English Literature – The Middle Ages
Literature quiz notes.
1. Why did the Romans withdraw from Britain?
The Romans lived from 55 BC - 450 AD in Britain. They left in the 5th century and the road
structures were improved by the Britains. The Romans withdraw to defend the
intercontinental part of their empire.
2. Where did the Angelo Saxons and the Jutes come from?
The Anglo-Saxons and Jutes came from northern Germany and Denmark. Their influence on
the English language includes the addition of many words from their Germanic languages,
which helped shape Old English.
3. Why did the Angelo Saxons and Jutes have to their lands?
The Anglo-Saxons and Jutes left their lands because they were under pressure from other
groups, such as the Huns (Asian people), who were pushing tribes westward. This forced
them to seek new land to settle.
4. Who else attacked the Roman-British around 450 AD?
The Roman-British were attacked by the Celts, including tribes from what is now Scotland,
such as the Picts and Scots, as well as by the Anglo-Saxons and Jutes around 450 AD.
5. How do we call the era when a lot of people moved, because of violence in the Middle Ages?
Migration of the peoples.
6. What did the Angelo-Saxon kings expect from the warriors?
Anglo-Saxon kings expected loyalty from their warriors. In return, they rewarded them with
material goods, such as weapons, land, or treasures.
7. Give an example of warriors’ cowardice and shame
An example of a warrior's cowardice and shame is when a soldier betrayed his king by
refusing to fight and fleeing from battle.
8. The Angelo-Saxon warriors spent their free time eating, drinking and .. ?
Anglo-Saxon warriors spent their free time eating, drinking, and telling stories to each other.
Since most of them couldn’t read, they shared spoken stories. These often included serious
tales about their culture, history, and Scandinavian traditions.
9. What caused the Angelo-Saxons to convert to Christianity in the 6th century?
The Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity in the 6th century because the Pope sent
missionaries to peacefully spread the faith. The process went slow, but eventually, most
people converted. This led to the building of monasteries and churches, and they began
writing in Latin (the language of the Pope) and Old English.
, 10. How did Latin words end up in the English language and who made it possible?
Latin words ended up in the English language because monks wrote in Latin, especially when
translating religious texts and documenting history. As a result, many Latin words were
introduced into Old English, especially in areas related to religion, learning, and
administration.
11. Who was Bede? What is his role in the Early Middle Age Literature?
Bede was a monk and scholar who lived in the 7th and 8th centuries. He is best known for
writing The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which provides valuable insights into
the early history of the Anglo-Saxons. His work is a key source of information about the
conversion to Christianity and the development of Anglo-Saxon England, making him an
important figure in Early Middle Age literature.
12. Which subjects did Bede write about in his book “The Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Anglorum”?
Bede wrote about history, religion, politics, and science in his book.
13. What is considered the most famous piece of literature that survived from the Early Middle
Ages and is written in Old English? Why is it such great importance?
Beowulf is considered the most famous piece of literature that survived from the Early
Middle Ages. It is of great importance because it is the oldest preserved written text in the
English language. Additionally, it helps us understand how Old English sounded. Beowulf also
influenced later works, including The Lord of the Rings, which was inspired by its themes and
style.
14. What is Sutton Hoo?
Sutton Hoo is a famous Anglo-Saxon burial site in England, where an important ship burial
was discovered in 1939. The site includes the remains of a royal burial mound, along with a
wealth of artifacts, including weapons, jewellery, and a ship. This discovery has given us
valuable insights into Anglo-Saxon life, showing that they had a rich culture and advanced
craftsmanship. Contrary to the earlier belief that the Anglo-Saxons were simply a violent,
barbaric society, Sutton Hoo reveals that they were skilled artisans with complex social
structures and connections to Europe.
15. What important event took part of the Island of Lindisfarne in 793?
It was the moment when the Vikings attacked the island. Their goal was to destroy
monasteries, which were important places where monks lived and wrote books.
16. Why was King Alfred of Wessex an important king between 871-899?
King Alfred of Wessex was important because he defeated the Vikings and protected his
kingdom from further attacks. He is also known as the founder of the English navy, which
helped build England’s strength and power. Alfred rebuilt monasteries that had been
destroyed and recognized the importance of education and literature. He encouraged monks
to translate texts from Latin into English so more people could understand and learn from
them. This helped preserve knowledge and made it accessible to his people.
