Turners Unit 1 Test

10. When Arthur welcomes the green knight and asks him to step down from his horse and join them, what is the green knight's response?

"No, God help me, I have no interest in lingering here!"

7. What time of year is it when they go on their pilgrimage?

Spring

18. What is the result of the first strike?

the Green Knight's head falls to the ground and is kicked around

27. Who wears a blue hood, has red hair and a wart on his nose (with red hair coming out of the wart)? He weighs sixteen stone, and his hobbies include playing the bagpipes, head-butting things, wrestling, and telling filthy tavern stories. He leads the group out of town at the beginning of their trip. He is very good at his job, but does not run an honest business.

the miller

14. Although he is part of a monastery, this pilgrim loves to hunt; therefore, he has the finest hunting dogs and horses. He has a shiny, bald head and wears cloak lined with fur that Chaucer deems "the finest in the land." Chaucer calls him fat yet personable. He likes to eat roasted swan (a very high class dish).

the monk

31. This pilgrim has long, blond hair that looks like rat tails hanging down his back and eyes like a rabbit. He has a high voice (sings duets with the Summoner, the high parts), no beard, and is very effeminate. Chaucer says he thinks this guy is a gelding or a mare. He keeps fake relics to make money with, charging ignorant people to touch them and be blessed. He also claims to have pardons straight from the Pope. He is a "noble Ecclesiast" (a good Christian) in church and is great at singing a song for an offering.

the pardoner

26. Like the Parson (his brother) this pilgrim is a good, Christian man. However, instead of working for the church, he works hard in the fields and often does odd jobs for people without charging. He always pays his tithes to the church. He wears a plain smock and rides a mare.

the plowman

13. The only thing readers are told about this group is that they travel with the Nun/Prioress and that one of them is the secretary at her cell.

the second nun

After the dragon dies, why does Wiglaf go into the dragon's lair?

to get riches for beowulf

7. Keep track of any details you get regarding the green knight's appearance — why he is called the green knight, the color of his eyes, his physical build, his hair, etc.

Huge, tall, square, thick from neck to knee, broad thighs, long legs, seemed half ogre, thin waist, flat stomach, hands and face were green, thick beard, red eyes, flowing hair

When Grendel's Mother attacks the mead hall, whom does she kill? What does she take with her?

She kills a glorius soilder, and takes grendels claw

6. When the green knight enters the hall, where is King Arthur? Who sits beside the queen?

Standing in front of the table / Gawain

According to the narrator, what is the only thing that could destroy Herot?

fire

34. Which criteria will the judge use to determine the winner?

good morality and general pleasure

22. This man is somewhat like a pirate. He steals wine, makes his enemies walk the plank, and according to Chaucer, "The nicer rules of conscience, he ignored." Yet he also calls him an "excellent fellow." He has a barge called The Maudelayne.

the skipper

4. How long does Camelot's Christmas feast last?

15 days

33. How many tales is each pilgrim supposed to tell TOTAL?

2 to Canterbury and 2 on the way back; 122 in total

Where does Beowulf fight Grendel's Mother?

A battle hall underwater

2. Which type of literature is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight? (There are two options, including a subgenre and a sub-subgenre.)

Arthurian Legend, Medival Romance

Who is Unferth? (He does something notable that no one else does.)

Ecglafs son (he disses Beowulfs accomplishments)

17. Who strikes first in the game?

Gawain

1. Who is the author of The Canterbury Tales?

Geoffrey Chaucer

35. What is the prize?

a supper paid by all

What does Beowulf want the Geats to build in his honor?

a tomb beowulf tower

What happens to Beowulf's sword in the fight with the fire-breathing dragon?

it cracked into pieces

What happens to Beowulf's shield in the fight with the fire-breathing dragon?

it melted

24. She has been married five times, has a gap between her front teeth, wears red hose and very nice clothing, and loves to travel, laugh, and give love advice. She is relatively wealthy and considered among the highest class women in her community. Therefore, if anyone tries to offer their tithe ahead of her (this was done by great displays, marching to the front of the church and plunking their coins into the offering box — highest social classes first), she will be so put out, she will not give at all.

the woman, wife of baths

11. Who is a nobleman's attendant, traveling with the knight and squire? He looks a bit like Robin Hood, with his green hood and cloak, bow, and peacock-feathered arrows. Chaucer says, "he was a proper forester, I guess."

the yeoman

Who is the author of Beowulf?

unknown

Do the Geats honor his dying request?

yes

19. Where is Gawain supposed to find the green knight? What does the green knight say is the name by which many men know him?

A green chapel / the knight of the green chapel

11. Why does the green knight choose King Arthur's court for his Christmas game?

Because King Arthur and his men are said to be the strongest and the bravest

Why can't Grendel or his mother kill King Hrothgar?

