Literature and English History Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What makes Beowulf the greatest Old English poem?

It has over a thousand lines.

It was written by a famous author.

It is the first English epic. (correct)

It was only found in Latin.

Epic poems are typically written in a casual and simplistic style.

False

Name one of the major scholars of the Old English period who wrote in Latin.

Bede

Beowulf is a brave young man from _____ who helps Hrothgar.

Sweden Signup and view all the answers

Match the following poets with their themes:

Caedmon = Biblical themes Cynewulf = Biblical themes Unknown Author of Beowulf = Epic narrative about Grendel Author of The Seafarer = Lyric lament Signup and view all the answers

The poem Beowulf ends with a joyous celebration of the hero's life.

False Signup and view all the answers

Which type of epic poem does Beowulf belong to?

Heroic epic Signup and view all the answers

What significant impact did King Alfred the Great have on Old English literature?

He translated Latin books into Old English. Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of a folk/primary epic?

Oral compositions passed down through storytellers Signup and view all the answers

An epic typically revolves around the actions of a common man.

False Signup and view all the answers

What does 'In Medias Res' mean?

In the middle of things Signup and view all the answers

The _____ is a formal plea for aid commonly found in epic poetry.

invocation Signup and view all the answers

Match the following epics with their type:

Beowulf = Folk/Primary epic The Aeneid = Literary epic The Iliad = Folk/Primary epic Paradise Lost = Literary epic Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a characteristic of epic conventions?

First-person narrative style Signup and view all the answers

Epic poetry often uses elevated style for both positive and negative portrayals.

True Signup and view all the answers

What term is used for a descriptive phrase that refers to a characteristic of a person, often found in epics?

epithet Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

What is Literature?

Literature is a collection of thoughts, emotions, and ideas that is considered to be alive.
It allows people to travel to unknown places, meet different characters and expand their horizons and cultural understanding.
Literature allows people to see life from different perspectives with different interpretations, promoting critical thinking and fostering a sense of choice and voice.

Periods of English History

Old English (Anglo-Saxon): 450-1066
Middle English: 1066-1500
The Neoclassical Age: 1660-1785
The Renaissance: 1500-1600
The Victorian Period: 1837-1901
The Romantic Period: 1785-1830
The Georgian: 1910-1936
The Edwardian Period: 1901-1914
The Modern Period: 1914-1945
Postmodernism: 1945-

Old English (450-1066)

Germanic tribes invaded the Celtic kingdom in the first half of the 5th century.
The Anglo-Saxon language was the earliest form of English.
While earlier literature was primarily oral, written literature developed after the conversion to Christianity.
Notable scholars of the period include Bede and Alcuin, who wrote in Latin.

Old English (450-1000)

Beowulf, the greatest Old English poem, dates back to the 8th century.
Germanic epic poems, lyric laments, such as The Wanderer, The Seafarer, and Deor, were also prevalent during this era.
These poems, written by Christian authors, reflected the conditions of life in the pagan past while incorporating religious themes and elements of biblical narrative.
King Alfred the Great translated numerous Latin books into Old English, reviving learning in England and improving education.
Caedmon and Cynewulf were notable poets who wrote primarily on biblical themes.

Beowulf

The greatest Old English poem and the first English epic.
The author remains unknown.
It is not about England but about Hrothgar, the king of the Danes.
Beowulf, a brave, young man from Sweden, visits Hrothgar’s hall Heorot.
Heorot is plagued by Grendel, a terrible creature who lives in the lake and kills the king’s men.
Beowulf travels to help Hrothgar defeat Grendel.
The poem ends with a sorrowful description of Beowulf’s funeral fire.

What is an Epic?

A long narrative poem on a serious subject.
Told in a formal and elevated style.
Centered on a heroic quasi-divine figure.
Focuses on heroes and warriors of history or tradition.
The hero's actions determine the fate of a tribe, nation, or race.
Early primary epics like Beowulf, The Iliad, and The Odyssey, were initially composed orally, recited, and written down much later by bards.
Literary secondary epics are written compositions that have remained unchanged over time, such as The Aeneid and Paradise Lost.

Types of Epic

Folk/Primary Epic: Oral compositions passed down from storyteller to storyteller, changing over time. Examples include Gilgamesh, Beowulf, The Iliad, and The Odyssey.
Literary Epic: Later imitations of early epics, written down from the beginning, like Virgil’s Aeneid and Milton’s Paradise Lost.

Epic Conventions

Shared characteristics of epics that writers used to establish the epic quality of their poems.
Setting is vast in scope.
Actions involve deeds of great valor and superhuman courage.
Hero is a figure of great stature, (inter)national importance.
Supernatural forces often play a role in the action.
An elevated style is used (both good and bad).

Devices - Conventions

Poet states his theme, appeals to a muse/subject to inspire and instruct him. For example: Jesus in The Rood of the Hood.
Begins his narrative in medias res, assuming the audience is familiar with past events.
Provides the necessary exposition in the later part of the epic.
Includes catalogues of warriors, ships, armies, sea-fighters.
Gives extended formal speeches by characters using epic simile.

Epic Convention 1: Invocation

A formal plea for aid, usually to a deity or other spiritual power.

Epic Convention 2: In Medias Res

Literally means "in the middle of things."
The Iliad tells the story of the Trojan war but not from the beginning. The main story takes place in the fourth year of the war.
Similarly, in Beowulf, Heorot has been assaulted for 12 winters before Beowulf arrives and the story begins.

Epic Convention 3: Flashback

The epic begins in medias res and then flashes back to events that happened before the narrator’s current time setting.

Epic Convention 4: Epithet

A descriptive phrase that highlights a specific trait of a person or thing.
It can be a quick way to characterize a character.
Examples include Odysseus - "A raider of cities," Hrothgar - "The ring-giver," and Beowulf - "A war-winner."

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Description

Explore the rich tapestry of literature from different periods in English history. This quiz delves into the evolution of English literature from Old English to Postmodernism, highlighting key characteristics and influences of each era. Test your knowledge and understanding of how literature reflects societal changes over time.