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Brit Lit Beowulf Test
vocab and facts she gave as notes
39
Literature
12th Grade
09/05/2011

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Cards

Term
What kind of poem is Beowulf?
Definition
epic
Term
What is a scop/bard?
Definition
skilled singer, musician, story teller; equal to warrior; invited to king's court
Term
How was the poem passed on?
Definition
oral tradition
Term
Roughly when was it composed?
Definition
c. 500-700 CE
Term
When was it transcribed?
Definition
c. 1000
Term
Probably transcribed by...?
Definition
a monk
Term
Language written in...?
Definition
Old English
Term
Where is the original transcript?
Definition
British Museum in London (probably won't be tested on this, but you never know)
Term
5 characteristics of epic poem?
Definition
1) noble birth, high position
2) reflects values
3) courageous, superhuman deeds
4) supernatural forces
5) big scale (ie fate of all mankind at stake)
Term
Devices of epic poem? (4)
Definition
1) announces theme, calls on muses
2) in media res (starts in middle)
3) formal speech, noble
4) predictable (mock epic)
Term
alliteration
Definition
if you honestly do not know what this is by now just go the fuck home
Term
caesura
Definition
pause in/near middle of line
Term
kenning
Definition
metaphorial compound word
Term
litotes
Definition
understatement: "not unmindful", "not unbecoming"
Term
metonymy
Definition
use associated object in place of actual word (ie king= crown)
Term
synecdoche
Definition
use piece of something in place of something (wheels= car; threads= clothes)
Term
Fortuna?
Definition
goddess of changes in life; sits on her wheel
Term
wyrd
Definition
one's lot in life; not Fate
Term
wergild
Definition
money as debt for killing; suspended during war; killing kin cannot be appeased
Term
comitatus
Definition
mutual fidelity, ie military is loyal to king in exchange for land
Term
loyal dependence
Definition
honor= willing to die
Term
Nordic Day time span?
Definition
began with night, ended with sunset
Term
Nordic Year time span?
Definition
began w/ winter, ended w/ fall
Term
elegiac
Definition
sorrow, "elegy"
Term
feudal
Definition
landholder over tenant
Term
'hart' meaning
Definition
stag or deer
Term
define lair
Definition
animal's den
Term
define mere
Definition
mountain lake
Term
define thane
Definition
man between earl and freeman; held land, gave military service
Term
define thane
Definition
man between earl and freeman; held land, gave military service
Term
Explain 'sparrow in the meadhall'
Definition
philosophy; sparrow flies in, then out; enjoy life while you are here, b/c before and after in unknown
Term
Thor: god of...?
Definition
war (hammer dude) Thurs.
Term
Oden/Woden: god of...?
Definition
poetry, death and magic (Wed)
Term
Freya: goddess of...?
Definition
fertility (Fri)
Term
Tir/Tiw: god of...?
Definition
another war god (Tues)
Term
'Beowulf' means:
Definition
bear (wolf of bees)
Term
'Scyld Schefing' means:
Definition
shield and sheaf= protector
Term
'Heorot' means:
Definition
deer hall (wtf)
Term
'Wealtheow' means:
Definition
foreign slave
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