The Middle Ages
Which legendary figure is most closely tied to England’s greatest national legend?
King Arthur (p.2)
What type of literature or genre is Beowulf considered?
Oral epic (p.16)
A character like Arthur who mirrors Jesus Christ
Christ figure (pp. 53, 58-60)
What Old English word did the Anglo-Saxons use to describe fate?
wyrd (p.18)
Why do the Round Table knights wear a green sash after Gawain’s test?
To remind themselves of human weakness and the virtue of humility (p. 51)
What do the five points of the pentangle stand for?
Five virtues of Gawain p.44
Give one example of how Beowulf blends pagan beliefs with Christian ideas:
Beowulf as a Christ figure, the idea that wyrd is providence, references to Heavenly peace/Christian salvation (p.18, 24)
Arthurian tales passed down orally without proof
legend (p.53)
Repetition of beginning sounds in a line of poetry
alliterative verse pp. 18,21
What moment in King Arthur’s story makes him most similar to Jesus Christ?
His death (mirrors Christ’s sacrifice) (pp. 58, 60)
In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, what does the pentangle represent about Gawain?
faithfulness (p.37, 44)
How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?
By tearing off Grendel’s arm (p.29)
A descriptive phrase like “shadow of death”
kenning pp.18,21
What is the name of King Arthur’s famous sword?
Excalibur (p.58)
What lesson does Gawain learn from the green girdle?
It reveals his failure but gives him a chance for true confession and humility (pp. 37, 45-46, 49-50)
What are the four main heroic virtues that Beowulf represents?
fortitude, prudence, loyalty, and generosity (pp.14-15)
Repeated descriptive labels for people (like “ring-giver”)
stock epithet pp. 18, 25-26
Which biblical disciple does Sir Bedivere resemble?
Peter (denied Jesus three times, like Bedivere failing to obey Arthur) (p.58)
Who instructed the queen to tempt Gawain, and why was this important?
The king (Bertilak/Green Knight) directed her (p.49)
The green girdle, pentangle, and color green is an example of
symbol p.37
What major historical event ended Anglo-Saxon rule and reshaped English culture?
the Norman Conquest (p.6)