STUDY GUIDE FOR ENGLISH IV - FINAL EXAM
Beowulf
1. Be able to identify the characteristics of an epic hero, and epic poem, and elements of a warrior culture?
Epic Hero Characteristics
- Beowulf is an example of an epic hero, thus he follows the following Homeric characteristics:
- Must be a man of stature or nobility – strong in body and mind, although mortal, thus he can die.
- He reflects the values or heroic ideals of a particular society – is supremely ethical.
- Goes on a journey where he meets extraordinary obstacles and foes that embody destructive powers.
- Has allies or followers.
- Has a god-fashioned weapon.
- Receives help from the gods.
- Remains steadfast and never gives up.
- Is glorified by the people he saves.
Epic Poem Characteristics
•Epic--A long narrative poem that tells the adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilization. They were originally told aloud by people who could not read or write
•A physically impressive hero of national importance
•vast setting involving much of the known world as well as lands of the dead
•a journey is taken in search of something
•evidence of supernatural forces at work
•glorification of the hero at the end
Beowulf’s Warrior Culture
The Anglo-Saxon folk tale originated from oral tradition, sung by a harpist-bard for kings and their guests in great halls to entertain and to encourage the values of the tribe:
- Honoring courage over long life, military process, leadership, wisdom
- Enjoying feasting, storytelling, and music.
- Viewing life fatalistically, even within the Christian tradition.
- Admiring physical strength more than mental acuity.
- Valuing loyalty to the lord or king above all, or having a respected father
2. Identify Grendel, Hrothgar, Herot, Hrunting:
Grendel - a monster who terrorizes Herot
Hrothgar - King of the Danes
Herot – a mead hall
Hrunting – Beowulf’s sword
3. The purpose of Beowulf’s journey to Herot was?
To help Hrothgar defeat Grendel
4. How does Beowulf kill Grendel?
With his bare hands
5.Beowulf’s theme(s) are?
the importance of loyalty and bravery
the fight between good vs. evil
the glory of benevolent rulers who try to do good
6. Be able to identify an example of a kenning?
a specialized metaphor used by Anglo-Saxons made of compound words, for example, instead of the sea – whale road
6. Be able to identify an example of a caesura?
rhythm created by pauses. Look for a pause in the middle of the sentence. Usually in the first half of a line there will be two alliterated sounds and then a pause, followed by another alliterated sound.
Example: “And then, in the morning, this mead-hall glittering/”
8. Be able to identify an example of alliteration?
repetition of sounds in words close to one another
9. Anglo-Saxons were descendents of:
Angles, Saxons, Jutes (Germanic tribes) Jutes were Danes
10. The English language was influenced by these invading tribes?
The Celts and the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Scandinavians and the Normans (French)
11. Beowulf reflects the combination of what two religious beliefs?
Christian and Pagan
12. The setting of Beowulf:
Southern Sweden
13. Beowulf was originally written in what language?
Old English
Middle Ages and The Canterbury Tales
14. William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings, cause what people’s influence on England?
The Normans (the French)
15. Feudalism consisted of ?
a caste system of overlords, vassals, and serfs
16. In the Middle Ages, women of rank were determined by?
the status of their husbands or fathers
17. What is the setting of the Prologue?
London in April at the Tabard Inn
18. Be able to recognize characterization of the Knight, the Host, the Parson, the Pardoner, the Wife of Bath and be able to identify who did not go on the pilgrimage.
The Knight – modest, accompanied by his son the Squire and servant, the Yeoman
The Parson – the only devout churchman
Wife of Bath – professional wife – married five times
The Pardoner – greedy clergy member with false holy relics
The Host – Harry Bailey
19. What is Chaucer’s primary theme in the Prologue?
To show the variety of human nature
20. Where are the pilgrims going in the Prologue?
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Canterbury
21. What is the connection between Death and the plague in Pardoner’s Tale?
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the plague killed thousands – because of it death was everywhere
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22. What is the pledge the rioters make in “The Pardoner's Tale”?
They promise to have each other’s back but they later plot to kill one another to get a larger share of the gold.
23. The moral of “The Pardoner's Tale” is
Greed is the source of evil.
24. Why does the Pardoner tell the story of “The Pardoner's Tale”?
sermon designed to get listeners to part with their money
25. How do two of the rioters double cross the third rioter?
stab the other rioter upon his return
26. What is the main setting in “The Wife of Bath's Tale”?
England in the time of King Arthur
27. What is the moral of “The Wife of Bath's Tale”?
It is best for husbands and wives when women rule the marriage
28. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which event gives a sense of
the supernatural?
The Green Knight does not die when Sir Gawain cuts off his head
29. Why does Sir Gawain volunteer to fight the Green Knight?
He wants to protect the honor of his king and fellow knights.
30. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight what is important about the ideals of chivalry?
Honor, your loyalty to God, King, and country, rescue of damsel in distress
31. In the end, what advice does the Green Knight give to Sir Gawain?
Admit your mistakes and move on.
Macbeth and Elizabethan England
32.What are the main themes of The Tragedy of Macbeth?
betrayal
Murderers must live with guilt.
33.Why are the witches important?
foreshadowing
34.Why is King Duncan so grateful to Macbeth?
Fought rebels and Norwegians
35.Throughout Act I, Macbeth's plans and actions seem to be motivated most of all by
His wife
36.Near the end of Act I, Macbeth expresses doubt about murdering the king because
Macbeth is his subject and host
37.Why will Macbeth “sleep no more”?
guilt
38. Duncan’s sons flee Scotland because they
Are afraid they will be murdered too
39. The natural disturbances that continue all through the night that Duncan is murdered symbolize
Macbeth’s evil deeds
40.The “barren scepter” Macbeth refers to is symbolic that
Macbeth has no children
41.Why does Macbeth kill Banquo?
The witches’ predictions – Banquo’s children will be king
42.Why happens at the banquet?
Banquo’s ghost appears
43.Hecate knows the witches’ new prophecies will make Macbeth what?
overconfident
44.Malcolm pretends that he is too sinful to become king. Why?
To test Macduff’s true intentions
44.What happens to Lady Macbeth? Why?
Suicide - guilt
45. What is Macbeth’s tragic flaw?
Blind ambition
46.Who kills Macbeth?
Macduff
Historical - Elizabethan Age
47. When were plays performed during Shakespeare's time?
Day
48. What is another name for unrhymed iambic pentameter?
Blank verse
49. What is a soliloquy?
Actors thoughts revealed to audience while actors alone on stage
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50. He was an actor, a poet, and a playwright - Shakespeare
51. He was known as the Renaissance king – Henry VIII
52. He was king during Shakespeare’s time – King James
53. She was known as the virgin queen – Queen Elizabeth
54. The wooden “O – The Globe Theatre
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Hamlet
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55. The play is the thing that will catch the conscience of this king. Who is this referring to? - Claudius
56. Who is the ghost in the play? – Hamlet’s father
57. Who does Hamlet court in the play? Ophelia
58. Who remarried too quickly? Gertrude
59. He kills his father’s brother. Claudius
60. Accidently killed in the bedroom of the queen. Polonius
61.Hamlet’s best friend - Horatio
.62. Kill’s Hamlet with a poisoned sword - Laertes
63.There’s something rotten in the state of _Denmark______.
64. Summoned by the king to discover the cause of Hamlet’s strange behavior---Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
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