The Origins of Literature: From Ancient Mesopotamia to Rome
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Questions and Answers

What is the term used to describe the period between 455 BCE and 1485 CE in literature?

  • The Dark Age of Literature (correct)
  • The Period of Rebirth
  • The Neoclassical Period
  • The Age of Enlightenment
  • What is the meaning of the Latin word 'litaritura/litteratura'?

  • Writing formed with letters (correct)
  • A collection of spoken works
  • The art of storytelling
  • The history of theater
  • Which literary work is an example of allegory from the Medieval period?

  • Hamlet
  • Beowulf (correct)
  • The Bible
  • None of the above
  • In which region did literature originate in the West?

    <p>Southern Mesopotamia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which literary period did the author Jonathan Swift write his famous piece, Gulliver's Travels?

    <p>The Age of Reason</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main characteristic of literature during the Renaissance and Reformation period?

    <p>Movement away from purely religious themes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the period between 1660 and 1790 CE in literature?

    <p>The Neoclassical Period</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the French word that the term 'Romanticism' is derived from?

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

    Who is considered the first author of literature in the world?

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

    Which author and literary work is an example of the Renaissance and Reformation period?

    <p>William Shakespeare and Hamlet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following characteristics is NOT typical of the Romantic Period?

    <p>Interest in the aristocracy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the purposes of literature according to the text?

    <p>To provide entertainment and captivate escape</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Sumerian epic written around 2150 BCE?

    <p>The Epic of Gilgamesh</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of characters in literature during the Enlightenment Period?

    <p>They are depicted as flawed and relatively more human</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman?

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

    What was the primary focus of literature during the Victorian Period?

    <p>Reflection of daily life and its practical problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of literature during the Classical period?

    <p>Valued common sense and clarity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the era of the 19th century also known as?

    <p>The Era of Enlightenment and Realism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the origin of the word 'mythos' in mythology?

    <p>From the Greek word for 'story' and 'logos' meaning 'speech'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between mythology and legend?

    <p>Mythology is symbolic storytelling, while legend is based on historical fact</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the focus of etiological myths?

    <p>Describing the origin of a thing or how it came to be</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary theme of psychological myths?

    <p>Explaining why we feel and act the way we do</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main composition of Greek and Roman mythology?

    <p>Composed mainly of stories about gods and goddesses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for a myth that retells an event from the past but elevates it with greater meaning than the actual event?

    <p>Historical myth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the Fates is responsible for assigning each man his destiny?

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

    Which Muse is associated with epic poetry?

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

    What is the role of Alecto?

    <p>Punisher of moral crimes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which category of beings includes those with gods as ancestors?

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

    What is the role of Clotho?

    <p>Spinning the thread of life</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    • The Medieval period, also known as the Dark Age of literature, spanned from 455 BCE to 1485 CE, characterized by sermons, prayers, lives of saints, and homilies, with prominent authors writing allegories.

    • The Renaissance and Reformation period (c. 1485-1660 CE) was marked by increased interest in Greek classical values and art, with literature exploring human nature through tragedies and comedies.

    • The Enlightenment Period (c. 1660-1790 CE), also known as the Neoclassical Period, was characterized by common sense, order, accuracy, and structure, with authors portraying humans as flawed and relatively more human.

    • Literature originated in the southern Mesopotamia region of Sumer (c. 3200 BCE), flourished in Egypt, and later in Greece and Rome, with the first author being Enheduanna, a high-priestess of Ur, who wrote hymns and praises for the Sumerian Goddess Inanna.

    • The earliest literary works include the Epic of Gilgamesh (2150 BCE) and the Sumerian Enuma Elish (1120 BCE), also known as The Babylonian Epic of Creation.

    • The purpose of literature includes entertainment, education, social commentary, self-discovery, and emotional connection.

    • There are eight major periods of world literature: The Classical period, The Medieval period, The Renaissance and Reformation period, The Enlightenment Period, The Romantic Period, The Victorian Period, and the 19th Century.

    • The Classical period (1200 BCE-455 CE) was known as the Golden Age of Literature, characterized by valuing common sense and clarity, with prominent authors such as Homer writing epics.

    • The Romantic Period (c. 1790-1830 CE) was marked by the celebration of nature, focus on the individual and spirituality, and interest in the common man, with prominent authors such as William Wordsworth.

    • The Victorian Period (c. 1832-1901 CE) was characterized by literature reflecting daily life, practical problems, and interests, with prominent authors such as Samuel Beckett.

    • Mythology is the study and interpretation of often sacred tales or fables, derived from the Greek word "mythos" meaning story-of-the-people and "logos" meaning word or speech.

    • There are three major types of mythology: Etiological Myths, Historical Myths, and Psychological Myths.

    • Greek and Roman Mythology is composed mainly of stories about gods and goddesses, including the Furies, Muses, Fates, and demigods.

    • Minor Divinities in Greek and Roman Mythology include the Muses, goddesses of arts and sciences, and the Fates, who control the destiny of men.

    • Demigods are partly divine, partly mortal, while heroes are mortal beings with gods as ancestors, and monsters are terrifying creatures.

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    Description

    Explore the fascinating history of literature, from its roots in ancient Mesopotamia to its development in Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Discover the contributions of the first author in the world, Enheduanna, and learn about the earliest literary works, including the Epic of Gilgamesh.

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