops inspired by Queen Elizabeth I
carpe diem (2 examples)
“seize the day”; “Corinna’s Going A-Maying,” by Herrick, “To His Coy Mistress” by Andrew Marvell
Oliver Cromwell
led the commonwealth
blazon
anatomization of the female body
felix culpa (give example)
a happy fall; in terms of Eden; “Easter Wings” by George Herbert
metaphysical poetry
described a reality beyond what is visible to the senses; philosophical and spiritual subjects approached with reason; characterized by elaborate conceits
