1
What is the name of the Old English epic poem about a hero who fights Grendel?
Beowulf
Which century was Beowulf approximately written?
8th–10th century
In which form of English did Geoffrey Chaucer write?
Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales was written in Middle English, making it more accessible than Old English
Which Irish spirit is known for warning of death with wailing cries?
Banshee
This mischievous creature from English folklore is said to help with household chores if treated well.
Brownie
Which alphabet was used before the Latin one in Anglo-Saxon England?
Runes / Futhorc
Which tribes brought the English language to Britain? Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Vikings or Normans
Angles, Saxons, Jutes. These Germanic tribes migrated from present-day Germany and Denmark to Britain in the 5th century.
Which epic poem is the most famous work of Old English literature?
Beowulf is the greatest Old English epic, telling the story of a hero who fights monsters
A supernatural horse in Scottish and Irish myths that lures people to water and drowns them.
Kelpie
Which legendary creature is often depicted guarding treasures and hoards of gold?
Dragon
What kind of text is The Seafarer?
Elegy
Name one theme common in Old English poetry.
Exile, fate, heroism, loyalty, religion, sea journey
Who conquered England in 1066? Julius Caesar, William the Conqueror, Alfred the Great, Charlemagne?
William the Conqueror. The Norman Conquest introduced Old French into English culture and language
This magical creature is associated with Irish luck and pranks, often wearing green or red clothing.
Leprechaun
This mythical creature is associated with forests and can shapeshift into animals.
Puca
Who ordered the writing of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle?
King Alfred the Great
Which king is known as the “father of English prose”?
Alfred the Great. He promoted the use of English in writing and translated many works into Old English
Which language had the greatest influence on English after the Norman Conquest?
Thousands of French words entered English, especially in law, government, and culture.
A ghostly dog that roams the countryside in England, often an omen of death.
Black Shuck
Which headless horseman rides a black horse and carries his own head?
Dullahan
In which century does the Old English period begin?
The Old English period started in the 5th century, after the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes came to Britain
What is the name of the great change in vowel pronunciation in the 15th–16th centuries?
Great Vowel Shift. This was a major change in vowel sounds that shaped Modern English pronunciation.
Which language influenced English vocabulary due to Viking invasions?
Old Norse. The most used words like “sky,” “egg,” and “they” came from the Vikings’ Old Norse language
What mythical creature is half-lion, half-eagle and often guards treasures?
Griffin
What was the name of the evil creature which was given to parents by fairies instead of the real baby?
Changelling