Brit Lit Midterm Study Guide

Where and when is the scene for Part One of Murder in the Cathedral set?

Archbishop's hall, 1170

According to the information in the opening monologue, how many years have passed since the Archbishop has left Canterbury?

seven

What does the Chorus claim is their purpose in the action of the play?

wait and witness

What ruler of England does the Second Priest refer to as "the stubborn King"?

King Henry II

What does the Third Priest see in "the art of temporal government?"

violence, duplicity, malveresion

What important message does the Messenger convey to the Priests?

The Archbishop is in England

What are the Priests eager to know once the Messenger has delivered his initial message?

Has the Archbishop reunited with the King

What metaphor does the Third Priest use to compare the relationship between the King and the Archbishop?

the hammer and anvil

After the first scene featuring the 3 Priests, the Chorus speaks again. What do they wish the Archbishop would do?

return to France

According to the Chorus, what does the Archbishop bring into Canterbury?

death

How does the Chorus define its time in Canterbury since the Archbishop left seven years previous?

living and partly living

What does the second Priest compare the women of Canterbury to?

frogs

What is the first idea that Beckett relates to his audience and what does he insist that the Chorus "know and do not know"?

the act of suffering

Who are the first two characters who speak of "the wheel" in separate occasions?

Thomas and 3rd Priest

Who does Beckett say may have intercepted his letters and planned his demise?

the bishops

Who does Beckett say saved him from the wrath of his enemies?

John, The Dean of Salisbury

What does the First Tempter tell Beckett he remembers?

the good time past

What, according to the First Tempter, "should be more than biting Time can sever?"

friendship

what does the First Tempter predict for Beckett if he does not "leave well alone"?

his goose will be cooked and eaten to the bone

What position did Beckett resign when he was made Archbishop?

the Chancellorship

What is it that the Second Tempter offers Beckett?

the job back

How does the Fourth Tempter claim Beckett can have ultimate glory and power over the King of England?

martyr

Why is the fourth visitor the most successful Tempter?

he was the one to say all of Beckett's thoughts

According to the Four Tempters, what is man's life?

a cheat and disappointment

what does Beckett believe to be the last temptation and what he fears the most?

doing the right dead for the wrong reason

Great Britain has been invaded and settled by the

Romans, Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings, and the Normans

The Romans left behind a

system of roads and architecture in Britain

An important effect of Christianity's spread throughout Britain was that

Britain became culturally linked to Europe

Celtic religion had

priests called Druids, ritual dances and human sacrifice, and belief in spirits who controlled all aspects of existence.

Anglo-Saxon life was dominated by

close allegiances between leaders and their followers

the old Anglo-Saxon religion primarily encouraged earthly virtues such as

loyalty, generosity, prudence, and fortitude

Anglo-Saxon poets held an honored position in society primarily because they

preserved heroic deeds in the collective memory

The Christian monasteries served Anglo-Saxon society by

fostering learning and preserving literary works

Through the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, King Alfred promoted the use of written

Old English

The years of war between the Anglo-Saxon and the Vikings came to an end with

the invasion of the Normans under William of Normandy

How does the lecture define the epic?

A long narrative with a larger-than-life hero.

How were ancient epics passed down prior to being written down?

orally

What did their public performance provide for audience?

education and entertainment

Who established the standard features of the epic form in Western literature with the Iliad and the Odyssey?

Homer

How long was Beowulf king?

50 years

What happens to Beowulf's iron shield?

It melts

What do Beowulf's warriors do during the battle with the dragon?

They fled

Who helps Beowulf fight the dragon?

Wiglaf

How does Beowulf die?

The dragon bites his neck

Who does Beowulf select to rule the kingdom after his death?

Wiglaf

What does Wiglaf say to the warriors when they return after Beowulf's death?

He yells at them for being cowards and abandoning Beowulf.

What is the origin of the dragon's treasure?

A nobleman who hid it as a legacy of a forgotten race.

Why does the dragon attack mankind?

A slave steals his jeweled cup

How does Beowulf's sword fail him in his battle with the dragon?

His sword breaks because of his strength.

What does Beowulf wish to gaze upon as he is dying?

the dragon's treasure

How is Beowulf put to his final rest?

He is burned

What does the woman sing about during Beowulf's funeral?

Bad days to come, foreshadowing the extinction of their tribe

How long is Beowulf king before trouble with a dragon begins?

50 years

Why does a slave hide in the dragon's lair?

To wait to steal the treasure

What does the slave remove from the cave, and why?

a gem-studded cup because he "needed" it

How does the dragon know that a man took the cup?

He saw the man's tracks

How does the dragon respond to the theft?

He follows the tracks and plans revenge

When does the dragon attack and why?

