ENGL 3001 Midterm Exam Questions and Answers Fully Solved Latest Version 2025-2026
Beowulf Manuscript History - Answers-one manuscript in British library by Cotton Vitellius A.
-fire in 1731
-copied in late 10th century by two different scribal hands
-first published in print form in 1815
-We are reading the Seamus Heany translation
Alliterative Verse - Answers-each line falls into 2 halves
-one or two in first 1/2, one in second
Hrothgar - Answers-ruler of Shieldings (Danes)
-repetition and variation of kingly titles (lord, friendly, protector, helm)
-great-great grandson of Shields
Kennings - Answers-compressed metaphors
-ex: whale's road, battle light, world candle, peace weaver
History of England - Answers-Brittania (colonial construct inhabited by Celts)
-Romans invaded and ran things for 300 years
-Romans withdrew in 410 CE to deal with Germanic tribes
-Celtic language survives in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, Cornish
-Invaders from north: 500-1066 Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians
-Angels gave name to English
-500-1066: Anglo-Saxon period
-597 CE: beginning of christian missions to Anglo-Saxon, conversions led by Augustine
-Viking raids on Britain from Denmark, Sweden, Norway: 8th century onwards
-1066 CE: conquest of Anglo-Saxon England by William the Duke of Normandy
-English language became the language of power
History of language - AnswersOld English: pre-Norman conquest
,Middle English: Chaucer
Early Modern: Shakespeare
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People - Answers-The Venerable Bede was a scholar at the
monastery of Jarrow
-earliest poem written in the vernacular
-written in Latin, finished in 731 CE
-tells of Anglo-Saxon conquest and the conversion of Anglo-Saxons to Christianity
-Bede also writes about the sparrow in the meadhall
Caedmon's Hymn - Answers-old english
-vernacular
-God: holy creator, glory-father
-emphasis on creating, making, shaping
SCOP - Answers-old English word for poet (maker, shaper)
-Caedmon is given the gift of song
-offers a version of Genesis
-vernacular language becomes a vehicle for God's service
Heorot - Answers-the meadhall
-awaiting a barbarous future burning
Tacitus Treatise Germania - Answers-98 CE
-discusses the customs of Germanic people (Roman author)
-ideas of gift-giver, generous lord
Comitatus (Duguth) - Answers-band of loyal companions of warleader
-leader is responsible for giving gifts (ring bearer)
-gold neck rings or "torque"
-Battle of Maldron poem: he who flees this place of battle will ever have cause to mourn
Wer-gild - Answers-man-money
, -codification of monetary penalties for killing or maiming
-amount varies depending on the rank of the victim
Freawaru - Answers-peace-weaver
-treaty bride, women married into enemy family
Story told by advisor of Edwin of Northumbria - Answers-Bede story about the meadhall
-sparrow shall fly rapidly through the hall
-tiny space of perfect happiness
-turn from earth experience to Christianity
Beowulf Audience - Answers-Christian English poet tells the heroic deeds of pagan Danes and Swedes in
a distant past
-references Hygelac's Frisian raid (6th century)
-writes to an audience whom he assumes will be familiar with legendary histories of Germanic and
Scandinavian peoples
Summary of Histories and Feuds - Answers-Beowulf is adopted by his grandfather Hrethel, king of Geats
-Hrethel has three sons: Herebeald, Haethcyn, and Hygelac
-Beowulf is nephew of Hygelac
-Geats wage war on Swedes (Haethcyn vs. Ongentheow)
-Hygelac leads a successful rescue/revenge mission
-Hygelac becomes king of Geats
-Beowulf wins great fame in Denmark
-Hygelac raids Frisian territory, is killed
-Heardred becomes king
-Onela kills Heardred and Beowulf becomes king
-When Beowulf dies, it is predicted that the Swedes will attack again
Why does Beowulf help the Danes? - Answers-repaying Hrothgar's kindness to his father Ecgtheow
-Ecgtheow was in exile for killing a man
Beowulf Manuscript History - Answers-one manuscript in British library by Cotton Vitellius A.
