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Alles Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the five cases in Old English?

A

Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, Dative, and Instrumental.

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2
Q

What is the function of the nominative case in Old English?

A

It marks the subject of a sentence and is used for predicate nouns and adjectives.

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3
Q

How is possession expressed in Old English?

A

Using the genitive case, similar to ‘of’ or apostrophe-s in Modern English.

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4
Q

What is the accusative case used for in Old English?

A

It marks the direct object of a verb and can express duration of time.

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5
Q

What role does the dative case play in Old English?

A

It marks the indirect object and is used for possession, manner, time, and comparison.

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6
Q

What is the primary distinction between Old English and Modern English tenses?

A

Old English had only two primary tenses: present and preterite (past).

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7
Q

How did Old English express future actions?

A

Using context, modal verbs like ‘willan’ (will) or ‘sculan’ (shall), or adverbs indicating time.

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8
Q

What are strong verbs in Old English?

A

Verbs that form their past tense through vowel changes (ablaut).

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9
Q

How do weak verbs form the past tense in Old English?

A

By adding a dental suffix (-d or -t).

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10
Q

What are preterite-present verbs in Old English?

A

Originally strong past-tense forms that became present-tense verbs (e.g., ‘sculan’ meaning ‘shall/must’).

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11
Q

What was the basic word order in Old English?

A

SVO (Subject-Verb-Object), but SOV and VSO were also common, especially in poetry and questions.

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12
Q

How were yes/no questions formed in Old English?

A

Using verb-subject-object (VSO) word order.

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13
Q

What was the role of the particle ‘ne’ in Old English?

A

It was used to form negation (e.g., ‘Ne wolde ic’ means ‘I did not want’).

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14
Q

What are the two main declension types of Old English nouns?

A

Strong and weak declensions.

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15
Q

How were Old English adjectives inflected?

A

They agreed with the noun in case, number, and gender.

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16
Q

What is a characteristic feature of Old English poetry?

A

It is based on alliterative meter rather than rhyme.

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17
Q

What is a caesura in Old English poetry?

A

A pause that separates two half-lines.

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18
Q

What is alliteration’s role in Old English poetry?

A

The first stressed syllable in the second half-line determines the alliteration, and one or both stressed syllables in the first half-line must match.

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19
Q

What is a kenning in Old English poetry?

A

A metaphorical compound word, like ‘whale-road’ for ‘sea’.

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20
Q

What is the main theme of ‘The Dream of the Rood’?

A

It tells the Crucifixion story from the perspective of the Cross.

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21
Q

How is Christ depicted in ‘The Dream of the Rood’?

A

As a heroic warrior who willingly embraces his fate.

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22
Q

What does the term ‘wyrd’ mean in Old English?

A

It refers to fate or destiny.

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23
Q

What major contributions did King Alfred make to Old English prose?

A

He promoted education, translated Latin texts into Old English, and initiated an educational reform.

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24
Q

What was the purpose of King Alfred’s Preface to ‘Pastoral Care’?

A

To promote literacy and religious education among the clergy.

