A-S Background
What are the three main parts of the British Isles?
Great Britain, Ireland, and numerous smaller islands.
What is a scop?
An oral poet or bard who served as an entertainer and historian in the Anglo-Saxon mead hall.
When does the Wanderer say he most feels the loss of his lord?
When he is dreaming of the past and wakes up to the cold, harsh reality of his loneliness.
In what year was the only known copy of the Beowulf manuscript written?
Circa A.D. 1000.
What year is considered the end of the Anglo-Saxon Period?
1066
For what is King Alfred the Great known?
He is known for establishing the first English navy, defending against the Vikings, and commissioning the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
What is the structural device that splits a line of Anglo-Saxon poetry?
Caesura (a pause or break in a line of poetry).
What is the reason the Wanderer is "wandering"?
His lord died, leaving him lordless and without a social structure, forcing him to seek a new lord or hearth.
Name two specific traits of an epic hero.
Superhuman strength, skill in battle, and embodying the values of his culture (e.g., loyalty, bravery). (Other answers: ethical, on a quest, faces supernatural foes).
What was the final battle called?
The Battle of Hastings
What Roman influence remains in Britain, even after their departure?
The establishment of roads, cities (like London), and the defensive structure of Hadrian's Wall.
What is a kenning?
A two-word metaphorical compound expression used in place of a noun (e.g., "whale-road" for the sea).
What are the potential reasons for the Wanderer's exile?
The loss of his lord in battle, or being forcibly sent away (banished) by a ruler or his community.
What is the term for the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a line of poetry?
Alliteration.
Who were the last invaders during the Anglo-Saxon Period?
What is the Anglo-Saxon concept of fate?
Wyrd (pronounced weird).
In the conflict between Old English and Latin, why did Old English eventually replace Latin for everyday use?
Old English was the language of the common people and was necessary for communicating everyday concerns, while Latin was primarily reserved for the Church and scholars.
What does the second half of the poem focus on, transitioning from personal grief?
It moves from the specific, personal grief of the Wanderer to a universal meditation on the transitory nature of life (ubi sunt motif) and the need for spiritual comfort (from God).
What is the role of the oral tradition in preserving stories like Beowulf?
The oral tradition allowed the story to be preserved and transmitted across generations before being written down, keeping the culture's history and values alive.
Why did William the Conqueror seek possession of the British Isles?
He claimed that Edward the Confessor, the Anglo-Saxon king of England, had promised him the throne. When Harold Godwinson took the crown instead in 1066, William invaded England to seize what he saw as his rightful inheritance.
How did the establishment of Christian monasteries benefit Anglo-Saxon society?
They became centers of learning (copying books, writing history), provided social services, and helped spread Christianity.
Name and define the specific type of poem "The Wanderer" is.
An elegy; a poem that mourns the loss of someone or something, often reflecting on a past, better time.
Apply the "C" from TPCASTT and explain how it appears in the poem.
Connotation; The poem uses words like rime, hoarfrost, and ice-clad wings to evoke feelings of coldness, isolation, and spiritual desolation, emphasizing the Wanderer's loss.
Briefly explain the poem's overall plot structure and main conflict.
Part 1: Beowulf defeats Grendel and Grendel's mother to save the Danes. Part 2: Beowulf, as an old king, battles a dragon and dies, showing his final heroic act. The main conflict is the battle of good vs. evil and the inevitable end of the heroic age.
What was the original language called that gave rise to all other languages?
The Indo-European Language