British Literature and Language Fundamentals Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards focusing on hero archetypes, historical context of British literature, Beowulf, Old English, and definitions related to language and dialect.

Tragic Hero

A hero of noble birth with outstanding hubris who is doomed by fate.

Romantic Hero

A premature young man who wanders and is self-destructive.

Anti-Hero

A protagonist who lacks the traditional moral and social virtues.

The Medieval Period

A period in British history that makes people think of kings, queens, and knights, though the reality is that most people were simple peasants.

Feudal System

A system that ensured peasants, despite their large population numbers, had very little political power.

Beowulf

One of the earliest long works in the English language and a foundational epic that preserves Old English vocabulary, poetic style, and cultural values.

Old English

A language coming from the Germanic language that was later impacted by Latin, Nordic language from Nordic peoples, and French from nomads.

Epic Hero

A hero character that possesses the most outstanding qualities and characters.

Monomyth Hero

A hero framework centered on the growth and change of a hero/character.

Language

A method of thought that is highly intelligent and intricate, serving as the method and medium of the human experience.

Study of Literature

The study of the human experience.

Dialect

A language that is not officially recognized by government and legal system, typically recognized as a regional or social variation of a language.

how language seperates us from animals

Grammar, syntax, creativity, megacognition all happening at once.