History of British Literature Exam Guide
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following are examples of Old English (Anglo-Saxon) literature?

  • The Dream of the Rood (correct)
  • Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
  • Beowulf (correct)
  • The Canterbury Tales

    • Alliteration is a poetic device that is uniquely characteristic of oral literature.

    True (A)

    What is a kenning?

    A kenning is a metaphorical phrase used to replace a noun, often used in Old English literature.

    The ______ is a type of medieval romance that often features themes of courtly love, chivalry, and adventure.

    <p>romance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following literary works with their corresponding period:

    <p>Beowulf = Old English (Anglo-Saxon) The Canterbury Tales = Middle Ages Sir Gawain and the Green Knight = Middle Ages Pearl = Middle Ages Roman de la Rose = Middle Ages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Mystery plays were primarily focused on teaching moral lessons and the consequences of sin.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the framing story in The Canterbury Tales?

    <p>The framing story establishes a context for the diverse collection of tales told by the different characters and provides a unifying element.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the significance of the Norman Invasion for the history of English literature?

    <p>It led to the integration of French and English elements in literature, ultimately enriching English culture. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these authors is NOT associated with the rise of the novel in Britain?

    <p>William Shakespeare (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The "heroic couplet" was a popular form of poetry during the Age of Reason because of its strict rhyme scheme and formal structure.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the novel by Samuel Richardson that tells the story of a virtuous young woman named Pamela?

    <p>Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The novel, as a genre, emerged in the ______ century.

    <p>18th</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following authors with their respective novels:

    <p>Daniel Defoe = Robinson Crusoe Jonathan Swift = Gulliver's Travels Samuel Richardson = Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded Henry Fielding = Tom Jones</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main concept behind "sentimentalism" in 18th-century literature?

    <p>Sentimentalism emphasizes emotional responses and explores the characters' inner feelings and experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The "Gothic Novel" is characterized by dark, mysterious settings, supernatural elements, and a focus on the grotesque.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following authors wrote "The Castle of Otranto", a novel often cited as the first Gothic novel?

    <p>Horace Walpole (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic feature of metaphysical poetry, as exemplified in John Donne's works?

    <p>Emphasis on formal structure and rhyme schemes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    John Milton's Paradise Lost is considered a traditional epic poem, following the conventions of classical epic poetry.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a metaphysical conceit? Explain the term with an example from John Donne's 'The Flea'.

    <p>A metaphysical conceit is an extended metaphor that compares two seemingly disparate things in a surprising and often paradoxical way, often using intellectual and abstract concepts. In 'The Flea', Donne compares the flea's bite to a merging of blood, symbolizing a union between the speaker and his beloved. This extended metaphor explores the nature of love, desire, and intimacy using a seemingly trivial insect.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The dominant poetic form used by Alexander Pope, often found in his An Essay on Criticism, is known as the _________.

    <p>heroic couplet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the literary figures with their major works:

    <p>John Donne = Paradise Lost John Milton = The Flea Alexander Pope = An Essay on Criticism George Herbert = Easter Wings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of John Donne's sonnet 'Batter my heart...'?

    <p>Strict adherence to iambic pentameter (E)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dryden, Pope, and Johnson are all figures who praised the metaphysical poets for their intellectual and unconventional style.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the 'run-on lines' technique in Milton's Paradise Lost? How does it contribute to the poem's stylistic impact?

    <p>Run-on lines, also known as enjambment, create a flowing, uninterrupted rhythm and contribute to the grand and epic tone of <em>Paradise Lost</em>. The lack of punctuation and the continuation of the thought across lines enhance the dramatic and lyrical aspects of the poem, drawing the reader into the narrative's emotional and intellectual landscape.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Romantic period in literature roughly encompassed the late 18th century to the early 1830s.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these authors is NOT associated with the Romantic poetry movement?

    <p>Jane Austen (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The "______" to Lyrical Ballads by William Wordsworth became a foundational text in the Romantic movement.

    <p>Preface</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the Romantic poets with their iconic poems:

    <p>William Wordsworth = Ode on a Grecian Urn Percy Bysshe Shelley = We Are Seven John Keats = Ode to the West Wind William Blake = Songs of Innocence and of Experience</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Briefly describe two key differences between the Age of Reason and Romanticism.

    <p>The Age of Reason, also known as the Enlightenment, emphasized logic, reason, and scientific inquiry. In contrast, Romanticism celebrated emotion, imagination, and the individual's subjective experience. The Age of Reason prioritized objectivity and order, while Romanticism valued spontaneity and the power of nature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a central theme explored in William Wordsworth's "We Are Seven"?

    <p>The complexities of death and childhood (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Wordsworth's Preface to Lyrical Ballads, what should be the subject matter of poetry?

    <p>Wordsworth believed that poetry should draw its subject matter from the everyday experiences and language of common people. He argued that the language of poetry should not be artificially elevated but should be the language of real life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind" exemplify the Romantic approach to nature?

    <p>Shelley's poem personifies the wind as a powerful force, capable of both destruction and renewal. It reflects the Romantic view of nature as a source of inspiration and a force that can shape human emotions and destinies. The poem emphasizes the interconnectedness of nature and humanity, demonstrating how nature's moods can mirror human feelings and experiences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between the Italian/Petrarchan sonnet and the English/Shakespearean sonnet in terms of rhyme scheme?

