British Literature Test Review

What is the basic plot of Dream of the Rood?

A dream vision where the cross recounts its experience of Christ’s crucifixion.

What are the themes of Dream of the Rood?

Themes include sacrifice, redemption, and the relationship between suffering and salvation.

What is the basic plot of Dream of the Rood?

A dream vision where the cross recounts its experience of Christ’s crucifixion.

What are the themes of Dream of the Rood?

Themes include sacrifice, redemption, and the relationship between suffering and salvation.

What are the elements of style in Dream of the Rood?

The poem utilizes vivid imagery, symbolism, and a first-person narrative voice.

What are the contextual details of Dream of the Rood?

Written in Old English, it reflects Christian beliefs and Anglo-Saxon culture.

What is additional information about Dream of the Rood?

It combines pagan and Christian elements, illustrating the intersection of these beliefs.

What is the basic plot of Beowulf?

An epic poem centering on the heroic deeds of Beowulf as he battles Grendel and other foes.

What are the themes of Beowulf?

Themes include heroism, reputation, and the conflict between good and evil.

What are the elements of style in Beowulf?

The poem features alliteration, kennings, and a formal, elevated tone.

What are the contextual details of Beowulf?

It is one of the most important works of Old English literature, reflecting Anglo-Saxon values.

What is additional information about Beowulf?

It emphasizes the importance of loyalty and the heroic code in warrior culture.

What is the basic plot of The Mere Wife?

A modern retelling of Beowulf that highlights Grendel’s mother’s perspective in a suburban setting.

What are the themes of The Mere Wife?

Themes include motherhood, alienation, and the reinterpretation of heroism.

What are the elements of style in The Mere Wife?

Utilizes contemporary language, dual narratives, and psychological depth.

What are the contextual details of The Mere Wife?

Written in the 21st century, it reflects modern societal issues and feminist themes.

What is additional information about The Mere Wife?

It draws parallels between the original Beowulf narrative and contemporary family dynamics.

What is the basic plot of A Tempest?

A postcolonial adaptation of The Tempest that centers on Caliban's resistance against colonial oppression.

What are the themes of A Tempest?

Themes include colonialism, freedom, and resistance.

What are the elements of style in A Tempest?

Employs a blend of dramatic dialogue and postcolonial perspectives.

What are the contextual details of A Tempest?

Written by Aime Cesaire, it reinterprets Shakespeare’s work through a postcolonial lens.

What is the basic plot of Old English Riddles?

A collection of poetic riddles that utilize metaphor and wordplay to describe everyday objects or natural phenomena.

What themes are present in Old English Riddles?

Themes include the heroic tradition, wisdom, and language as a puzzle.

What are the elements of style found in Old English Riddles?

The riddles feature alliteration, parallel structures, personification, and metaphor.

What are the contextual details of Old English Riddles?

They originate from the Anglo-Saxon literary tradition and reflect oral storytelling and cultural values.

What is additional information about Old English Riddles?

They illustrate a genre of question-answer writing and engage audiences in critical thinking through wordplay.

What is the basic plot of Elsner's 'On Not-Translating Neruda'?

Explores ethical complexities of translating Pablo Neruda’s works.

What themes are present in Elsner's 'On Not-Translating Neruda'?

Themes include ethics in literature, language and power, and silence as resistance.

What are the elements of style in 'On Not-Translating Neruda'?

It employs free verse, rhetorical questioning, and metaphor.

What are the contextual details of 'On Not-Translating Neruda'?

Critiques how translation shapes literary legacy and challenges the idea that all voices should be amplified.

What is additional information about 'On Not-Translating Neruda'?

Explores the power dynamics of translation and its impact on legacy, highlighting the tension between artistic merit and moral responsibility.

What is the basic plot of Morrison's 'Grendel and His Mother'?

Morrison reinterprets Grendel’s story, focusing on how he and his mother are demonized by human civilization.

What themes are present in Morrison's 'Grendel and His Mother'?

Themes include otherness, fear of the unknown, and narrative bias.

What are the elements of style in Morrison's 'Grendel and His Mother'?

The work features psychological depth and a mythological retelling.

What contextual details are significant in Morrison's 'Grendel and His Mother'?

The story challenges the hero-villain dichotomy, presenting Grendel as a misunderstood outsider.

What additional notes can be drawn from Morrison's 'Grendel and His Mother'?

The work examines how literature shapes perceptions of good and evil, exploring existential themes and the role of storytelling in constructing identity.

What is the basic plot of Reeves' 'Grendel' (poem and video)?

The plot connects Grendel’s isolation with James Baldwin’s experiences, exploring themes of exclusion and longing.

What are the themes present in Reeves' 'Grendel' (poem and video)?

Themes include identity, belonging, and societal rejection.

What are the elements of style in Reeves' 'Grendel' (poem and video)?

The poem employs alliteration, repetition, and rich imagery.

What contextual details are significant in Reeves' 'Grendel' (poem and video)?

It highlights connections between mythological monsters and real-world experiences of marginalization.

How does Reeves' 'Grendel' relate to marginalization?

The work draws parallels between Grendel's plight and the marginalization of individuals in society.

What is the basic plot of Césaire's A Tempest?

A postcolonial adaptation of The Tempest, centering on Caliban’s resistance against Prospero’s rule.

How does Césaire's A Tempest compare to Shakespeare's original?

It is similar to Shakespeare's The Tempest but focuses more on the perspectives of Caliban and Ariel.

What themes are explored in Césaire's A Tempest?

Themes include colonial oppression, racial identity, resistance, freedom, slavery, and racial inequality.

What are the elements of style used in Césaire's A Tempest?