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25
How does Old English prose differ from poetry?
Prose has more straightforward syntax, while poetry is highly structured with alliteration and flexible word order.
26
What was the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle?
A historical record written in Old English documenting England’s early history.
27
How did the Norman Conquest affect Old English literature?
It led to a decline in Old English prose, replaced by Latin and Anglo-Norman texts.
28
What type of literature is 'The Franklin’s Tale'?
A Middle English Breton lai focusing on love, honor, and generosity.
29
What supernatural element appears in 'The Franklin’s Tale'?
A magician makes rocks disappear from the coastline as part of a romantic bargain.
30
What is the central moral dilemma in 'The Franklin’s Tale'?
Dorigen must choose between honoring a foolish promise or remaining faithful to her husband.
31
How does 'The Franklin’s Tale' challenge traditional gender roles?
It portrays marriage as an equal partnership rather than a hierarchical structure.
32
What is the significance of the magician in 'The Franklin’s Tale'?
He ultimately refuses payment, reinforcing the theme of generosity.
33
What are the three estates in medieval society?
The clergy (those who pray), the nobility (those who fight), and the commoners (those who work).
34
What is an example of a heroic Anglo-Saxon value depicted in Old English literature?
Loyalty to one's lord and bravery in battle.
35
What does 'comitatus' refer to in Anglo-Saxon culture?
A bond of loyalty between a lord and his warriors.
36
What is the primary theme of Old English elegiac poetry?
Themes of exile, loss, and transience.
37
What was the function of monasteries in preserving Old English literature?
They copied manuscripts and maintained scholarly traditions.
38
What dialect became the standard for Old English literature?
The West Saxon dialect.
39
What was the role of oral tradition in Old English poetry?
Poems were memorized and performed by scops (poets) before being written down.
40
What is parataxis in Old English literature?
The placement of clauses side by side without conjunctions.
41
What is an example of litotes in Old English literature?
Understatement for effect, such as 'That was no small gift' meaning 'That was a great gift'.
42
What were the primary influences on Old English vocabulary?
Germanic roots, Latin borrowings, and Norse influences.
43
How was indirect speech indicated in Old English?
Often with subjunctive verb forms.
44
What role did Latin play in Old English writing?
It influenced vocabulary and syntax, especially in religious texts.
45
What is a homily in Old English literature?
A religious sermon meant for instruction.
46
What poetic device is used extensively in 'Beowulf'?
Variation, or restating the same idea in different words.
47
How did Old English syntax differ from Modern English?
It had more flexible word order due to its case system.
48
What is an example of an Old English modal verb?
'Sculan' (shall/must) or 'willan' (will).
49
How did Old English indicate past perfect tense?
By using context and sometimes participles with 'habban' (to have) or 'wesan' (to be).
50
What are the main types of Old English prose?
Historical prose, scientific and didactic prose, legal prose, and religious prose.
51
Who played a crucial role in promoting Old English prose?
King Alfred the Great.
52
What was the purpose of King Alfred’s educational reforms?
To revive learning and literacy, particularly among the clergy.
53
Which dialect became the literary standard for Old English?
The West Saxon dialect.
54
What poetic devices were commonly used in Old English poetry?
Alliteration, kennings, variation, and litotes.
55
What is a kenning in Old English poetry?
A compound metaphor, such as 'whale-road' for 'sea'.
56
How was variation used in Old English poetry?
By repeating the same idea with different words for emphasis.
57
What is litotes in Old English poetry?
An ironic understatement, such as 'That was not a small gift' meaning it was a great gift.
58
What were the main themes of Old English poetry?
Heroic deeds, fate (wyrd), and Christian elements.
59
What is the significance of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle?
It provides a historical record of events in England, compiled in Old English.
60
How did Old English prose differ from poetry?
Prose used simpler syntax, while poetry featured alliteration, kennings, and flexible word order.
61
What was the function of monasteries in preserving Old English literature?
They copied and maintained manuscripts, preserving religious and historical texts.
62
What role did oral tradition play in Old English poetry?
It influenced the use of formulaic expressions, repetition, and alliteration.
63
What was the impact of Latin on Old English writing?
Latin influenced vocabulary and syntax, especially in religious and scholarly texts.
64
What is an example of an Old English homily?
Ælfric's Homilies, which provided moral and theological instruction.
65
How did the Norman Conquest affect Old English literature?
It led to the decline of Old English and the rise of Middle English, influenced by Norman French.
66
What is a heroic Anglo-Saxon value depicted in Old English literature?
Loyalty to one's lord, as seen in 'Beowulf' and other texts.
67
What does 'comitatus' refer to in Anglo-Saxon culture?
The bond between a lord and his warriors, based on loyalty and mutual obligation.
68
What was the primary theme of Old English elegiac poetry?
Themes of exile, loss, and longing for the past.
69
How was indirect speech indicated in Old English?
Often through subjunctive verb forms and reported speech structures.
70
What is parataxis in Old English literature?
The use of clauses placed side by side without conjunctions, common in poetry.
71
What role did gender play in Old English noun declensions?
Nouns had grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) that influenced adjective agreement.
72
How were Old English adjectives inflected?
They had strong and weak declensions depending on the presence of a definite article.
73
What is an example of a litotes in Old English literature?
The phrase 'That was no small feat' meaning it was a great achievement.
74
How did Old English indicate the past perfect tense?
Using past participles with auxiliary verbs like 'habban' (to have) or 'beon' (to be).
75
What was the role of yes/no questions in Old English?
They were formed by verb-subject inversion or using interrogative particles.
76
What was the role of the particle 'ne' in Old English?
It was used for negation, often combined with other negative words.
77
What supernatural element appears in 'The Franklin’s Tale'?
A magician who makes rocks disappear through an illusion.
78
How does 'The Franklin’s Tale' challenge traditional gender roles?
It presents marriage as a partnership rather than a hierarchical relationship.
79
What is the significance of the magician in 'The Franklin’s Tale'?
He represents wisdom and generosity, as he forgives Aurelius’ debt.
80
What were the three estates in medieval society?
The clergy (those who pray), the nobility (those who fight), and the commoners (those who work).
81
How did Old English poetry depict the relationship between lords and warriors?
Through themes of loyalty, gift-giving, and mutual protection.
82
What is a notable feature of Old English syntax?
Word order was more flexible due to the use of inflectional endings.
83
What are some common Old English pronouns?
'Ic' (I), 'þu' (you), 'he' (he), 'heo' (she), 'hit' (it).
84
What poetic device is used extensively in 'Beowulf'?
Alliteration, as it is a fundamental feature of Old English poetry.
85
What is the significance of the Vercelli Book?
It is a manuscript that contains 'The Dream of the Rood' and other Old English texts.
86
What is 'The Dream of the Rood' about?
It presents the Crucifixion from the perspective of the Cross, emphasizing Christ as a hero.
87
What does the term 'wyrd' mean in Old English?
It refers to fate or destiny, a key concept in Anglo-Saxon literature.
88
What is an example of a modal verb in Old English?
'Sculan' (shall/must), 'willan' (will), 'motan' (may).
89
What type of literature is 'The Franklin’s Tale'?
A Breton lai, a short narrative poem involving love and chivalry.

Medieval (2 decks)

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