Because he is protected by god

6. Where are they going for their pilgrimage?

Canterbury

3. Knights are supposed to follow the code of ________, which means they are expected to be brave warriors and virtuous Christians who will selflessly fight for justice.

Chivalry

16. When Gawain asks the green knight's name and how to find him, what does the green knight tell him to do first?

Gawain's oath was enough and now he must strike before his questions are answered

Why don't men's swords work on Grendel or Grendel's Mother?

Grendel placed a spell on the swords to protect him and his mom.

What happens to the blade of the giant's sword?

It dissolved in Grendels boiling blood

13. Who is the first in the court to accept the challenge of the Christmas game?

King Arthur

Which country is King Hrothgar's? What are his countrymen called?

Land of Danes; Called Danes

Which country is Beowulf's? What are his countrymen called?

Land of Geats; called Geats

What is Beowulf doing when his battle with Grendel begins?

Laying awake, watching him go into the room of sleeping soilders

22. Gawain is not certain where to find the green knight, so he leaves early. When does he leave? (Hint: When is All-Saints Day?)

November 1st

What does Beowulf do as soon as he hears about Grendel's attacks on the Danes?

Sets Sail to hrothgars kingdom

3. In which town do Chaucer's pilgrims meet before their pilgrimage?

Southwark

12. Know the details of the Christmas game.

Take the Green Knight's ax and strike him in turn for him to strike back when the time comes (1 year and a day)

4. Where in the town do the pilgrims meet?

The Tabard inn

Which group of people thought Beowulf was dead, so they returned to the mead hall?

The danes

20. This group of five men travels together, and they all dress similarly to represent that they are all part of the same trade guild (essentially an old-school union). They dress in like-new clothes with swords made of pure silver, proof of their sizeable revenue that Chaucer mentions. Their wives want them to be on the town council because their wives want the boost in social status it will allow them.

The haberdasher the dyer, the carpenter, the weaver, and the carpet-maker

Where does Beowulf fight Grendel?

The hall of Herot (Mead hall)

Which two items does Beowulf take from the underwater cave?

The hilt of the giants jeweled sword, Grendels head.

Do the wise men in his country believe that Beowulf should go help the Danes?

Yes, they had no regrets and urged he adventure

2. What type of story is The Canterbury Tales?

a framework

What provokes the fire-breathing dragon's attack on Geatland?

a man stole a gem studded cup

14. Why would it be wholly unwise for this person to accept the challenge?

because he is the king and it could be a trick that would kill him

The fire-breathing dragon was asleep when Beowulf approached his lair. So what does Beowulf do?

beowulf yelled a battle cry

5. How is it determined who gets to sit nearest the king and his queen?

by who is the most noble

Which biblical character is Grendel descended from?

cain

Which type of poetry is Beowulf?

epic poetry

8. How does the green knight display that he comes in peace? (There are actually two indications of this.)

he had no armor, no shield, and a holly branch

15. When attempting to take the challenge for himself, what does Gawain say is his only redeeming quality?

he is the kings nephew

After killing Grendel's Mother, Beowulf searches throughout the underwater cave. What is he looking for?

he was looking for Grendel

What is the name of King Hrothgar's mead hall?

herot

5. In the introductory portion of "The Prologue," how many pilgrims does the Narrator/Chaucer tell readers he met at the inn?

nine and twenty in a company (29)

Before the fight with the dragon, had Wiglaf ever used his armor?

no

Does Beowulf have a son to be his heir? Who is king after Beowulf dies?

no wiglaf

38. Read the stanza just above "The Miller's Tale" on page 88. Be aware of Chaucer's tendency to offer disclaimers of this sort, and think of how it lends a sense of reality to his narrator's voice.

nothing to write. Just read the stanza

How does Beowulf kill Grendel?

ripped off his arm with his hand

How does Beowulf kill Grendel's Mother?

takes a sword from the wall and cuts through her neck.

17. This student is waiting for a church job. Meanwhile, he keeps studying, but he is so poor, he wears threadbare clothes, and he and his horse are both painfully skinny. When people give him money, he buys books, and instead of repaying them, he prays for them. He loves to learn and share knowledge.

the Oxford cleric

21. Who travels with the Guildsmen and is very good at his job? The only physical description Chaucer gives is that it is "a pity" because he has a disgusting ulcer on his knee.

the cook

23. Which pilgrim dresses in blood-red garments, slashed with bluish grey? He has a deal with the apothecaries so that they both make money. He has a love of gold, and Chaucer says he does not read the Bible very much. He knows all there is to know about his field for the time. However, we would probably die if we went to him today.

the doctor

12. She is second in command at her convent (a Prioress). She has a huge forehead and ample bodily curves. She wears lots of flashy jewelry, has pet dogs whom she adores, and excellent table manners. She is very pleasant and friendly, even tenderhearted (especially toward animals). Yet Chaucer says she strains to counterfeit courtly grace (the behavior of higher class nobility). Her actual name is Madam Eglantyne.

