Brit Lit Review

What is the setting and date range for Beowulf?

Setting is 6th century Scandinavia; transcribed around 1000 CE.

Who composed Beowulf and who transcribed it?

Composed by an unknown scop, transcribed by Christian monks.

What are the main characters in Beowulf?

Beowulf, Grendel, Grendel's Mother, Hrothgar, Wiglaf.

What key themes are present in Beowulf?

Heroic deeds, mortality, legacy.

What does Judith accomplish to save her people?

She decapitates Holofernes, the enemy general.

What major theme is highlighted in Judith?

Female heroism and divine justice.

What is the narrative perspective in The Dream of the Rood?

The story is recounted from the perspective of the cross.

What does Sir Gawain learn during the story?

He learns about humility and the flaws of human nature.

What is the significance of the Green Knight in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?

He is an enchanted challenger who tests Gawain's character.

What major theme is explored in Chaucer's General Prologue?

Hypocrisy and social hierarchy.

What question must the knight answer in The Wife of Bath’s Tale?

What do women most desire?

What key moral is demonstrated in The Clerk’s Tale?

The themes of loyalty, suffering, and virtue.

What is the focus of Elizabeth I's speeches?

Leadership during crises and unity with her subjects.

What is Dr. Faustus's tragic flaw?

Ambition leading to his downfall and eternal damnation.

What major theme does Macbeth explore?

The consequences of ambition and the nature of guilt.

What does Oroonoko critique in its narrative?

Colonialism and the complexities of slavery.

What is the primary satirical point of A Modest Proposal?

To critique British exploitation and indifference towards Ireland.