It features political allegory and direct language.

What are the contextual details of A Tempest?

Written in 1969 under the influence of the Negritude movement, it includes references to Malcolm X and is originally written in French.

What role did aimé Césaire play beyond being a playwright?

Césaire was also a politician and political philosopher.

How does A Tempest challenge traditional narratives?

It challenges Eurocentric narratives and reclaims identity for the colonized.

What is the significance of Caliban's character in A Tempest?

Caliban's character represents the struggle against colonial oppression and the quest for identity.

In Césaire's A Tempest, what is the portrayal of Prospero?

Prospero is depicted as a symbol of colonial power and oppression.

What influence does the Negritude movement have on A Tempest?

The Negritude movement influences its themes of cultural identity and the struggle against colonialism.

What is the basic plot of Hag-Seed?

A modern retelling of The Tempest set in a prison, where former theater director Felix uses Shakespeare as rehabilitation.

What motivates Felix in Hag-Seed?

Felix is motivated by the desire for revenge against those who wronged him and the loss of his wife and daughter.

What important themes are present in Hag-Seed?

Themes include revenge, transformation, and redemption through art.

How does Atwood reinterpret Prospero in Hag-Seed?

Atwood reimagines Prospero as a flawed but sympathetic figure.

What narrative style is employed in Hag-Seed?

The novel features a meta-theatrical structure and modern dialogue.

What role does Shakespeare play in the rehabilitation process in Hag-Seed?

Shakespeare's works serve as a tool for personal transformation and justice reform.

What is a key motivation for Felix's actions in the story?

Felix seeks to reclaim his lost power and influence while addressing his past grievances.

How does loss influence the characters in Hag-Seed?

The theme of loss affects Felix deeply, influencing his quest for revenge and redemption.

What elements of betrayal are present in Hag-Seed?

Felix experiences betrayal from peers, fueling his desire to orchestrate revenge through the prison production.

How does Atwood's Hag-Seed weave in the theme of opportunity?

The prison setting provides Felix with a unique opportunity to enact his plans and connect with inmates through art.

What inspiration does Atwood draw from for Hag-Seed?

Atwood is inspired by the concept of illusionists and parallels to The Wizard of Oz.

What literary function does Hag-Seed serve regarding justice?

The novel explores the potential of literature as a means for rehabilitation and reforming justice.

• Margaret attoods hagseed 

  • Themes

• environmentalism, Feminism,  utopian/ dystopian worlds, identity, speculative/ science fiction 

Margaret atwoods main points in hagseed

• The idea of the tempest as a prison 

• The prison itself

  • The projection of prison itself is liek the island where felix is the master and treis to move things ot his way 

• Felix’s prison 

  • The cabin 

  • The memory 

  • Miranda and her daughter and miranda and the actress 

  • The past 

  • The need for vengeance 

• The theater 

  • Prospero / felix

Nicholas’ response to the tempest

• Giving voice to the narratives of england 

• Real experience when hurricanes actually hit england 

• Speaker fo the poem= hurricane was from her past 

• This is familiar to her but different to england 

• Important for her to have her rock

  • Nations have boundaries- doesn't matter if a storm takes over.. Caribbean and england separated by land but all one 

Carol anne duffey originally

• First lesbian that would hold this postion 

  • Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom

• Wrote a poem for the wedding of william and kate 

• Abt the poem

  • Trauma of immigration 

  • Not begin acepted 

  • The end = how to reconcile wher eu originally come from / identity 

George the poet and his response

• From cambridge

• Getting phd in UCL 

• Performed for the royal family 

• Abt the pome 

  • About the loss of the language 

  • Identity w not knowing language their parents know 

  • Fual identity 

  • Diaspora 

  • How languag and identity reflect on literature and other things from the semester 

What is the basic plot of Nichols' 'Hurricane Hits England'?

The poem explores identity, migration, and belonging, reflecting on the emotional impact of these themes.

What are the themes present in Nichols' 'Hurricane Hits England'?

Themes include cultural displacement, nostalgia, and adaptation.

What are the elements of style used in Nichols' 'Hurricane Hits England'?

The poem features vivid imagery and a first-person perspective.

What are the contextual details of Nichols' 'Hurricane Hits England'?

It focuses on postcolonial identity, highlighting the complexities of migration and belonging.

What additional notes can be drawn from Nichols' 'Hurricane Hits England'?

The poem examines the emotional weight of migration and memory.

What is the basic plot of Duffy's 'Originally'?

The poem explores identity, migration, and the feelings of belonging associated with leaving one's home.

What are the themes present in Duffy's 'Originally'?

Themes include cultural displacement, nostalgia, and adaptation.

What are the elements of style used in Duffy's 'Originally'?

It utilizes vivid imagery and a first-person perspective to convey the emotional journey.

What are the contextual details of Duffy's 'Originally'?

The poem delves into the experiences of migration and the feelings tied to cultural identity.

What additional notes can be drawn from Duffy's 'Originally'?

The work examines the complexities of migrating and the lingering impact of one's origins.

What is the basic plot of George the Poet's 'Mother Tongue'?

The poem examines how language and heritage shape identity.

What are the themes present in George the Poet's 'Mother Tongue'?

Themes include linguistic heritage, cultural connection, and self-expression.

What are the elements of style used in George the Poet's 'Mother Tongue'?

It features a spoken word rhythm, metaphor, and repetition.

What are the contextual details of George the Poet's 'Mother Tongue'?

The poem integrates hip-hop influences with social commentary on language and identity.

What additional notes can be drawn from George the Poet's 'Mother Tongue'?

It highlights the intersection of language, culture, and political awareness.