English Beowulf

The Romans began leaving Britain around the year * 409 BCE 490 AD 940 BCE 409 AD

409 AD

The Romans left Britain around what year?

409 AD

Give the 3 time frames associated with the Beowulf poem

500 AD, 800 AD, 1000-1100 AD

The Anglo-Saxon king who was the first king to unify the tribes in Britain was called __________ the Great

Alfred

name the 3 main tribes that invaded Britain after the Romans left

Anglos, Saxons, and Jutes

What happens to Beowulf's body?

It is burned in a treasure- heaped pyre, and then buried in a barrow facing out to sea

as beowulf is spinning the tale of his adventures amongst the Danes to Hygelac, he digresses for a moment to tell of a marriage that has been arranged between Freawaru, Hrothgar's daughter, and Ingeld, king of the Heathobards. The Danes and the HeathoBards are enemies, and this marriage is meant to forge new friendship between the two peoples. What is Beowulf's prediction for the outcome of this marriage?

Freawaru's presence in Ingeld's hall will call up old memories of battle and destroy peace

1. One of the characteristics of an Epic Hero is that he must take a long a perilous journey. Many times this is a journey to A) the underworld. B) the home of the gods. C) Disneyland. D) a rival nation

a

10. King of the Danes A) Hrothgar. B) Herogar C) Hygelac D) Beow

a

15. What is the prior connection between King Hrothgar and Beowulf? A) King Hrothgar paid a debt once for Beowulf's father. B) King Hrothgar and King Hygelac are brothers. C) Beowulf is a friend of King Hrothgar's sons. D) Beowulf is in love with King Hrothgar's daughter.

a

25. Despite finding "treasure in abundance" in the lair of Grendel and Grendel's mother, Beowulf only returns with these 2 items as prizes A) Grendel's head and the giant's sword hilt B) Grendel's mother's head and the sword hilt C) A banner and the sword hilt D) A golden goblet and a sword

a

4. The hero may encounter a place or person having a divine or supernatural force such as a haunted wood or enchanting sorceress that he most use strength, cunning, and divine assistance to overcome. The term for this is: A) a numinous phenomenon. B) arete. C) superari a superiore. D) a nephelistic rescue

a

6. The hero establishes his nobility through single combat in _____________________________, honor coming from being vanquished by a superior foe. A) superari a superiore. B) arete C) numinous struggle. D) nephelistic combat

a

Commitatus

a bond of loyalty between a ruler and his men; king and warriors

This king led the Anglo-Saxons against invading Danes in the 9th century * William the Conqueror Alfred the Great Richard the Lionheart Edward Longshanks

alfred the great

To whom did the treasure in the dragon's barrow originally belong?

an unnamed people, who had all died out except the last man who buried their treasure

The religion of the Celts can best be described as a form of: * animism Christianity ancestor worship antedelluvian

animism

12. Who questions Beowulf's abilities during the welcoming celebration? A) Brecca B) Unferth. C) Wulfgar D) Hrothgar

b

13. How long has Grendel been attacking the Danes before Beowulf arrives? A) 1 year B) 12 years. C) 10 years D) 20 years

b

17. Beowulf's father A) Heremod B) Ecgtheow. C) Unferth D) Sigemund

b

18. How does Beowulf kill Grendel? A) Chops his head off B) rips off his arm and shoulder. C) cuts him in half. D) chokes him to death

b

The key virtues the Epic Hero's race most prizes are often emphasized by this:

his stock epithet

Before the Celts, England was inhabited by these people: * Irish Welsh Iberians Scots

iberians

After the Romans pulled back to Rome, the Angles, Saxons, and _________________ invaded England during the 5th century. * Celts Visigoths Germans Jutes

jutes

what is "whale road" an example of?

kenning...it's a metaphor that means ocean

The Epic Hero is not only a leader and a warrior, he is a

polished speaker

Writing that uses discoursal units such as sentences and paragraphs * epithet verse prose narrative

prose

In trying to appease their gods, the Celts would often resort to human sacrifices and: * elaborate feasts ritualized hunts dramatic monologues ritual dances

ritual dances

as beowulf prepares to battle the dragon, he expresses one regret about the fight to come. what is the regret he tells his men?

that he will have to use weapons

In "The Dream of the Rood", the Rood is * a tree a man The Cross An eagle

the cross

In "The Wanderer", the passage "ever since the time, many years ago, that I covered my gold-friend in the darkness of the earth" means * the wanderer hid in a cave the wanderer's king died and was buried a great treasure was hidden in a cave a long time ago, the wanderer found a great treasure

the wanderer's king died and was buried

Elegy

type of poem or writing that mourns the loss of someone or something

Epic Hero Characteristics

- Introduced in midst of turmoil, well into the story - Hero is warrior, leader, and also a polished leader who can address councils or chieftains or elders with eloquence and confidence - Often a demi-god, possesses distinctive weapons or great size and power, often heirlooms or presents from gods - Must undertake a long, perilous journey, often going to the underworld - Whatever virtues his race most prizes, the epic hero is a cultural exemplar shown by his stock epithet

Themes of Beowulf

- Loyalty is crucially important in order to maintain order and prosperity - A successful warrior is one that has established his or her identity - through fame, strength, and skill. - Revenge is constant and must take place in the warrior culture.

