U5 L3 The Epic And Beowulf Flashcards

1
Q

Who is a scop?

A
  • poet

- told old stories and changed them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

In oral tradition did each telling differ from the last?

A

yes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What were the frameworks that scops used to remember stories?

A
  • alliteration
  • phrases
  • poetic idioms
  • rhythms patterns
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What combination did Anglo-Saxon rhythm depend on?

A

weak and heavy stresses in many combinations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What was the basic unit of meter in Anglo-Saxon verse?

A
  • half-line

- each made up of a phrase with 2 stresses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does a line of Anglo-Saxon poetry consist of?

A
  • 4 stresses, 2 in each half-line
  • 8-20 syllables
  • 2 half-lines separated by pause/break
  • joined by alliteration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What indicated stresses?

A

accent marks ‘

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What indicated alliteration?

A

underscores _

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is a caesura?

A

pause/break in a line in Anglo-Saxon poetry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is Anglo-Saxon poetic language rich in?

A

metaphor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is kenning?

A
  • double metaphor
  • hyphenated

eg. world-candle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where does the word ‘epic’ come from?

A

Greek word meaning tale

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is an epic?

A

long narrative poem dealing with heroic characters and actions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

In epics, what is the hero like?

A

ideal person with almost superhuman qualities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is medias res?

A

middle of story

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

At what part to most epics start in?

A
  • medias res/middle of story

- narrator explains previous actions as story progresses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What do the two sections of Beowulf deal with?

A

1- Beowulf leads his men to Hrothgar’s kingdom to defeat Grendel
2- elder King Beowulf, last battle with dragon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What does Beowulf reveal?

A

customs and ideals of Anglo-Saxon culture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is comitatus?

A
  • Germanic tradition
  • relationship btw lord and warriors
  • lord protects and provides warrior needs
  • warrior gives loyalty and support
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

In Beowulf, between who is the comitatus relationship seen between?

A
  • Hrothgar and his retainers
  • Beowulf and his men
  • Geats and Danes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What was Wiglaf’s significance?

A
  • demonstrated comitatus
  • remained with Beowulf in fighting dragon
  • named successor by Beowulf
22
Q

Who were the Geats?

A

Beowulf’s people

23
Q

Who were the Danes?

A

Hrothgar’s people

24
Q

What is Fame in Anglo-Saxon culture?

A

good name that would live on after a man’s death

25
Q

What was linked to the comitatus?

A
  • fame

- transitory nature of life

26
Q

What was the lord also called?

A

ring-giver

27
Q

Early practice of Christianity in England blended into which two systems?

A

Germanic and Christians

28
Q

What were the two burials mentioned in Beowulf?

A
  • Scyld Scefing

- Beowulf

29
Q

Descriptions of artifacts in Beowulf correspond to those found in which ship and when?

A
  • Sutton Hoo

- 1939

30
Q

What is the date of the Beowulf manuscript?

A

1000

31
Q

What is the latest date for the original writing of Beowulf?

A

790-830

32
Q

Who was Hygelac? And when did he die?

A
  • Geat
  • Beowulf’s uncle and king of Geats
  • killed in a raid on the Frisians in 521
33
Q

The probable date for the writing of Beowulf would be during who’s time?

A

Venerable Bede

34
Q

What is Beowulf a product of?

A

oral poetic tradition

35
Q

What was Beowulf most likely copied from?

A

song of bard or scop

36
Q

What was Beowulf probably based on?

A

fol tale

37
Q

Was the name Beowulf common in the Anglo-Saxon period?

A

no

38
Q

How many lines of unrhymed alliterative meter does Beowulf consist of?

A

3182

39
Q

Beowulf how many fitts/sections?

A

43

40
Q

What does the story of Beowulf open/begin with?

A
  • sea burial of Scyld Scefing

- first 50 lines of his achievments

41
Q

What was Heorot?

A

Hrothgar’s Hall

42
Q

Where was the home of the Geats and Beowulf?

A

Sweden

43
Q

Where was Hrothgar’s kingdom?

A

Denmark

44
Q

Who tries to avenge Grendel?

A

his Mother

45
Q

Where is Grendel’s mother’s lair?

A

mere/lake

46
Q

What does Hrothgar warn Beowulf about?

A

dangers of pride

47
Q

Who is Wealhtheow?

A

Hrothgar’s queen

48
Q

Who did Beowulf give his treasures to?

A

Hygelac

49
Q

What is stolen from the dragon that causes him to want revenge?

A

cup

50
Q

What heroic quality was Beowulf not eulogized as having?

A

bravery

51
Q

What was the Hrothgar’s hall in Beowulf used for?

A
  • eating
  • sleeping
  • meeting-
  • entertaining