-fire in 1731
-copied in late 10th century by two different scribal hands
-first published in print form in 1815
-We are reading the Seamus Heany translation
Alliterative Verse - Answers-each line falls into 2 halves
-one or two in first 1/2, one in second
Hrothgar - Answers-ruler of Shieldings (Danes)
-repetition and variation of kingly titles (lord, friendly, protector, helm)
-great-great grandson of Shields
Kennings - Answers-compressed metaphors
-ex: whale's road, battle light, world candle, peace weaver
History of England - Answers-Brittania (colonial construct inhabited by Celts)
-Romans invaded and ran things for 300 years
-Romans withdrew in 410 CE to deal with Germanic tribes
-Celtic language survives in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Breton, Cornish
-Invaders from north: 500-1066 Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians
-Angels gave name to English
-500-1066: Anglo-Saxon period
-597 CE: beginning of christian missions to Anglo-Saxon, conversions led by Augustine
-Viking raids on Britain from Denmark, Sweden, Norway: 8th century onwards
-1066 CE: conquest of Anglo-Saxon England by William the Duke of Normandy
-English language became the language of power
History of language - AnswersOld English: pre-Norman conquest
,Middle English: Chaucer
Early Modern: Shakespeare
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People - Answers-The Venerable Bede was a scholar at the
monastery of Jarrow
-earliest poem written in the vernacular
-written in Latin, finished in 731 CE
-tells of Anglo-Saxon conquest and the conversion of Anglo-Saxons to Christianity
-Bede also writes about the sparrow in the meadhall
Caedmon's Hymn - Answers-old english
-vernacular
-God: holy creator, glory-father
-emphasis on creating, making, shaping
SCOP - Answers-old English word for poet (maker, shaper)
-Caedmon is given the gift of song
-offers a version of Genesis
-vernacular language becomes a vehicle for God's service
Heorot - Answers-the meadhall
-awaiting a barbarous future burning
Tacitus Treatise Germania - Answers-98 CE
-discusses the customs of Germanic people (Roman author)
-ideas of gift-giver, generous lord
Comitatus (Duguth) - Answers-band of loyal companions of warleader
-leader is responsible for giving gifts (ring bearer)
-gold neck rings or "torque"
-Battle of Maldron poem: he who flees this place of battle will ever have cause to mourn
Wer-gild - Answers-man-money
, -codification of monetary penalties for killing or maiming
-amount varies depending on the rank of the victim
Freawaru - Answers-peace-weaver
-treaty bride, women married into enemy family
Story told by advisor of Edwin of Northumbria - Answers-Bede story about the meadhall
-sparrow shall fly rapidly through the hall
-tiny space of perfect happiness
-turn from earth experience to Christianity
Beowulf Audience - Answers-Christian English poet tells the heroic deeds of pagan Danes and Swedes in
a distant past
-references Hygelac's Frisian raid (6th century)
-writes to an audience whom he assumes will be familiar with legendary histories of Germanic and
Scandinavian peoples
Summary of Histories and Feuds - Answers-Beowulf is adopted by his grandfather Hrethel, king of Geats
-Hrethel has three sons: Herebeald, Haethcyn, and Hygelac
-Beowulf is nephew of Hygelac
-Geats wage war on Swedes (Haethcyn vs. Ongentheow)
-Hygelac leads a successful rescue/revenge mission
-Hygelac becomes king of Geats
-Beowulf wins great fame in Denmark
-Hygelac raids Frisian territory, is killed
-Heardred becomes king
-Onela kills Heardred and Beowulf becomes king
-When Beowulf dies, it is predicted that the Swedes will attack again
Why does Beowulf help the Danes? - Answers-repaying Hrothgar's kindness to his father Ecgtheow
-Ecgtheow was in exile for killing a man
