middle age and old english period Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is the time period commonly referred to as the Middle Ages?
The Middle Ages is commonly referred to as the period from the 5th to the late 15th century.
What language was primarily used in England during the Old English period?
Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon.
True or False: Old English poetry was often composed in a structured meter.
True.
Name one of the most famous works of Old English poetry.
Beowulf.
Fill in the blank: The primary poetic form used in Old English poetry is known as _____.
alliterative verse.
What is a common theme found in Middle Age poetry?
Chivalry and courtly love.
Which poetic device is frequently used in Old English poetry to create imagery?
Kenning.
What is the significance of the term ‘scop’ in Old English literature?
A ‘scop’ was a poet or bard who recited poetry in oral tradition.
True or False: The majority of Old English poetry was written down during the time it was composed.
False.
What is the primary purpose of elegies in Old English poetry?
To express mourning and loss.
Name an important characteristic of Middle English poetry.
The use of rhyme and meter.
What is the title of the famous Middle English poem by Geoffrey Chaucer?
The Canterbury Tales.
True or False: Alliterative verse was abandoned in Middle English poetry.
False.
Fill in the blank: The ‘Pearl Poet’ is known for writing the poem _____ in Middle English.
Pearl.
What historical event marked the beginning of the Middle Ages?
The fall of the Western Roman Empire.
What is the main theme of ‘Beowulf’?
The hero’s journey and the struggle against evil.
Which social class primarily produced literature during the Middle Ages?
The clergy and nobility.
True or False: Old English poetry often included Christian themes.
True.
What is a ‘moral allegory’ in the context of Middle English literature?
A narrative that conveys moral lessons through symbolic characters and events.
Fill in the blank: The literary movement that followed the Old English period is known as the _____ period.
Middle English.
Who is considered the father of English literature?
Geoffrey Chaucer.
What is a common feature of Middle English romance literature?
Adventures of knights and quests.
What role did oral tradition play in Old English poetry?
It was the primary means of sharing poetry before written texts.
Name one poetic work from the Anglo-Norman period.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