the first nun

19. This fellow is a jolly, wealthy landowner who loves to eat and drink. He is very generous, opening his household up to the whole county for feasts. He has a white beard and white purse. Although perfectly pleasant most of the time, he does get angry at his cook if the sauce is not just right or ready on time.

the franklin

15. This pilgrim's job is to beg for money for the church; however, he dresses more like a doctor or a pope than a beggar. He knows all the bar keepers and maids, and he has a reputation for always keeping gifts ready in case he meets pretty girls. Chaucer says he is so charming he can get a widow's last penny from her even if she doesn't have shoes on her feet. His name is Hubert.

the friar

Which group of people is still waiting for Beowulf by the lake?

the geats

32. Which pilgrim runs the Tabard Inn? He is friendly, entertaining, and manly, if a bit wide around his midsection. He offers to go along with the pilgrims and act as judge for their storytelling competition.

the host

37. Which pilgrim tells the first tale after they draw straws? (The shortest cut falls to him.)

the knight

9. Who is a nobleman who has done a number of years of service for his king? He has been on several crusades and has survived many mortal battles. Wearing a plain, stained shirt, he is on the pilgrimage to give thanks for surviving another battle.

the knight

28. Whose job is to buy provisions for a law school? He is illiterate, but he can outsmart all the lawyers he provides food for and put them in their place if they become arrogant. This is the only character for whom Chaucer gives NO information about how he looks or dresses.

the manciple

16. Which pilgrim wears a Flemish beaver hat, motley-colored clothes, and daintily-buckled boots? He wants the Harwich-Holland range to be free from taxes or pirates, and he is secretly in debt. Chaucer calls him "estimable."

the merchant

25. This pilgrim is a good country priest, basically Chaucer's only good, true church representative. He feels that clergymen should act as good Christian examples for their "flock." He tends his congregation so well that he visits them by foot in rain, sleet, snow, or hail, and he hates to leave them alone, so he rarely leaves his home area.

the parson

29. Who is very old, thin, and grumpy (choleric)? He manages a wealthy landowner's estate and has done so for quite a long time. He is excellent at running the estate, but the people who work for him are terrified of him. Others whom he deals with do not dare to attempt tricking him or getting the upper hand. He wears a long coat with a belt around his waist and a rusty sword at his side, which conflicts with the wealth he has amassed over his lifetime. He rides his dapple-grey horse, Scot, at the back of the line as the pilgrims embark on their journey.

the reeve

18. This pilgrim travels with the Franklin and is a lawyer appointed by the king to be judge. He knows all legal cases (court precedents) and can draw up the finest legal documents. However, Chaucer says he is not as busy as he pretends to be. He wears a parti-colored coat and a pin-striped belt.

the serjeant of the law

10. This pilgrim is a knight in training and happens to be the knight's son. He is about twenty years old, with blond, curly hair. He is somewhat of a Renaissance man, able to joust, draw, write, sing, play multiple musical instruments, ride horses well, among other things. However, his primary focus is to "win his lady's grace."

the squire

30. Which character has such bad acne that his face scares children? Also, he eats garlic, onions, and leeks, and constantly drinks strong wine until he is drunk. Once drunk, he refuses to speak in any language but Latin; however, he does not really know Latin. Rather, he has memorized a few phrases from church court summons that he has delivered for his job. He wears a sizeable garland on his head and carries a round cake that he pretends is a shield. He travels with the pardoner.

the summoner

21. What do Sir Gawain and King Arthur do with the axe the green knight left with them?

they hang it up high against a tapestry

36. What is the penalty for failing to obey the rules?

they must pay for what is spent upon the way

8. Why are the pilgrims going to this pilgrimage site?

they sought the holy blissful martyr (Saint Thomas a Becket)

What finally kills the fire-breathing dragon?

they stabbed the beast cut and slit into pieces

How many men does Beowulf take with him to help the Danes?

14 of the mightiest and bravest geats

Some time after Beowulf returns to Geatland, he becomes king. How long is he on the throne when the fire-breathing dragon attacks his kingdom?

50 winters

How many of Beowulf's men remain to fight the dragon with him in the end?

1

20. How long is Gawain supposed to wait before he goes to find the green knight? Or what day of the year is he supposed to go find the green knight?

1 year and a day / New Years

Know the eight characteristics of the epic hero.

1. love of battle 2. battle prowess 3. superhuman strength 4. pride 5. bloodthirstiness 6. courage 7. wisdom 8. desire of glory

How long does Grendel continue attacking Herot and slaughtering the Danes before word reaches Beowulf?

12 years

How many men can Grendel kill at once?

30

How many normal men does it take to carry Grendel's head?

4

9. When the green knight asks to speak to King Arthur, what is the overall reaction of the knights?

Bewilderment (gasped then silent)

1. Who is the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight? (Note: Although he is technically unknown, we have a name scholars call him.)

The pearl Poet