At night because he was impatient and had rage

Why does Beowulf have a shield made out of iron?

the wood shield would burn from the dragon's breath

Before entering the cave, why does Beowulf boast about the major battles of his life?

He knows that he has been through worse. He has been up against worse odds

Why does Beowulf attack not go as well as he had planned?

His weapon melts under the dragon's breath

what do the warriors do when Beowulf is in trouble?

they fled into the woods

who helps Beowulf and why?

Wiglaf because he looked up to him and felt bad

How does the dragon fatally injure Beowulf?

The dragon's venom in Beowulf's neck

What is the name of Beowulf's king?

Higlac

Why do Beowulf and a group of Geats travel to Hrothgar's kingdom?

To help them fight off Grendel

why are the Geats noteworthy to the Danish watcher?

They showed up in armor without notice

why is Beowulf qualified to fight Grendel?

Because he is the wisest and best of the Geats, he has killed five giants before and that it is his duty.

How does Beowulf plan to fight Grendel?

He plans to fight with just his hands

When does Beowulf expect Grendel to attack?

during the night

What is Beowulf's only request if he is killed in battle?

He wants the armor to be sent to Higlac and his inheritance to be returned

Why does Hrothgar build a mead-hall and what is it called?

It's called Herot and it was built to show how the lord has blessed them

Why does Grendel become angry with Hrothgar and the men in the hall?

He is angry because they are all celebrating and he wants quiet.

What does the bard sing about, and why does this anger Grendel?

Sings about creation and Grendel is mad because he is in pain

Why is Grendel cursed?

He is an heir of Cain. He is punished for the death of Abel.

How many thanes does Grendel kill on the first night that he attacks?

30

What is the result of Grendel's repeated attacks at Herot?

Becoming deserted for 12 years

How is Hrothgar affected by his continuous battle with Grendel?

He becomes upset and unsure what to do to stop Grendel.

What is the only thing that Grendel will not touch or approach in Heorot, and why?

Hrothgar's throne because it is protected by God

What religious elements are revealed in this excerpt from Beowulf?

God is placed above all and that the throne is protected by God.

Epic

A long narrative poem telling of a larger-than-life hero.

How do lines 269-286 achieve an effect of suspense?

creates a feeling that something bad will happen

What future event in the story do the following lines foreshadow?

"But fate, that night, intended / Grendel to gnaw the broken bones / Of his last human supper..."

Grendel's defeat and his death. Grendel will kill at least one more warrior.

What are the two kennings used to describe Grendel in line 309? How do the "renamings" of Grendel in line 309 emphasize the weighty significance of the battle that is about to begin?

shepherd of evil and guardian of crime. The battle is good vs evil. Grendel is a source and caretaker of evil

How does Grendel react when he encounters Beowulf, who grabs the monster's arm?

To run away from Beowulf. Grendel is scared by Beowulf strength

What strengthens Beowulf's resolve to prevent Grendel from escaping?

He remembered that he wants to boast to everyone once he kills Grendel. He vowed to Hrothgar to kill Grendel.

What four terms refer to Grendel? Why does the poet use these terms rather than just calling Grendel by name?

Almighty's enemy, hell's captive, monster, and fiend. It is a different way to talk about Grendel without using his name. Reminder of Grendel's malice.

During the battle, Beowulf's band of warriors showed courage and loyalty to Beowulf. How do they show these traits?

They jumped from their beds and were ready to fight for their prince. They know how deadly he is, but they won't let Beowulf fight him on his own.

Why can weapons not harm Grendel?

He is protected by dark magic

How did Beowulf defeat Grendel?

He rips Grendel's arm off along with the shoulder

What happens to Grendel after the battle with Beowulf?

Grendel escapes and goes to the bottom of the marsh where he will die.

What does Beowulf take as a trophy from his fight with Grendel?

Grendel's arm with the claw and the shoulder

Why does Beowulf hang the trophy from the rafters?

He wants to show how good was able to overcome evil. He is proud and wants to show off

How was the battle between Beowulf and Grendel an example of good vs evil?

Beowulf was the good side who was able to defeat Grendel, who was the evil side. Beowulf was able to defeat him cause he had God on his side. Beowulf was a honest warrior and he doesn't expect something in return.

Beowulf discards his weapons in order to be on equal ground with Grendel. What does this action reveal about Beowulf's personality?

He shows that he is confident in himself and he knows what he is doing. It also shows he is honorable and has a strong faith in God.

Why does Grendel's mother go to Heorot?

To avenge Grendel's death

Whom does Grendel's mother kill?

Hrothgar's closest friend

What does Grendel's mother take from Heorot?

Grendel's arm

Where does Grendel's mother live?

At the bottom of a lake