Medieval England

Vocabulary flashcards for review.

Syncretism

A mixture of pre-Christian and Christian elements in Beowulf.

Ethos

A set of ideas, beliefs, and behaviour combined, which leads to the way a person is going to react to a situation. Each text has a different ethos.

Anglo-Saxon Society Hierarchy

King, Thanes (Noblemen, part of the King’s warriors), Churls (Free commoner men), Serfs (Slaves, often Celts).

Thane

A nobleman and part of the King's warriors in Anglo-Saxon society.

Wergild

Anglo-Saxon legislation term for “man-gold,” a price the murderer’s family could pay to end a blood feud.

Aglæca/Aglæcwif

Term referring to Beowulf, Grendel, and Grendel’s mother, meaning “dangerous opponent,” showing similarities in their extraordinarity.

Monastery

Often located far away from society, it had a scriptorium where monks copied manuscripts.

Oblate

A monk offered to the Church by his parents to save their souls via human donation.

Breton Lay

A short, musical composition, likely played on a harp-like instrument, from Celtic tradition.

Matière de Bretagne

Traditional Celtic lore brought to Armorica (Bretagne).

Merveilleux

The Celtic elements in Breton lays, referring to the Otherworld and its inhabitants, the fairies; both beautiful and life-threatening.

Síd Mounds

Earth mounds which resemble burial mounds and are fairy burrows the Dana Tribe used.

Undertides

Axis of noon; crossing the undertides open an access to the Otherworld.

Impetree

Grafted tree symbolizing a sacred tree and axis of the world linking different realms of reality, opening an access to the Otherworld.

Geis

Binding speech act; activating the power of geis means not fulfilling the promise is a taboo.

Atheling

Throne-worthy.

Terra Regis

The land that the king owns in the feudal system.

Historia Regum Britanniae

Fictional chronicle in latin about the history of England by Geoffrey of Monmouth.

Alven

Elves.

Fitt

A section of the poem in Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight.

Bob and Wheel

Structure in Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight : One very short line at the end of the stanza followed by 4 short lines which have a AABB rhyme pattern and a set number of syllables.

Fin'amor

Refined love; aristocratic love where feelings can be experienced on a varying scale, from basic to elaborate and often refines the knight.

La Joie

Physical and mental union, mutual connection between two lovers.

Auctor

Assuming full responsibility for what is written.

Compilator

Compiling previously written texts.