Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is a repetition of initial sounds in two or more words of a line of poetry?
What is a repetition of initial sounds in two or more words of a line of poetry?
alliteration
What is the pause or break in a line of Anglo-Saxon poetry?
What is the pause or break in a line of Anglo-Saxon poetry?
caesura
In the Germanic tradition, what is the relationship between a leader and his warriors, or a king and his lords called?
In the Germanic tradition, what is the relationship between a leader and his warriors, or a king and his lords called?
comitatus
What is a double metaphor, usually hyphenated, for example, 'swan-road' for sea?
What is a double metaphor, usually hyphenated, for example, 'swan-road' for sea?
What did scops help to preserve?
What did scops help to preserve?
Which was not a method used by scops to help them remember the stories?
Which was not a method used by scops to help them remember the stories?
A caesura is a primary accent.
A caesura is a primary accent.
Kenning is a double metaphor, usually hyphenated.
Kenning is a double metaphor, usually hyphenated.
In the oral tradition, each telling or singing of a story differed from the last.
In the oral tradition, each telling or singing of a story differed from the last.
The hero in an epic is _____?
The hero in an epic is _____?
How did the Anglo-Saxons regard life?
How did the Anglo-Saxons regard life?
Which of the following best describes the relationship between paganism and Christianity during the time of the Anglo-Saxons?
Which of the following best describes the relationship between paganism and Christianity during the time of the Anglo-Saxons?
Which of the statements best describes comitatus?
Which of the statements best describes comitatus?
Wiglaf was different from Beowulf's other retainers because he _____?
Wiglaf was different from Beowulf's other retainers because he _____?
Beowulf was probably written in the early 1200s.
Beowulf was probably written in the early 1200s.
What is the date of the Beowulf manuscript?
What is the date of the Beowulf manuscript?
What is the date of Hygelac's death?
What is the date of Hygelac's death?
What is the latest date for the original writing of Beowulf?
What is the latest date for the original writing of Beowulf?
What is the original form of the Beowulf story?
What is the original form of the Beowulf story?
Who founded the Danish royal line?
Who founded the Danish royal line?
What is the ship burial site?
What is the ship burial site?
What is Hrothgar's kingdom?
What is Hrothgar's kingdom?
What is the home of Geats and Beowulf?
What is the home of Geats and Beowulf?
Where was Beowulf when Grendel burst into the hall?
Where was Beowulf when Grendel burst into the hall?
Which of the following is not an accurate description of Grendel?
Which of the following is not an accurate description of Grendel?
Which line numbers show Grendel's first recognition that he was facing an extraordinary opponent?
Which line numbers show Grendel's first recognition that he was facing an extraordinary opponent?
What lines explain why swords were useless against Grendel?
What lines explain why swords were useless against Grendel?
What kenning is used in the description of Grendel's end?
What kenning is used in the description of Grendel's end?
What is Hrothgar's queen's name?
What is Hrothgar's queen's name?
What is Hrothgar's hall called?
What is Hrothgar's hall called?
Who carried off a chieftain?
Who carried off a chieftain?
Who is the king of the Geats?
Who is the king of the Geats?
Who is the king of the Danes?
Who is the king of the Danes?
Who tries to avenge Grendel's death?
Who tries to avenge Grendel's death?
What does Hrothgar caution Beowulf against?
What does Hrothgar caution Beowulf against?
To whom does Beowulf give the treasures he has earned?
To whom does Beowulf give the treasures he has earned?
Which of the following is the best summary of Beowulf's last words?
Which of the following is the best summary of Beowulf's last words?
Which heroic quality was Beowulf not eulogized as having?
Which heroic quality was Beowulf not eulogized as having?
What is manorial land held by the lord, attached to the manor house, and not held by serfs or freemen?
What is manorial land held by the lord, attached to the manor house, and not held by serfs or freemen?
What is a social, economic, and political system in the Middle Ages in which vassals gave military service in return for land and protection from a lord?
What is a social, economic, and political system in the Middle Ages in which vassals gave military service in return for land and protection from a lord?
In feudal society, what is the land held from a lord in return for service called?
In feudal society, what is the land held from a lord in return for service called?
What is the ceremony in which the vassal declares his loyalty to his lord and receives his fief?
What is the ceremony in which the vassal declares his loyalty to his lord and receives his fief?
