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Questions and Answers
Which language(s) were spoken by many British people before the Anglo-Saxon invasion?
Which Acts of Union annexed Wales to the Kingdom of England?
When did the Kingdom of Great Britain come into existence?
What is the name of the historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands, from their capture by the Norwegian king in the 9th century until about 1200?
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When did the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland form?
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What is the name of the Old English literature that encompasses the surviving literature written in Old English in Anglo-Saxon England?
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Which country's literature is not considered British, although literature from Northern Ireland is both Irish and British?
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Which of the following languages are not covered in the article 'British Literature' in the English language?
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Which language has a separate article that focuses on the literature written in that language in Britain?
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What is the controversy surrounding the description of Irish literature as British?
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Which language is not discussed in the 'British Literature' article, but is discussed in the article 'Literature in the other languages of Britain'?
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Which language is included in the 'British Literature' article, but only in relation to the early development of the English language and literature?
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Which of the following is not one of the territories included in British literature?
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What is the earliest literature included in the 'British Literature' article?
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Which genre of literature was not popular in early English culture?
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Who is the earliest known English poet whose name is known?
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Which work is an example of a chronicle containing historical and literary accounts?
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Which poet is known for developing the Arthurian legend in Anglo-Norman literature?
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Which work is an example of a translation of a late classical philosophical text?
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What was the name of the chronicle that contained a range of historical and literary accounts?
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Which poet adapted Wace to make the first English-language work to use the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table?
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Who is considered the Father of English literature?
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What is the name of the Middle English allegorical narrative poem by William Langland?
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What is the name of the Middle English alliterative romance that highlights the importance of honour and chivalry?
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What is the name of the group of Bible translations into Middle English made under the direction of John Wycliffe?
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What is the name of the collection of stories written in Middle English presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims?
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What is the name of the intricate elegiac poem that was preserved in the same manuscript with Sir Gawain?
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What is the name of the Middle English Bible translation that helped to establish English as a literary language?
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What is the name of the late-14th-century Middle English alliterative romance of an established type known as the "beheading game"?
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Who is remembered primarily for three major works, the Mirroir de l'Omme, Vox Clamantis, and Confessio Amantis, three long?
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Study Notes
Pre-Anglo-Saxon Invasion
- Celtic languages and Latin were spoken by many British people before the Anglo-Saxon invasion
Acts of Union
- The Acts of Union in 1536 annexed Wales to the Kingdom of England
Kingdom of Great Britain
- The Kingdom of Great Britain came into existence in 1707
Orkney Islands
- The historical narrative of the history of the Orkney Islands is known as the "Orkneyinga Saga", covering from their capture by the Norwegian king in the 9th century until about 1200
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland formed in 1801
Old English Literature
- The Old English literature is known as "Anglo-Saxon literature", encompassing the surviving literature written in Old English in Anglo-Saxon England
British Literature Exclusions
- Irish literature is not considered British, although literature from Northern Ireland is both Irish and British
- Welsh literature is not covered in the article "British Literature" in the English language
- Cornish literature has a separate article that focuses on the literature written in that language in Britain
- Latin is not discussed in the "British Literature" article, but is discussed in the article "Literature in the other languages of Britain"
Controversy Surrounding Irish Literature
- The controversy surrounding the description of Irish literature as British is that Irish literature is not considered British
Early Literature
- The earliest literature included in the "British Literature" article is from the Old English period
Early English Culture
- The genre of literature that was not popular in early English culture is romance
Early English Poets
- Caedmon is the earliest known English poet whose name is known
Chronicles
- The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is an example of a chronicle containing historical and literary accounts
- Wace's "Roman de Brut" is an example of a translation of a late classical philosophical text
Arthurian Legend
- Wace is known for developing the Arthurian legend in Anglo-Norman literature
- Layamon adapted Wace to make the first English-language work to use the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Father of English Literature
- Geoffrey Chaucer is considered the Father of English literature
Middle English Works
- "Piers Plowman" is a Middle English allegorical narrative poem by William Langland
- "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" is a Middle English alliterative romance that highlights the importance of honour and chivalry
- The "Wycliffe Bible" is the name of the group of Bible translations into Middle English made under the direction of John Wycliffe
- "The Canterbury Tales" is a collection of stories written in Middle English presented as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims
- "Pearl" is an intricate elegiac poem that was preserved in the same manuscript with Sir Gawain
- The "Wycliffe Bible" is the Middle English Bible translation that helped to establish English as a literary language
- "Gawain and the Green Knight" is a late-14th-century Middle English alliterative romance of an established type known as the "beheading game"
- John Gower is remembered primarily for three major works, the "Mirroir de l'Omme", "Vox Clamantis", and "Confessio Amantis", three long poems
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Description
Test your knowledge of early English literature with this quiz! From epic poetry to Bible translations, explore the various genres and surviving manuscripts from this period. See how much you know about the oral tradition of early English culture and the popular works that have endured through the centuries.