Literature quiz notes.
1. Why did the Romans withdraw from Britain?
The Romans lived from 55 BC - 450 AD in Britain. They left in the 5th century and the road
structures were improved by the Britains. The Romans withdraw to defend the
intercontinental part of their empire.
2. Where did the Angelo Saxons and the Jutes come from?
The Anglo-Saxons and Jutes came from northern Germany and Denmark. Their influence on
the English language includes the addition of many words from their Germanic languages,
which helped shape Old English.
3. Why did the Angelo Saxons and Jutes have to their lands?
The Anglo-Saxons and Jutes left their lands because they were under pressure from other
groups, such as the Huns (Asian people), who were pushing tribes westward. This forced
them to seek new land to settle.
4. Who else attacked the Roman-British around 450 AD?
The Roman-British were attacked by the Celts, including tribes from what is now Scotland,
such as the Picts and Scots, as well as by the Anglo-Saxons and Jutes around 450 AD.
5. How do we call the era when a lot of people moved, because of violence in the Middle Ages?
Migration of the peoples.
6. What did the Angelo-Saxon kings expect from the warriors?
Anglo-Saxon kings expected loyalty from their warriors. In return, they rewarded them with
material goods, such as weapons, land, or treasures.
7. Give an example of warriors’ cowardice and shame
An example of a warrior's cowardice and shame is when a soldier betrayed his king by
refusing to fight and fleeing from battle.
8. The Angelo-Saxon warriors spent their free time eating, drinking and .. ?
Anglo-Saxon warriors spent their free time eating, drinking, and telling stories to each other.
Since most of them couldn’t read, they shared spoken stories. These often included serious
tales about their culture, history, and Scandinavian traditions.
9. What caused the Angelo-Saxons to convert to Christianity in the 6th century?
The Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity in the 6th century because the Pope sent
missionaries to peacefully spread the faith. The process went slow, but eventually, most
people converted. This led to the building of monasteries and churches, and they began
writing in Latin (the language of the Pope) and Old English.
, 10. How did Latin words end up in the English language and who made it possible?
Latin words ended up in the English language because monks wrote in Latin, especially when
translating religious texts and documenting history. As a result, many Latin words were
introduced into Old English, especially in areas related to religion, learning, and
administration.
11. Who was Bede? What is his role in the Early Middle Age Literature?
Bede was a monk and scholar who lived in the 7th and 8th centuries. He is best known for
writing The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which provides valuable insights into
the early history of the Anglo-Saxons. His work is a key source of information about the
conversion to Christianity and the development of Anglo-Saxon England, making him an
important figure in Early Middle Age literature.
12. Which subjects did Bede write about in his book “The Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Anglorum”?
Bede wrote about history, religion, politics, and science in his book.
13. What is considered the most famous piece of literature that survived from the Early Middle
Ages and is written in Old English? Why is it such great importance?
Beowulf is considered the most famous piece of literature that survived from the Early
Middle Ages. It is of great importance because it is the oldest preserved written text in the
English language. Additionally, it helps us understand how Old English sounded. Beowulf also
influenced later works, including The Lord of the Rings, which was inspired by its themes and
style.
14. What is Sutton Hoo?
Sutton Hoo is a famous Anglo-Saxon burial site in England, where an important ship burial
was discovered in 1939. The site includes the remains of a royal burial mound, along with a
wealth of artifacts, including weapons, jewellery, and a ship. This discovery has given us
valuable insights into Anglo-Saxon life, showing that they had a rich culture and advanced
craftsmanship. Contrary to the earlier belief that the Anglo-Saxons were simply a violent,
barbaric society, Sutton Hoo reveals that they were skilled artisans with complex social
structures and connections to Europe.
15. What important event took part of the Island of Lindisfarne in 793?
It was the moment when the Vikings attacked the island. Their goal was to destroy
monasteries, which were important places where monks lived and wrote books.
16. Why was King Alfred of Wessex an important king between 871-899?
King Alfred of Wessex was important because he defeated the Vikings and protected his
kingdom from further attacks. He is also known as the founder of the English navy, which
helped build England’s strength and power. Alfred rebuilt monasteries that had been
destroyed and recognized the importance of education and literature. He encouraged monks
to translate texts from Latin into English so more people could understand and learn from
them. This helped preserve knowledge and made it accessible to his people.