What is a social and economic system in the Middle Ages?
What is a social and economic system in the Middle Ages?
What is a noble holding a fief from another noble of higher rank called?
What is a noble holding a fief from another noble of higher rank called?
A fief is a noble.
A fief is a noble.
The demesne is the best land on the manor.
The demesne is the best land on the manor.
Serfs were bound to the land and to the manor.
Serfs were bound to the land and to the manor.
Freemen could rent land and hire serfs.
Freemen could rent land and hire serfs.
Manorialism was a system of government.
Manorialism was a system of government.
The church was central to the life of medieval man.
The church was central to the life of medieval man.
Feudalism originated after Charlemagne's death.
Feudalism originated after Charlemagne's death.
What were trade associations called?
What were trade associations called?
Who were the members of the new middle class?
Who were the members of the new middle class?
What caused feudalism to decline?
What caused feudalism to decline?
Who is the 'Conqueror'?
Who is the 'Conqueror'?
What is a list of property holders called?
What is a list of property holders called?
Who was the archbishop of Canterbury?
Who was the archbishop of Canterbury?
Who lost the throne to William?
Who lost the throne to William?
Who lost most English possessions in France?
Who lost most English possessions in France?
Who set up the forerunner of the modern grand jury?
Who set up the forerunner of the modern grand jury?
Who conquered Wales?
Who conquered Wales?
Who was called 'Beauclerc'?
Who was called 'Beauclerc'?
Southeast Midland is a dialect of Middle English.
Southeast Midland is a dialect of Middle English.
Geoffrey Chaucer used the language that was used in London or what was called the Late Middle English.
Geoffrey Chaucer used the language that was used in London or what was called the Late Middle English.
England had three dialects of Middle English.
England had three dialects of Middle English.
Chaucer's language was the language of London.
Chaucer's language was the language of London.
Middle English differs from Modern English in pronunciation of long vowels, some diphthongs, and some consonants.
Middle English differs from Modern English in pronunciation of long vowels, some diphthongs, and some consonants.
Final e is silent in Middle English.
Final e is silent in Middle English.
Gh is pronounced ch in Middle English.
Gh is pronounced ch in Middle English.
In Middle English, h and gn are not silent in words of French origin.
In Middle English, h and gn are not silent in words of French origin.
What is a humorous tale that was popular in France called?
What is a humorous tale that was popular in France called?
What is the title of the 'Romance of the Rose'?
What is the title of the 'Romance of the Rose'?
Who wrote the 'Divine Comedy'?
Who wrote the 'Divine Comedy'?
Who authored the 'Decameron'?
Who authored the 'Decameron'?
What is the name of the shrine at Canterbury?
What is the name of the shrine at Canterbury?
Who wrote the 'Book of the Duchesse'?
Who wrote the 'Book of the Duchesse'?
What is the list of characters and setting referred to in literature?
What is the list of characters and setting referred to in literature?
Which three are members of the chivalric and military group?
Which three are members of the chivalric and military group?
Which five are members of the regular clergy?
Which five are members of the regular clergy?
Chaucer's intention was for each traveler to tell how many tales?
Chaucer's intention was for each traveler to tell how many tales?
In the Canterbury Tales, a ___________ to the shrine of Thomas à Becket forms the large framework.
In the Canterbury Tales, a ___________ to the shrine of Thomas à Becket forms the large framework.
Each tale is _____.
Each tale is _____.
In what month does the pilgrimage take place?
In what month does the pilgrimage take place?
How many pilgrims are mentioned in the 'Prologue' besides Chaucer?
How many pilgrims are mentioned in the 'Prologue' besides Chaucer?
At what inn did the pilgrims meet?
At what inn did the pilgrims meet?
How many mortal battles did the knight fight?
How many mortal battles did the knight fight?
Even though the knight won fame and honors, he was also very __________.
Even though the knight won fame and honors, he was also very __________.
Select all of the characteristics that best describe the knight.
Select all of the characteristics that best describe the knight.
Select all of the characteristics that best describe the squire.
Select all of the characteristics that best describe the squire.
As a military man, the yeoman is a ____________.
As a military man, the yeoman is a ____________.
What is a Franciscan?
What is a Franciscan?
What is a poor student called?
What is a poor student called?
