Beowulf Test Flashcards by Ryan Weis

This is how Anglo-Saxon literature acutally began

Oral Tradition

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The storyteller in and Anglo-Saxon tribe was called

The Scop

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Anglo-Saxon Men were expected to face danger adn joy with this same attitude

Stoic/Lack of emotion

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Anglo-Saxons valued ——— and often included these ties when introducing themselves

Family ties/Ancestry

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Physical strength was a requirement but so was this train and the two do not usually go together

Intelligence/Mental Shrewdness

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The Anglo-Saxons have a strong belief that this shapes their lives

Fate

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Hrothgar’s famous nickname, “Famous Ring Giver” shows the Anglo-Saxon belief in —— and its rewards

Loyalty to the King

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There is no whining in Beowulf because Anglo-Saxons valued this

Emotional Stability

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This type of poem mourns the loss of someone or laments the loss of something

Elegy

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The first part of the Seafarer is the story of a man’s life. Where?

On the ocean

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The book containing the Seafarer is called

The Exeter book

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“Wondering what fate has willed and will do” shows the influence of this

Paganism

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The three threats of fate are illness, age, and ——

The enemy sword

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The narrator of the poem mourns the passing of time when the ——- flourished in glory

Kingdom of the Earth

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Despite hardships, the narrator continues to sail because of this

Passionate curiosity

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The narrator of the Seafarer is this

A Sailor

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“Who could understand in ignorant ease, what we others suffer as the paths of exile stretch endlessly on” implies this

Only sailors know the irresistible pull of the sea

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“Alone in a world clear of love” expresses this feeling

Isolation

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The speaker in The Wife’s lament mourns the loss of her husband and her home, this type of poem is called this

An Elegy

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“Blithe was our bearing” is how the wife describes her life with her husband. Blithe means this

Happiness/Cheerful

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This is what initiated the wife’s exile

lies

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The wife assumes her husband is now feeling this way

Sad and lonely

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The phrase “Summer’s sentinel” meaning a cuckoo bird is an example of this

A Kenning

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The speaker in the Wanderer misses this the most

Companionship

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The pain of homelessness is this is this for the Wanderer

The Theme

"And now remains only, for warriors' memorial" shows the influence of this

Redemption

"The longing for loved one: his grief renewed" shows the influence of this

Isolation

"When I reflect on the fates of men..." shows the influence of this

Paganism

The Roman Invasion was led by this man in 55 BC

Julius Caesar

During Roman rule this began to take hold and displace the Pagan religion

Christianity

The Angles and Saxons were from

Germany

Prior to Alfred the Great, all written language was in this language

Latin

Who is Beowulf's father

Ecgtheow

Who helped Beowulf at the end

Wiglaf

What is the name of Beowulf's sword

Nageling

What was the name of the sword that Unferth gave Beowulf to fight Grendel's mother

Hrunting

Who was the monster

Grendel

Who is Hrothgar

The King of the Danes

What is the name of the Mead hall

Herot

Who is Higlac

The king of the Geats and Beowulf's uncle

What type of story is Beowulf

an Epic

Beowulf honors this to the King of the Danes who helped Beowulf's father

Debt of loyalty

When Beowulf grabs Grendel's arm, Grendel feels this for the first time

Fear

Grendel is the descendant of who

Cain

Where is Beowulf from

The Land of the Geats

Grendel never dared to touch the throne of Hrothgar because it is

Protected by God

Unferth berates Beowulf saying that he had a swimming match with Brecca and that Beowulf recklessly risked his life and that

Beowulf lost the match

The element of surprise is worth the sacrifice in Beowulf's fight against Grendel is illustrated by this

He let one of the Geats die

The quote that Grendel "had bewitched all men's swords, laid spell..." is an example of this Anglo-Saxon belief

Supernatural

To contrast a good leader with a bad leader, the additional stories of whom were told

Siegmund/Hermod

"It was the Dane's custom to be ready for war, wherever they rested" illustrates this aspect fo Anglo-Saxon life

