Abernathy British Lit Test #1

The Ecclesiastical History of the English People

Caedmon received his gift of poetry from God, in a dream

because they weren’t getting money from the old gods nor answers about creation or the afterlife

Why did the Anglo-Saxons agree so quickly to leave their pagan religion and become Christians?

elergy/lamentation

a poem that expresses mourning or a longing for the past

caesura

a break in oral poetry for catching breath

kenning

two-word metaphor (ankle-biter)

Alfred the Great

who had works written and transcribed in English

important changes brought by the Norman Invasion

feudal system and French language (1066) were …

Magna Carta

first democratic document in England (1215)

brags and boasts, body is burnt on funeral pyre, puts trust in weapons instead of God

paganism in Beowulf

references to Bible (Cain slew Abel), God is called upon and praised

christianity in Beowulf

morality, loyalty, super-human characteristics, legendary weapons

traits of an epic hero

overly dramatic, interactions with the supernatural, adventure/war that decides fate of an entire people, in medias res

traits of an epic

belief system in medieval society where amount of certain element in the body affected behavior; what appears outside reflects inside

humorism

gluttony, greed, wrath, envy, lust, pride, sloth

seven deadly sins

relates to her because it is about being in a happy relationship (lasts in positive way); also wise like old crone

Wife of Bath’s Tale

reflects personal greed and hypocrisy; sang best when offering, sold pardons from the pope that he forged

Pardoner’s Tale

a morality play

Everyman

personified traits as characters who teach a lesson

morality play

The Book of Margery Kempe

first English-language autobiography; conundrum about spiritualism and mental health

The Decameron

major influence; ten people tell framed tales during plague in Florence; women are more lustful than men; garden = symbol for progression of love to physical relationships and reproduction; clerk’s tale follows

The Knight’s Tale

love triangle; Arcite and Palamon are in love with Emily; amphitheatre = containment of anger/desire; Arcite dies, Palamon and Emily live happily ever after; courtly love vs loyalty

The Franklin’s Prologue and Tale

love triangle; Dorigen and Adviragus are married; Aurelius falls in love with Dorigen while Adviragus is away; Aurelius shows regret (white beard = wisdom) about his epicurean lifestyle; rocks = strong moral compass

The Clerk’s Prologue and Tale

Walter tests patient Griselda; response to Wife of Bath; clerks wishes to be like Job; source is Dacameron

The Nun’s Priest’s Tale

beast fable = animals have human characteristics; Pertelote (hen), Chaunticleer (rooster), and Reynard (fox); rooster’s and fox’s speeches = dangers of pride and boastfulness, Adam and Eve parallel; Pertelote = Eve, Chaunticleer = Adam

The Summoner’s Tale

reflects that he is not Christian bc revenge for friar’s tale and interruption; Friar asks Thomas for money to save his dead baby; fart = corrupt church; their services are like trees that bear no fruit; friars are angry fart cannot be divided like money

The Canon’s Yeoman’s Prologue and Tale

yeoman blathers about how great the canon is, the canon leaves; Harry Bailey (inn keeper) taunts him to continue

The Parson’s Tale

only holy story teller; not a narrative but a sermon on nature of sin and repentence; seven deadly sins; Chaucer ends the tale asking those offended to blame his lack of education and those who found something redeemable to credit God