A
Who were the indigenous Celtic tribe?
the Britons
Name the four characteristics of an Anglo-Saxon hero.
Fortitude, Generosity, Prudence, Loyalty
England's greatest legend
King Arthur
The genre of Beowulf
folk (oral) epic
the monster Beowulf fought
Grendel
the name of Arthur's sword
Excalibur
Who was a Christ figure in Le Morte d'Arthur?
King Arthur
What unit was a feudal economy based on?
the manor
What was the result of the Battle of Hastings?
William the Conqueror won and placed England under Norman (French) rule.
Which artistic endeavor formed the pinnacle of medieval art?
the cathedral
What two disasters led to decline in the late Middle Ages?
famine and plague
Which dynasty emerged at the end of the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of the Roses?
the Tudor dynasty
Who do scholars believe is responsible for the recording of Beowulf?
King Alfred
How is Beowulf a multicultural story?
set in Scandinavia, references Germanic folklore, has a distinctly English hero
What two sets of values does Beowulf mix?
Christianity and Germanic pagan
What term means the affirmation of something by denying its contrary?
Litotes
"Seeking no peace, offering no truce, accepting no settlement, no price in gold or land"
Which term is displayed when referring to Beowulf as "that mighty protector of men," "Higlac's brave follower," and "A prince of the Geats"?
stock epithet
The genealogy in Beowulf illustrates what epic convention?
epic catalogue
Calling Hrothgar a "ring-giver" is an example of what epic convention?
kenning
like "whale-road" for sea
What is an account of a historical event with characters who are real people?
a historical narrative
ex: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle!
Which man in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was the ultimate Anglo-Saxon heroic leader?
King Edmund
Which man in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was a traitor?
Alderman Eadric
Name the three estates of a feudal society.
The clergy, the nobility, and the peasantry
Who wrote Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?
The Pearl Poet
How was Sir Gawain related to King Arthur?
Sir Gawain was King Arthur's nephew
What holiday is celebrated at the beginning of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?
Christmas at Camelot
What two items does the giant hold?
an axe and a sprig of holly
What item does the Queen offer Sir Gawain to protect him from the Green Giant?
a green girdle with supernatural abilities
What does the green girdle symbolize before the battle?
temptation/cowardice
Why do all the knights wear a green girdle?
to remind them of the frailty of the human heart and the virtue of humility
What does the pentangle symbolize?
Fidelity (faithfulness)
What do the five points of the pentangle symbolize?
1. flawless in his five senses
2. five fingers were never at fault
3. his faith was founded in the five wounds of Christ
4. the fortitude he found in the five joys of Mary
5. five characteristics: friendship and fraternity with fellow men/purity, politeness, and pity
Who is described as the ultimate and most chivalrous of all the knights?
Sir Gawain
Which knight betrayed King Arthur by having an affair with Queen Guinevere?
Lancelot (Launcelot)
There were four men left standing at the end of the battle in Le Morte d'Arthur. Name the four men.
1. King Arthur
2. Modred
3. Sir Lucas
4. Sir Bedevere
What happened to break the peace treaty between Modred and King Arthur?
A snake (adder) bit one of the soldier's feet. He drew his sword to kill the snake. A battle ensued.
Clearly a biblical allusion to the prophecy in Genesis - a snake will bite his heel but he will crush the snake's head. Subtle building of Arthur as a Christ-figure and his promised return!
How many times did Sir Bedevere betray King Arthur?
twice. The third time he threw the sword into the lake.
What inscription is on King Arthur's tomb?
Here lies Arthur, the once and future king
What genre is Le Morte d'Arthur?
a prose romance
What genre is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight?
alliterative verse/medieval romance/Arthurian romance