ENGL 3001 MIDTERM EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Beowulf Manuscript History - ANS -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 - ANS -each line falls into 2 halves
-one or two in first 1/2, one in second
Hrothgar - ANS -ruler of Shieldings (Danes)
-repetition and variation of kingly titles (lord, friendly, protector, helm)
-great-great grandson of Shields
Kennings - ANS -compressed metaphors
-ex: whale's road, battle light, world candle, peace weaver
History of England - ANS -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
1 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
,-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 - ANS Old English: pre-Norman conquest
Middle English: Chaucer
Early Modern: Shakespeare
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People - ANS -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 - ANS -old english
-vernacular
-God: holy creator, glory-father
-emphasis on creating, making, shaping
SCOP - ANS -old English word for poet (maker, shaper)
-Caedmon is given the gift of song
-offers a version of Genesis
2 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, -vernacular language becomes a vehicle for God's service
Heorot - ANS -the meadhall
-awaiting a barbarous future burning
Tacitus Treatise Germania - ANS -98 CE
-discusses the customs of Germanic people (Roman author)
-ideas of gift-giver, generous lord
Comitatus (Duguth) - ANS -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 - ANS -man-money
-codification of monetary penalties for killing or maiming
-amount varies depending on the rank of the victim
Freawaru - ANS -peace-weaver
-treaty bride, women married into enemy family
Story told by advisor of Edwin of Northumbria - ANS -Bede story about the meadhall
-sparrow shall fly rapidly through the hall
-tiny space of perfect happiness
-turn from earth experience to Christianity
3 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Beowulf Manuscript History - ANS -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 - ANS -each line falls into 2 halves
-one or two in first 1/2, one in second
Hrothgar - ANS -ruler of Shieldings (Danes)
-repetition and variation of kingly titles (lord, friendly, protector, helm)
-great-great grandson of Shields
Kennings - ANS -compressed metaphors
-ex: whale's road, battle light, world candle, peace weaver
History of England - ANS -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
1 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
,-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 - ANS Old English: pre-Norman conquest
Middle English: Chaucer
Early Modern: Shakespeare
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People - ANS -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 - ANS -old english
-vernacular
-God: holy creator, glory-father
-emphasis on creating, making, shaping
SCOP - ANS -old English word for poet (maker, shaper)
-Caedmon is given the gift of song
-offers a version of Genesis
2 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, -vernacular language becomes a vehicle for God's service
Heorot - ANS -the meadhall
-awaiting a barbarous future burning
Tacitus Treatise Germania - ANS -98 CE
-discusses the customs of Germanic people (Roman author)
-ideas of gift-giver, generous lord
Comitatus (Duguth) - ANS -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 - ANS -man-money
-codification of monetary penalties for killing or maiming
-amount varies depending on the rank of the victim
Freawaru - ANS -peace-weaver
-treaty bride, women married into enemy family
Story told by advisor of Edwin of Northumbria - ANS -Bede story about the meadhall
-sparrow shall fly rapidly through the hall
-tiny space of perfect happiness
-turn from earth experience to Christianity
3 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
