midivil English 205 exam

Beowulf author

anonymous

beowulf translator

seamus Heaney

beowulf date

700-1000 AD

Beowulf genre

epic poem

beowulf Language

anglo saxon

kennings

to express or describe one thing in terms of another (beowulf=bee wolf= bear)

comitatus (theme)

the bond and code between the king and his warriors (heroic code)

Good vs evil

protagonist represts light, civilization, and gods favor, while antagonist represents darkness, chaos, and the monstrous world outside

christianity vs pagan

this poem was told by a pagan but written down by a christian monk so there is a mix of both morals

wyrd (fate)

the characters believe that fate controls everything

lof

the only way to live forever was through fame, if people talked about you after you die

Heorot

the mead hall built by king hrothgar and the Danes. it symbolizes light, community and safety.

the mere (grendals home)

a hellish swampy moor outside the walls of the city. it represents the unknown dangerous wilderness where monsters lurk.

peatland

Beowulfs home, where the hero set sail from to reach the Danes

grendal

a powerful man eating monster a descendant of cain which makes him an outcast from humanity. he attacks bc he hates the sound of joy

unferth

the social antagonist who is jealous of beowulf. he represents the internal rot or shame

whale road

the ocean describing it as a path for

word- hoard

a persons thoughts are treasures locked (mouth) in a chest that they can open

sky candle

the sun is a giant light source for the room (world)

why is Grendel evil

he hates the sound of joy and he attacks to make it stop

metonymy

the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing
meant (in this case, ash [the wood of an ash tree] for spear)

how does beowulf respond to unferths

he defends his reputation by telling how the Danes needed his protection and he vows to kill beowulf which binds him to his words

sun dazzle

a kenning describing the sun in order to emphasize the overwhelming bright beautiful light

what is a mizzle

a mostly rain. the character uses this to describe how if uferth was a good warrior, he would have slaughtered him in a graphic, gross way.

what time of year did beowulf give his speech to uferth

spring or summer because during this time period, people did not sail in the winter and the sun “dazzle” quote

what do we learn about Grendel during the fight

he is immune to swords and Sharp weapons which justifies Beowulfs decision to fight with his bare hands, his mouth is his main weapon, he is also capable of fear

kenning from the fight with Grendel

“captain of evil” and “hellserf”

litotes

sarcastic or ironic understatement to describe something “that was no good place for him to stay” after Brenda;s arm is ripped off

in what work can cardamons hymn be found in latin and English

ecclesiastical history of the English poet bede

protector of the gears

an epithet describing beowulf showing his role and leader and defender of his people

mighty warrior

an epithet of beowulf describing his heroic reputation

kenning for the dragon

“sky scorcher” it burns the air as it flys

some treasure in beowulf

the handle of the sword used to kill grendals mother, torques which are heavy gold neck rings.

where can treasure be found in beowulf

the dragons treasure is buried in the ground by the goats and beowulf because it is useless to men.

caedmons hymn author

Caedmon

cademons hymn date

658- 680 ad (7th century)

Caedmons hymn genre

religious hymn/ old American English

caedmons hymn language

anglo saxon

caedmons hymn subject

praises of God as the creator of the word

epithet

a glorified nickname

alliteration

repetition of sounds and letters aiding in memorization

Caesera

a break in the middle of a line in a poem, in order to be read aloud

all epithets of God in caedmons hymn

gardian of heaven, measurer, glory father, eternal lord, holy creator, lord of mankind, heavenly ruler, creator

what aspects of god does caedmons hymn emphasize

Gods power as the protector and ruler of our universe

what does caedmons hymn allude about the world

the world disorderly and purposeful.

canterbury tales author

Geoffrey Chaucer

canterbury tales date

the 14th century 1380s

Canterbury tails language

Middle English

Canterbury tails genre

a frame narrative

the prioress (nun)

fine nose, grey eyes, a small grey mouth, broad forehead, extreme table manners, tender hearted.

irony: she should be focused on poverty and god but she wears expensive jewelry and her brooch refers to romantic love not Devine love

monk

fat, rides horse, loud

irony: monks are supposed to be inside, pray, and be calm but helloes hunting and being loud.

the wife of bath

sorta deaf, gap teeth, red face, 5 husbands, traveled, red stockings

irony: she is a pilgrim but is focused on men and wealth than religious devotion

miller

big guy, red beard, nose wart, strong, gross

irony: he is suppose to be honest but he’s a thief, thumb of gold

who tells the miller tale

Robyn the miller after interrupting the monk

who is described in the miller tale

the old carpenters johns wife Alison

simile from the miller tale

“her body as slender as a weasel” meaning she’s young and wild unlike her old slow husband

fabliau

a short funny raunchy story

what makes the miller tale a fabliau

low class characters, young wife cheating on old husband, body humor

millers tale biblical allusion

Noahs flood, he uses a biblical story to tell a lie so he can have an affair with Allison and absalom (son of David)