Session 1 deck

What motif is prominently featured in the opening lines of Beowulf?

What literary device is used in the phrase 'Wielder of Glory'?

Which of the following best describes Beowulf's character as presented in the text?

What role does God play in Beowulf's rise to power?

In the context of Beowulf, what does the term 'æþelingas' refer to?

What is the significance of the phrase 'long been afflicted' in the passage?

Which feature of Old English poetry is evident in the excerpt from Beowulf?

How does Beowulf demonstrate his prowess in battle according to the passage?

What is a defining characteristic of an epic poem?

Which of the following best describes an elegy?

In the context of Beowulf, what does the dragon symbolize?

Which literary characteristic is associated with the chivalric romance?

What is the primary narrative structure of the Canterbury Tales?

What feature characterizes a fabliau?

What element does Chretien de Troyes contribute to the genre of chivalric romance?

What distinguishes the Bayeux Tapestry from other literary works?

Medieval Period

Lindisfarne Gospels (c. 700) - A manuscript of the four Gospels of the Bible, known for its beautiful artwork and the use of insular script
Book of Kells (c. 800) - Another important illuminated manuscript, also using insular script
Beowulf (8th to 11th C)
- Old English epic, written using alliterative verse and kennings
- Themes include heroism, fate, and the struggle of good vs. evil
- Important figures: Scyld Scefing, Beowulf, Grendel, dragon
- Tolkien's view (1936): Argues that Beowulf is a literary masterpiece with the dragon symbolizing non-Christian values.
Examples of epic poetry: Beowulf
Examples of elegies: The Wanderer, The Seafarer
The Bayeux Tapestry: A tapestry depicting the events of the Norman Conquest of England (1066)
- Important events are depicted, including Harold's oath to William and the felling of trees for ships
Canterbury Tales (1387-1400): Geoffrey Chaucer’s masterwork, which includes 24 tales told by pilgrims on a journey to Canterbury
- Framing device: Story telling contest
- Influenced by Boccaccio's Decameron
Chivalric romance: A genre common in 12th century France, often featuring characters and stories from the Arthurian cycle
- Themes: Quest for the Grail, Code of Conduct (honor/loyalty), Courtly love, magic
- Important works: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Fabliau: A genre of humorous, often bawdy, tales
- Themes: trickery, marriage, often depict a negative view of women
- Jan van Eyck's “The Arnolfini Portrait” (1434): Artwork that features a convex mirror incorporating the artists and other subjects into the painting