English test 2

Beowulf

An old English poem about a hero who battles monsters (Grendel, dragon)

Comitatus

a germanic code of loyalty between a lord and his warriors

mead hall

a large hall where warriors gathered for feasting and storytelling

the enlightenment

an intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individual rights

utopia

an ideal society or perfect place

irony

a contrast between expectation and reality, often used for humor or criticism

scientism

the belief that science is the ultimate authority on all aspects of life

romanticism

a movement valuing emotion, nature, and individual experience over reason

William Wordsworth

a romantic poet known for writing about nature and emotion

Thomas Hobbes

a philosopher who believed in a strong government due to humanity’s selfish nature

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

a philosopher who argued that humans are naturally good but corrupted by society

Two consciousnesses

a concept related to identity, often tied to race and societal perception

gothic

a literary genre featuring horror, mystery, and supernatural elements

the castle of Otranto

considered the first gothic novel. it blends the medieval and supernatural elements with a dark, mysterious atmosphere. follows nobleman Manfred, who seeks to secure family legacy after a death .

unreliable narrator

a narrator whose credibility is compromised, leading to uncertainty in the story

Gothic architecture

a style of architecture characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses

Masks

symbols of hidden identity, deception, or transformation in literature and theater

the uncanny valley

the eerie feeling people get when something looks human but not quite

Gothic fragment

a short, incomplete work in the gothic style, often mysterious and evocative

The role of the comitatus in medieval society

a loyalty system between a king and his warriors. the warriors protected their leader in battle and in reward they where given rewards like treasure and land. in beowulf the hero follows this code of honor and fights for his king and people

Enlightenment ideology vs romantic/gothic ideology

the enlightenment emphasized reason, science, progress, promoting rational thinking. romanticism/ gothic rejects this, they valued emotion, nature and the supernatural more. reason vs emotion. the englightenment tended to look at the material things, the gothic focused more on thing unseen.

Wordsworth idea of the poet as a “chosen son”

Wordsworth thought the poet was someone who was able to expressing the truths about our world and experience on a very deep level. he said the poet feels emotions deeper and can translate them better into words. believed poetry should captivate the reader.

Gothic aspects of the short stories

gothic literature is characterized by elements of mystery, horror, and supernatural. set in spooky environments, haunted houses, unreliable narrators. the gothic short stories often show fear, death, and showcase how easy the mind can be overtaken