    <p>The Italian/Petrarchan sonnet has a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA CDCDCD or ABBAABBA CDECDE, while the English/Shakespearean sonnet has a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these plays is NOT written by William Shakespeare?

    <p>The Spanish Tragedy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    University Wits were a group of playwrights who were educated at Oxford or Cambridge.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Renaissance theatre emphasized the ______ of time, place, and action.

    <p>classical unities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following Renaissance playwrights with their most famous work.

    <p>Christopher Marlowe = Doctor Faustus Thomas Kyd = The Spanish Tragedy William Shakespeare = Hamlet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is 'comic relief' in a Renaissance tragedy, and what purpose does it serve?

    <p>Comic relief refers to humorous scenes or characters in a tragedy that provide a break from the seriousness and intensity of the main plot. It helps to create a balance between the tragic and the comedic elements, and it can also serve to highlight the absurdity of the situation or the characters' flaws.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following features is NOT characteristic of the Renaissance public theatre stage?

    <p>A proscenium arch (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The audiences in the Renaissance public theatre were homogeneous, meaning they were all of the same social class and background.

    <p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following authors is NOT associated with the Victorian novel?

    <p>Jane Austen (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Realist fiction typically features omniscient narrators who provide an objective and unbiased perspective on the characters and events.

    <p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a Bildungsroman?

    <p>A novel that chronicles the protagonist's development and growth from childhood to adulthood.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Virginia Woolf's essay, "Modern Fiction", criticizes the traditional novel for its focus on _______ and its neglect of the inner lives of characters.

    <p>materialism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following literary techniques with their corresponding definitions:

    <p>Stream of consciousness = A narrative technique that mimics the flow of thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the mind of a character. Omniscient narrator = A narrative voice that knows everything about the characters and events in the story. Bildungsroman = A type of novel that focuses on the protagonist's development and growth from childhood to adulthood.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Exam Guide: History of British Literature

    • Exam is on Saturday, February 1st, 12:00-13:30, Room S306
    • Retest is Saturday, February 8th, 8:30-10:00, Room S303
    • Exam covers named periods/issues (including covered in lectures), terms, devices, general/detailed questions, and analytic/fragment recognition questions
    • Utilize lecture notes and provided materials (including, but not limited to, provided lecture materials for each section)
    • Names/titles will be relevant to the listed epochs, including those not specifically mentioned in this guide
    • Key terms/devices (identified in bold), must be known and applicable to the relevant period
    • Examine histories of British/English literature (e.g., Sanders' The Short Oxford History)
    • Appropriately use anthologies, websites, and/or supporting resources
    • Note specific texts/fragments from projected/assigned readings, including alliteration
    • Recognize alliteration and its connections to oral literature
    • Master concepts including allegory, dream vision, courtly love, mystery plays, morality plays, romance, and heroic epic, and specific examples/illustrations
    • Understand the consequences of the Norman invasion on English literature
    • Differentiate between allegory and symbol
    • Familiarize yourself with characteristics of the Renaissance theater, including stage shape, staging, unities (time, place, action), subplots, and the function of various elements
    • Be aware of the significance of the 'University Wits'
    • Analyze functions of framing stories and soliloquies, as well as other specific literary devices
    • Understand the features of different types of plays including mystery, morality, comedy, tragedy, revenge tragedy, and chronicles
    • Discuss Renaissance poetry (sonnets—specifically Italian/Petrarchan and Shakespearean forms)
    • Understand the late Renaissance, Early 17th-century period and the English Civil War context
    • Explain literary concepts like metaphysical conceits, heroic couplets, and the significance of Restoration
    • Examine the Enlightenment (Age of Reason) period with specific focus on poetry and analysis of Pope's "An Essay on Criticism"
    • Discuss general characteristics of the Romantic period, particularly poetry (Blake, Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats) and their influence
    • Analyze the difference between the Enlightenment and Romantic periods' approaches, themes, and styles
    • Discuss the development of the novel in Britain, encompassing historical and social context
    • Examine/discuss the differences between romances and novels in British literature
    • Explain the novel's emergence in relation to social/historical/political/economic/cultural factors during the 18th century and how this shaped the genre
    • Discuss the various types of novels in the 18th century
    • Identify the influences of Richardson, Fielding, and Sterne on later novelists and their specific contributions
    • Explore the characteristics and evolution of sentimentalism, its development into Romanticism, and how it impacted novels
    • Analyze the characteristics of the Romantic Period, including literary focus on themes, approaches to nature, and specific examples from poets
    • Analyze James Macpherson's works, including Ossian, and their influence on broader culture
    • Recognize significant figures (authors) and recurring themes/motifs in Romantic literature
    • Examine major tenets of William Wordsworth’s Preface to Lyrical Ballads, including purpose and nature of poetry
    • Discuss the key aspects and differences from earlier literary periods
    • Know and be able to analyze examples of stream-of-consciousness writing by Virginia Woolf and James Joyce
    • Understand modernist prose fiction, including Virginia Woolf's and James Joyce's contributions (especially in relation to their contributions to prose fiction), and ability analyze the structure of stream-of-consciousness
    • Be able to analyze fragments of cited texts and identify specific literary devices that appear in the examples provided

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    2024-2025 History of British Literature Exam Guide PDF

    Description

    Prepare for the upcoming exam on the History of British Literature with this comprehensive guide. Covering key periods, issues, and literary devices, this resource helps you understand the impacts of historical events on literature. Familiarize yourself with significant texts and concepts to excel in your exam.

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