Honors British Literature Finals: Anglo-Saxon to Medieval Era Key Terms and Concepts

What is a stanza?

A stanza is a grouped set of lines in a poem, often separated by a space from other stanzas.

What is a symbol?

A symbol is an object, character, figure, or color used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

What is tone in literature?

Tone refers to the author's attitude toward the subject matter or audience, conveyed through word choice and style.

What is understatement?

Understatement is a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.

What is end rhyme?

End rhyme is a rhyme that occurs at the end of two or more lines of poetry.

What is imagery?

Imagery is descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates mental images for the reader.

What is internal rhyme?

Internal rhyme is a rhyme that occurs within a single line of poetry.

What is onomatopoeia?

Onomatopoeia is a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound it describes.

What is dramatic irony?

Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension or humor.

What is verbal irony?

Verbal irony is when a speaker says one thing but means another, often the opposite.

What is alliteration?

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words.

What is allusion?

Allusion is a brief reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

What is assonance?

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.

What is a ballad?

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, typically telling a story of love or adventure.

What is caesura?

Caesura is a pause in a line of poetry, often occurring in the middle of a line.

What is dialogue?

Dialogue is the written conversational exchange between two or more characters.

What is a dramatic poem?

A dramatic poem is a poem that tells a story and includes dialogue, often intended for performance.

What is an elegy?

An elegy is a mournful poem, typically written in remembrance of someone who has died.

What is an epic poem?

An epic poem is a lengthy narrative that often involves heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation.

What is an exemplum?

An exemplum is a moral anecdote or story that illustrates a particular lesson or principle.

What is a fabliau?

A fabliau is a comic, often bawdy narrative poem, popular in medieval literature.

What is a framed tale?

A framed tale is a story within a story, where one narrative serves as a framework for another.

What is hyperbole?

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect.

What is a kenning?

A kenning is a compound expression in Old English and Old Norse poetry with metaphorical meaning.

What is a lyric poem?

A lyric poem is a short poem expressing personal feelings and thoughts, often in musical form.

What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.'

What is a narrative poem?

A narrative poem is a poem that tells a story, often including characters and a plot.

What is a refrain?

A refrain is a repeated line or group of lines in a poem, often at the end of a stanza.

What is repetition in poetry?

Repetition is the deliberate use of the same word or phrase multiple times to emphasize a point or theme.

What is a rhyme scheme?

A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem, often described using letters.

What is rhythm in poetry?

Rhythm is the pattern of sounds and silences in poetry, created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables.

What is personification?

Personification is a literary device where human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

What is a simile?

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as.'

What is the feudal system?

The feudal system is a social structure in medieval Europe where land was owned by lords and worked by vassals and serfs.

What is feudalism?

Feudalism is a political and economic system based on the exchange of land for military service and labor.

What ended feudalism?

Feudalism ended due to various factors including the rise of centralized monarchies, the growth of trade, and the Black Death.

What is the significance of monasteries?

Monasteries were important centers of learning, preservation of texts, and religious life during the Middle Ages.

How did Christianity influence literature?

Christianity influenced literature by introducing themes of morality, redemption, and the human condition.

Who wrote Beowulf?

The author of Beowulf is unknown, but it is believed to have been composed by a Christian poet in the early medieval period.

In what language was Beowulf originally written?

Beowulf was originally written in Old English.

What was added to Beowulf due to its recording in monasteries?

Christian elements and moral lessons were added to Beowulf when it was recorded in monasteries.

What type of story is Beowulf?

Beowulf is an epic poem that tells the story of the hero Beowulf and his battles against monsters.

What are the major battles in Beowulf?

The major battles in Beowulf include his fight with Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon.

What is the theme of Good vs. Evil in Beowulf?

The theme of Good vs. Evil in Beowulf is represented through the struggles between Beowulf and the monstrous creatures he faces.

What are heroic qualities in Beowulf?

Heroic qualities in Beowulf include bravery, strength, loyalty, and a sense of duty.

What is the role of the Host in Canterbury Tales?

The Host is the character who organizes the storytelling contest among the pilgrims and sets the rules for the tales.

What is the significance of the journey to Canterbury?

The journey to Canterbury is a pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket, representing spiritual devotion and social commentary.

What are the characteristics of the pilgrims in Canterbury Tales?

The pilgrims' characteristics include their social class, physical descriptions, and personalities, which reflect the societal norms of the time.

What is the general plot of 'The Pardoner's Prologue'?

'The Pardoner's Prologue' discusses the Pardoner's corrupt practices and his use of religious relics to exploit people's faith for profit.

What is the general plot of 'A Knight's Tale'?

'A Knight's Tale' tells the story of a knight who seeks to win the love of a lady through tournaments and chivalric deeds.

What is the general plot of 'The Wife of Bath's Tale'?

'The Wife of Bath's Tale' explores themes of female empowerment and the nature of marriage through the story of a knight seeking to learn what women truly desire.

What are FANBOYS?

FANBOYS are coordinating conjunctions used to join two complete thoughts: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So.

What are SWABIs?

SWABIs are subordinating conjunctions that introduce dependent clauses: Since, When, Although, Because, If.

What are THAMOs?

THAMOs are conjunctive adverbs that show relationships between two complete thoughts: Therefore, However, Also, Meanwhile, Otherwise.

What is the formula for active and passive sentences?

Active sentences have the subject performing the action, while passive sentences have the subject receiving the action.

How can you identify who is doing the action in a sentence?

To identify who is doing the action, look for the subject of the sentence, which is typically the noun performing the verb.

How can you change an active sentence into a passive one?

To change an active sentence into a passive one, make the object of the active sentence the subject of the passive sentence and use a form of 'to be' plus the past participle of the verb.