Hello everyone,
Due to the busy week with homecoming, etc., I have decided to postpone the Anglo-Saxon/Beowulf exam until next Tuesday. This will allow for a little more time to review in class and study on your own. I will give you more details in class.
-Mr. Pace
Monday, October 3, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Anglo-Saxon/Beowulf Exam Study Guide
Hello, all, I hope you had a good weekend and are ready for homecoming this week. I thought I would post the study guide to the exam on Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon period (don't worry, I'll still give you a copy). So, without further ado, here it is...
Anglo-Saxon/Beowulf
Exam Study Guide
Geography
·
Know and be able to label on a map
o
The four countries comprising Great
Britain
o
France
o
The English Channel
o
London
Anglo-Saxon
Period
·
Celtic Civilization
o
Religion & priests
o
Most famous Celtic ruins
o
Warriors’ blue dye
o
Basis for Arthurian legend
·
Roman Occupation
o
Beginning and ending dates
o
Roman emperor during invasion of Britain
o
Two geographical features brought to Britain
by Romans
o
Religion brought by the Romans after
Emperor Constantine converted to it
·
Anglo-Saxon Period
o
Three
major
tribes (Angles, Saxons, and Jutes)
o
Terms for Anglo-Saxon poets
o
“Warrior Heaven”
o
Odin and Thor
o
Four main virtues (and how they relate
to Beowulf)
o
Significance of dragon in Anglo-Saxon
poetry
o
Influence of monks and monasteries
o
3 major accomplishments of Alfred the
Great
o
Event that marks the end of the
Anglo-Saxon period, as well as the date and its leader
Beowulf
·
Who wrote it? About when?
·
How do scholars account for the
Christian and Pagan elements existing concurrently in the poem? Be able to identify examples of each from a
given passage.
·
What is the one verifiable historical
reference in Beowulf? (Hygelac was a
historical figure who led a raid around the year 525).
·
What is the name of the mead-hall? Who builds it?
·
Who is Grendel’s ancestor?
·
What is wyrd? Provide an example of its importance in Beowulf?
·
What is wergild? How is this important in Beowulf?
·
What is a ring-giver?
·
What is the history between Hrothgar and
Beowulf’s father?
·
Genealogy:
o
Danes: Know Hrothgar’s ancestry back to
Shield Sheafson.
o
Gaets: Know Beowulf’s father and his
uncle whom Beowulf succeeds as king
·
Know the three battles and the major
events in each.
·
What is the name of Beowulf’s sword?
·
How does Beowulf become king of the
Gaets?
·
How many years does he rule before he
fights the dragon?
·
Who is the warrior who remains loyal to
Beowulf in his final battle?
·
How does Beowulf die?
·
What happens to Beowulf’s body after his
death?
·
What are some themes that remain
relevant today?
Literary
Terms
·
Know and be able to define, as well as
provide some characteristics of, an epic (see the list on pages 28-29 in the
textbook).
·
Know and be able to define and identify
from a selected passage:
o
Kenning
o
Alliteration
o
Caesura (a pause in the middle of a line
of poetry)
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Greetings, and welcome to PaceSpace. I thought for the first entry we could discuss music. As a musician from a young age, I have been obsessed with songs and the meanings they hold for us. In Beowulf, the poet employs songs that were popular at the time (and which also contain a pertinent meaning) to connect with his audience and add some variety to the text. The songs, of course, are significantly less readily available to us now, but the concept remains. We add songs to our movies (especially the major blockbusters), and we tend to appreciate it when a film incorporates a pertinent popular song in the soundtrack. For this post, I'd like you to think about what you think is the best soundtrack to any movie. Personally, I tend to return with alarming alacrity (vocab word!) to Moulin Rouge. The genius of that film (besides the casting and directing) is how Baz Luhrmann incorporates popular songs from the past 1oo years into the storyline. In doing so, I think the movie is successful in demonstrating the immanence of death and the embodiment of Bohemian ideals through (relatively) contemporary songs.
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