U5 L3 The Epic And Beowulf

Question 1

Who is a scop?

Answer 1

• poet

- told old stories and changed them

Question 2

In oral tradition did each telling differ from the last?

Answer 2

yes

Question 3

What were the frameworks that scops used to remember stories?

Answer 3

• alliteration
• phrases
• poetic idioms
• rhythms patterns

Question 4

What combination did Anglo-Saxon rhythm depend on?

Answer 4

weak and heavy stresses in many combinations

Question 5

What was the basic unit of meter in Anglo-Saxon verse?

Answer 5

• half-line

- each made up of a phrase with 2 stresses

Question 6

What does a line of Anglo-Saxon poetry consist of?

Answer 6

• 4 stresses, 2 in each half-line
• 8-20 syllables
• 2 half-lines separated by pause/break
• joined by alliteration

Question 7

What indicated stresses?

Answer 7

accent marks ‘

Question 8

What indicated alliteration?

Answer 8

underscores _

Question 9

What is a caesura?

Answer 9

pause/break in a line in Anglo-Saxon poetry

Question 10

What is Anglo-Saxon poetic language rich in?

Answer 10

metaphor

Question 11

What is kenning?

Answer 11

• double metaphor
• hyphenated

eg. world-candle

Question 12

Where does the word ‘epic’ come from?

Answer 12

Greek word meaning tale

Question 13

What is an epic?

Answer 13

long narrative poem dealing with heroic characters and actions

Question 14

In epics, what is the hero like?

Answer 14

ideal person with almost superhuman qualities

Question 15

What is medias res?

Answer 15

middle of story

Question 16

At what part to most epics start in?

Answer 16

• medias res/middle of story

- narrator explains previous actions as story progresses

Question 17

What do the two sections of Beowulf deal with?

Answer 17

1- Beowulf leads his men to Hrothgar’s kingdom to defeat Grendel
2- elder King Beowulf, last battle with dragon

Question 18

What does Beowulf reveal?

Answer 18

customs and ideals of Anglo-Saxon culture

Question 19

What is comitatus?

Answer 19

• Germanic tradition
• relationship btw lord and warriors
• lord protects and provides warrior needs
• warrior gives loyalty and support

Question 20

In Beowulf, between who is the comitatus relationship seen between?

Answer 20

• Hrothgar and his retainers
• Beowulf and his men
• Geats and Danes

Question 21

What was Wiglaf’s significance?

Answer 21

• demonstrated comitatus
• remained with Beowulf in fighting dragon
• named successor by Beowulf

Question 22

Who were the Geats?

Answer 22

Beowulf’s people

Question 23

Who were the Danes?

Answer 23

Hrothgar’s people

Question 24

What is Fame in Anglo-Saxon culture?

Answer 24

good name that would live on after a man’s death

Question 25

What was linked to the comitatus?

Answer 25

- fame | - transitory nature of life

Question 26

What was the lord also called?

Answer 26

ring-giver

Question 27

Early practice of Christianity in England blended into which two systems?

Answer 27

Germanic and Christians

Question 28

What were the two burials mentioned in Beowulf?

Answer 28

- Scyld Scefing | - Beowulf

Question 29

Descriptions of artifacts in Beowulf correspond to those found in which ship and when?

Answer 29

- Sutton Hoo | - 1939

Question 30

What is the date of the Beowulf manuscript?

Answer 30

1000

Question 31

What is the latest date for the original writing of Beowulf?

Answer 31

790-830

Question 32

Who was Hygelac? And when did he die?

Answer 32

- Geat - Beowulf's uncle and king of Geats - killed in a raid on the Frisians in 521

Question 33

The probable date for the writing of Beowulf would be during who's time?

Answer 33

Venerable Bede

Question 34

What is Beowulf a product of?

Answer 34

oral poetic tradition

Question 35

What was Beowulf most likely copied from?

Answer 35

song of bard or scop

Question 36

What was Beowulf probably based on?

Answer 36

fol tale

Question 37

Was the name Beowulf common in the Anglo-Saxon period?

Answer 37

no

Question 38

How many lines of unrhymed alliterative meter does Beowulf consist of?

Answer 38

3182

Question 39

Beowulf how many fitts/sections?

Answer 39

43

Question 40

What does the story of Beowulf open/begin with?

Answer 40

- sea burial of Scyld Scefing | - first 50 lines of his achievments

Question 41

What was Heorot?

Answer 41

Hrothgar's Hall

Question 42

Where was the home of the Geats and Beowulf?

Answer 42

Sweden

Question 43

Where was Hrothgar's kingdom?

Answer 43

Denmark

Question 44

Who tries to avenge Grendel?

Answer 44

his Mother

Question 45

Where is Grendel's mother's lair?

Answer 45

mere/lake

Question 46

What does Hrothgar warn Beowulf about?

Answer 46

dangers of pride

Question 47

Who is Wealhtheow?

Answer 47

Hrothgar's queen

Question 48

Who did Beowulf give his treasures to?

Answer 48

Hygelac

Question 49

What is stolen from the dragon that causes him to want revenge?

Answer 49

cup

Question 50

What heroic quality was Beowulf not eulogized as having?

Answer 50

bravery

Question 51

What was the Hrothgar's hall in Beowulf used for?

Answer 51

- eating - sleeping - meeting- - entertaining