Who is Madame Eglentyne?
Who is Madame Eglentyne?
What is a successful tradesman called?
What is a successful tradesman called?
What is an Augustinian?
What is an Augustinian?
What is a newly rich person called?
What is a newly rich person called?
What is a lawyer of high rank called?
What is a lawyer of high rank called?
To become a sergeant of laws, a lawyer had to have at least _______ years' experience.
To become a sergeant of laws, a lawyer had to have at least _______ years' experience.
Who was a worldly person who enjoyed hunting and riding, even though those pastimes were against Church Law?
Who was a worldly person who enjoyed hunting and riding, even though those pastimes were against Church Law?
The other pilgrims knew that the five _________________ were successful because they had silver rather than brass trim on their ______________.
The other pilgrims knew that the five _________________ were successful because they had silver rather than brass trim on their ______________.
Study Notes
Poetry and Literary Terms
- Alliteration: The repetition of initial sounds in two or more words within a line of poetry.
- Caesura: A pause or break in a line of Anglo-Saxon poetry, not necessarily a primary accent.
- Comitatus: The bond between a leader and his warriors, emphasizing loyalty and mutual obligation.
- Kenning: A compound metaphor, often hyphenated, such as "swan-road" representing the sea.
Anglo-Saxon Culture and Traditions
- Scops helped preserve oral stories but did not use kennings as a memory aid.
- Life, according to Anglo-Saxon belief, was viewed as a transitory occurrence.
- The relationship between paganism and Christianity involved the adaptation of pagan traditions for Christian purposes.
Beowulf Context
- Beowulf's Manuscript Date: Texts were likely written in AD 790-830; the manuscript itself dates to AD 1000.
- Hygelac's Death: Recorded around AD 521.
- Heroic Qualities: Beowulf epitomizes an ideal hero, known for exceptional bravery and loyalty, unlike his other retainers, particularly emphasized through Wiglaf's loyalty.
Characters and Geography in Beowulf
- Hrothgar: King of Denmark, associated with Heorot, his great hall; wife is Wealhtheow.
- Grendel: A monstrous antagonist defeated by Beowulf, described vividly in the poem.
- Grendel's Mother: Seeks vengeance after Grendel's defeat.
- Geats: The people of Beowulf, originating from Sweden.
Language and Literature Transition
- Feudalism: A social system where vassals provided military service in exchange for land and protection.
- Manorialism: An economic arrangement within feudalism, focused on the agricultural estate.
- Demesne: Land held by the lord, not farmed by serfs.
- Guilds: Trade associations that represented the interests of the burgeoning middle class.
Historical Figures and Events
- William: Known as "the Conqueror," pivotal in altering England's social structure.
- Domesday Book: A comprehensive inventory of landholdings and property owners in England.
- Thomas à Becket: Archbishop of Canterbury, his shrine became a pilgrimage destination.
The Canterbury Tales Overview
- Pilgrimage to Thomas à Becket's shrine forms the narrative framework.
- Chaucer intended each pilgrim to tell four tales, linking each narrative in a collective structure.
- The characters range across social classes, including knights, clergy, and tradesmen, reflecting medieval society.
Character Sketches from The Canterbury Tales
- Knight: Embodies chivalry, fought numerous battles, noted for loyalty and wisdom.
- Squire: Son of the knight, skilled in arts, aspires to romance, actively participates in war.
- Yeoman: A sergeant akin to a military figure, indicative of the rising middle class.
- Friar: A religious figure who contradicted Church laws with indulgences in worldly pleasures.
Social Dynamics and Roles
- Clerk: A poor student dedicated to learning, contrasting with wealthier classes.
- Prioress (Madame Eglentyne): Represents the pious yet worldly view of the Church.
- Merchant: Depicts emerging economic power and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Franklin: A symbol of the newly rich class, he enjoyed life’s pleasures.
This structured overview encapsulates the essential themes, characters, and historical contexts relevant to the study of Anglo-Saxon literature, particularly "Beowulf" and "The Canterbury Tales."
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Description
Test your knowledge on the key poetic terms and cultural traditions from the Anglo-Saxon period. This quiz covers important concepts such as alliteration, caesura, and the heroic qualities depicted in 'Beowulf'. Discover the rich literary heritage and cultural practices of the Anglo-Saxons.