Everything could change overnight

Who is Esher

Hrothgar's trusted advisor, best friend, he was killed by Grendel

Beowulf's descent into a fiery lake filled with monsters in order to fight evil can be symbolically compared to what

Descent into hell

The futility of acquiring worldly possession and the greed of a society that places a premium on material wealth can be illustrated in this event

Slave stealing single cup from the Dragon's treasure

"He accused himself of breaking God's law, of bringing the almighty's anger down on his people" illustrates Beowulf's first thought is to do this

Take responsibility and blame

Wiglaf calls the loyal followers cowards and tells them they will never share in the treasure and have brought disgrace on their families because

They hid in the woods while Wiglaf/Beowulf fought the dragon

Beowulf dies in his attempt to save his country and his death to save his country and his death brings war the the land is an example of this literary device

Irony

Your were carried in your shop across the whale road to this country of mine. Whale Road is an example of this

Kenning

"...And yet as a boy, He was scorned, the Geats considered him worthless" Illustrates this about Beowulf

He was not born to heroism but grew to it

" An the the Battle's only survivor swam up away from those silent corpses, the water was calm and clean, the huge lake peaceful" suggests this

Beowulf has ascended from hell

Beowulf tells Wiglaf to lead the Geats after Bewoulf dies because of this

Beowulf has no son

Like many female characters in Anglo-Saxon stories se exists as a kind of trophy or asset in a limited role

Queen Welthow

Herot is saved from an inhuman monster by Beowulf only to be destroyed by fire set by humans at war is an example of this literary device

Irony

Beowulf accepts Unferth's sword, Hrunting, in preparation for doing this

Killing Grendel's mom

When Beowulf fights the dragon, He appears to be unsure of himself although he is committed to fight is an example of this literary device

Foreshadowing

"But Beowulf's heart was heavy, His soul sensed how close fate had come, sensed something, not fear but knowledge of old age" illustrates this

The contrast to his youthful assurance that he will succeed

"My hands alone fight for me" illustrates this important trait of Anglo-Saxons

Bravery

To show that even a hero can fall into boasting, but, like Beowulf, he must back up his challenge with all his might is illustrated by recalling

Beowulf's boastful challenge with Brecca

"Herbald died a horrible death killed while hunting: Hathcyn, his brother, stretched his horn tipped bow... and hit Herbald instead" illustrates

The ongoing theme of killing ones brother

After Beowulf and Wiglaf kill the fire Dragon, Beowulf recognizes that his wound is fatal . He reflects on his life and is grateful of this

God allowed him to win this last battle

After Grendel's defeat Beowulf is showered with gifts and and praise this was the most valued

Hrothgar making Beowulf his son

Wiglaf calls the loyal followers cowards and tells them they will never share in the treasure and have brought disgrace on their families because

They hid in the woods while Wiglaf and Beowulf fought the dragon

"How many times have men, glowing with courage drawn from too many cups of ale, sworn to stay after dark" reveal the viking dislike for this

Boasting without backing it up

Beowulf attributes his victory over Grendel's mother to this

God

Beowulf asks Hrothgar to send his treasure to Higlac if he does not succeed in doing this

Killing Grendel's mother

Hrothgar comments on the evils of drink yet he encouraged the wild celebration of victory of Heorot is an example of this literary device

Irony

Upon his arrival Beowulf tells Hrothgar that he promises to rid Heorot of its troubles "or else he may see his suffering go on forever" indicates

Beowulf is self confident

A physical reminder of the man because it ensures that Beowulf's name will live on after he is illustrated by this

Beowulf's funeral

"Hail Hrothgar! Higlac is my cousin and king!" Illustrates the Anglo-Saxon respect for this

Loyalty to family ties

Hrothgar relates a story to Beowulf in which he warns " Be not as Hermod once was to my people..." Hermod's sin was this

Too much pride

"The brilliant light shone, suddenly as though burning in that hall: Following the killing of Grendel's mother suggests this

God was on Beowulf's side

Beowulf is given this because the people recognize the people recognize his great, his name and glory brought peace for 50 years and WIglaf commands it

Full burial rights

The story begins this many years before Beowulf arrives to help