List Epic Conventions

- Begins in medias res - Begins with an invocation - Contains epic digressions - Usually have an aristocratic bias (don't run into common people, slaves have no names or dialogue)

Who did Beowulf face in a swimming contest? (give the name)

Breca

once they had control of the British lands, what did the Romans decide to call their new province?

Britannia

19. The following speech refers to two warriors: "the prince" and "you." Who are they? "If it should come to pass that Hrethel's descendant dies beneath a spear, if deadly battle or the sword blade or disease fells the prince who guards your people and you are still alive, then I firmly believe the seafaring Geats won't find a man worthier of acclaim as their king and defender than you, if only you would undertake the lordship of your homeland." (lines 1845-1853) A) Hrothgar and Beowulf. B) Hygelac and Beowulf. C) Hrethric and Beowulf. D) Hrunting and Beowulf

b

2. The key virtues the Epic Hero's race most prizes is often emphasized by this: A) his nick name. B) his stock epithet. C) who his companions are. D) where he fights

b

23. 1. " ...He suffered in the end/ for having plagued his people for so long: / his life lost happiness." This quote describes who?__________________________ A) Hygelac B) Heremod C) Ongentheow D) Hrothgar

b

8. One device for delaying the climatic meeting of the Epic adversaries is A) numinous phenomenon. B) nephelistic rescue. C) arete. D) superari a superiore

b

If Beowulf and Hrothgar were the characters that mirrored each other in the first two sections, which characters mirror each other in the 3rd section?

beowulf and wiglaf

14. What Biblical figure is Grendel linked to? A) Adam B) Moses C) Cain. D) David

c

21. ___________________is the name of the sword Unferth lends Beowulf to use against Grendel's mother. A) Naegling B) Brecca C) Hrunting D) Longclaw

c

22. Hygelac's queen/wife is___________. A) Wealtheow B) Freawaru C) Hygd D) Modthyrth

c

24. One piece of advice that Hrothgar offers Beowulf is: A) Never fight alone B) Always trust in your strength C) Do not give way to pride D) Never use a sword

c

26. What happens to Beowulf's body? A) It is pitched over the clifftop, into the heaving sea. B) It is buried in the dragon's barrow with the treasure. C) It is burned in a treasure heaped pyre, and then buried in a barrow facing out to sea. D) It is sent out to sea in a treasure laden ship.

c

5. The Epic Hero is not only a leader and a warrior, he is a A) great cook. B) capable ship captain. C) polished speaker. D) pleasant host

c

9. Of the following, which is an example of a kenning? A) greedy Grendel. B) malevolent menace. C) swans-road. D) dragon-den

c

This Roman emperor was the one to finally conquer the Britons * Julius Caesar Claudius Nero Hadrian

claudius

11. The first section of Beowulf takes place in A) Vineland B) Geatland C) Iceland D) Daneland

d

16. One early digression compares Beowulf to this legendary hero A) Heremod B) Ecgtheow C) Unferth D) Sigemund

d

20. When Grendel's mother attacks, she kills __________________, a close friend and adviser to Hrothgar. A) Unferth B) Wealtheow C) Wulfgar D) Aeschere

d

27. If Beowulf and Hrothgar were the characters that mirrored each other in the first two sections, which characters mirror each other in the 3rd section? A) Beowulf and the dragon B) Wiglaf and the dragon C) the dragon and the thief D) Beowulf and Wiglaf

d

28. To whom did the treasure in the dragon's barrow originally belong? A) the Geats B) the Frisians C) the Franks D) an unnamed people, who had all died out except the last man who buried their treasure

d

3. The Greek concept of "arete" is crucial to understanding the epic protagonist. It means: A) "earning glory through combat". B) "fighting equal foes". C) "death before dishonor" D) "bringing virtue to perfection"

d

7. The hero's epic adversary is often all of these except: A) a "god-despiser," one who has more respect for his own mental and physical abilities than for the power of the gods B) a good man sponsored by lesser deities C) one whom the gods desert at a crucial moment D) a low ranking man trying to improve his social standing and reputation

d

Anglo-Saxons had a two class society consisting of_________________ and _____________________. * earls and churls Danes and Thanes earls and burls scops and warriors

earls and churls