Study Guide for English Iv - Final Exam

STUDY GUIDE FOR ENGLISH IV - FINAL EXAM

Beowulf

1. Be able to identify the characteristics of an epic hero, and epic poem, and elements of a warrior culture? Epic Hero Characteristics  Beowulf is an example of an epic hero, thus he follows the following Homeric characteristics:  Must be a man of stature or nobility – strong in body and mind, although mortal, thus he can die.  He reflects the values or heroic ideals of a particular society – is supremely ethical.  Goes on a journey where he meets extraordinary obstacles and foes that embody destructive powers.  Has allies or followers.  Has a god-fashioned weapon.  Receives help from the gods.  Remains steadfast and never gives up.  Is glorified by the people he saves. Epic Poem Characteristics • Epic--A long narrative poem that tells the adventures of heroes who embody the values of their civilization. They were originally told aloud by people who could not read or write • A physically impressive hero of national importance • vast setting involving much of the known world as well as lands of the dead • a journey is taken in search of something • evidence of supernatural forces at work • glorification of the hero at the end Beowulf’s Warrior Culture The Anglo-Saxon folk tale originated from oral tradition, sung by a harpist-bard for kings and their guests in great halls to entertain and to encourage the values of the tribe:  Honoring courage over long life, military process, leadership, wisdom  Enjoying feasting, storytelling, and music.  Viewing life fatalistically, even within the Christian tradition.

 Admiring physical strength more than mental acuity.  Valuing loyalty to the lord or king above all, or having a respected father

2. Identify Grendel, Hrothgar, Herot, Hrunting: Grendel - a monster who terrorizes Herot Hrothgar - King of the Danes Herot – a mead hall Hrunting – Beowulf’s sword

3.The purpose of Beowulf’s journey to Herot was? To help Hrothgar defeat Grendel

4. How does Beowulf kill Grendel? With his bare hands

5. Beowulf’s theme(s) are? the importance of loyalty and bravery the fight between good vs. evil the glory of benevolent rulers who try to do good

6. Be able to identify an example of a kenning? a specialized metaphor used by Anglo-Saxons made of compound words, for example, instead of the sea – whale road

6. Be able to identify an example of a caesura? rhythm created by pauses. Look for a pause in the middle of the sentence. Usually in the first half of a line there will be two alliterated sounds and then a pause, followed by another alliterated sound. Example: “And then, in the morning, this mead-hall glittering/”

8. Be able to identify an example of alliteration? repetition of sounds in words close to one another

9. Anglo-Saxons were descendents of: Angles, Saxons, Jutes (Germanic tribes) Jutes were Danes

10. The English language was influenced by these invading tribes? The Celts and the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons, the Scandinavians and the Normans (French)

11. Beowulf reflects the combination of what two religious beliefs? Christian and Pagan

12. The setting of Beowulf: Southern Sweden

13. Beowulf was originally written in what language? Old English

Middle Ages and The Canterbury Tales

14. William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings, cause what people’s influence on England? The Normans (the French)

15. Feudalism consisted of ? a caste system of overlords, vassals, and serfs

16. In the Middle Ages, women of rank were determined by? the status of their husbands or fathers

17. What is the setting of the Prologue? London in April at the Tabard Inn

18. Be able to recognize characterization of the Knight, the Host, the Parson, the Pardoner, the Wife of Bath and be able to identify who did not go on the pilgrimage. The Knight – modest, accompanied by his son the Squire and servant, the Yeoman The Parson – the only devout churchman Wife of Bath – professional wife – married five times The Pardoner – greedy clergy member with false holy relics The Host – Harry Bailey 19. What is Chaucer’s primary theme in the Prologue? To show the variety of human nature

20. Where are the pilgrims going in the Prologue? Canterbury

21. What is the connection between Death and the plague in Pardoner’s Tale? the plague killed thousands – because of it death was everywhere

22. What is the pledge the rioters make in “The Pardoner's Tale”? They promise to have each other’s back but they later plot to kill one another to get a larger share of the gold.

23. The moral of “The Pardoner's Tale” is Greed is the source of evil.

24. Why does the Pardoner tell the story of “The Pardoner's Tale”? sermon designed to get listeners to part with their money

25. How do two of the rioters double cross the third rioter? stab the other rioter upon his return

26. What is the main setting in “The Wife of Bath's Tale”? England in the time of King Arthur

27. What is the moral of “The Wife of Bath's Tale”? It is best for husbands and wives when women rule the marriage

28. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which event gives a sense of the supernatural? The Green Knight does not die when Sir Gawain cuts off his head

29. Why does Sir Gawain volunteer to fight the Green Knight? He wants to protect the honor of his king and fellow knights.

30. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight what is important about the ideals of chivalry? Honor, your loyalty to God, King, and country, rescue of damsel in distress

31. In the end, what advice does the Green Knight give to Sir Gawain? Admit your mistakes and move on.

Macbeth and Elizabethan England

32. What are the main themes of The Tragedy of Macbeth? betrayal Murderers must live with guilt.

33. Why are the witches important? foreshadowing

34. Why is King Duncan so grateful to Macbeth? Fought rebels and Norwegians

35. Throughout Act I, Macbeth's plans and actions seem to be motivated most of all by His wife

36. Near the end of Act I, Macbeth expresses doubt about murdering the king because Macbeth is his subject and host

37. Why will Macbeth “sleep no more”? guilt

38.Duncan’s sons flee Scotland because they Are afraid they will be murdered too 39.The natural disturbances that continue all through the night that Duncan is murdered symbolize Macbeth’s evil deeds

40.The “barren scepter” Macbeth refers to is symbolic that Macbeth has no children

41. Why does Macbeth kill Banquo? The witches’ predictions – Banquo’s children will be king

42. Why happens at the banquet? Banquo’s ghost appears

43. Hecate knows the witches’ new prophecies will make Macbeth what? overconfident

44. Malcolm pretends that he is too sinful to become king. Why? To test Macduff’s true intentions

44. What happens to Lady Macbeth? Why? Suicide - guilt

45. What is Macbeth’s tragic flaw? Blind ambition

46. Who kills Macbeth? Macduff

Historical - Elizabethan Age

47. When were plays performed during Shakespeare's time? Day

48. What is another name for unrhymed iambic pentameter? Blank verse

49. What is a soliloquy? Actors thoughts revealed to audience while actors alone on stage

50. He was an actor, a poet, and a playwright - Shakespeare

51. He was known as the Renaissance king – Henry VIII

52. He was king during Shakespeare’s time – King James

53. She was known as the virgin queen – Queen Elizabeth

54. The wooden “O – The Globe Theatre

Hamlet

55. The play is the thing that will catch the conscience of this king. Who is this referring to? - Claudius

56. Who is the ghost in the play? – Hamlet’s father

57. Who does Hamlet court in the play? Ophelia

58. Who remarried too quickly? Gertrude

59. He kills his father’s brother. Claudius

60. Accidently killed in the bedroom of the queen. Polonius

61.Hamlet’s best friend - Horatio

.62. Kill’s Hamlet with a poisoned sword - Laertes

63.There’s something rotten in the state of _Denmark______.

64. Summoned by the king to discover the cause of Hamlet’s strange behavior---Rosencrantz and Guildenstern