Beowulf Exam SG

Alliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close to one another. This action occurs most often at the beginning of words, as in "rough and ready." It is a common feature of Anglo-Saxon poetry.

Caesura

A pause or break within a line of poetry, usually indicated by the natural ryhthm of the language; it divides the four-beat line in half.

Wergild

Practice of making reparation for a life; "manprice

Epic

A long narrative poem that relates the great deeds of a larger-than-life hero who embodies the values of a particular society.

Epic Hero

The central figure in a long narrative who possess larger -than-life qualities such as bravery, loyalty, and heroism.

Foil

A character who sets off another character by strong contrast. This contrast emphasizes the differences between two characters, bringing out the distinctive qualities in each. Unferth.

Kenning

In Anglo-Saxon poetry, a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event indirectly. (whale road, ring giver, shepherd of evil)

Comitatus

Bond of loyalty between a thane and his his lord

wyrd

fate

scop

poet or storyteller

mail shirt

armor made of tiny mesh rings

fratricide

killing one's brother

Hrothgar

King of the Danes

Higlac

King of Geats

Beowulf

Geatish warrior and hero

Unferth

Danish thane who taunts Beowulf and is a foil to him

Welthow

Hrothgar's queen

Edgetho's son

Beowulf

Healfdane's son

Hrothgar

Wiglaf

only Geat who does not desert Beowulf

descended from Cain

Grendel

Avenges a death

Grendel's mother

Guards the treasure

fire dragon

built for Beowulf's people

tower by the sea; Beowulf's legacy

Heorot/Herot

Built for the Danes by King Hrothgar

treasure

symbol of loyalty and achievement

the sea

the unknown and risk

wasteland

home of evil

light

good; side of God

darkness

evil; Satan

mead hall

symbol of civilization

1000 AD

date of manuscript of Beowulf

750 AD

date of manuscript's composition

Sweden

Geatland

14

number of men taken to Denmark by Beowulf

Hrunting

Sword given to Beowulf by Unferth to use to fight Grendel's mother

Giant's sword

Sword Beowulf uses to kill Grendel's mother

Celts

early inhabitants of Britain

Romans

Invaded England and stayed for 400 years and left behind roads and walls

Animism

pagan religion of Celts

Druids

priests of Celts

Venerable Bede

Father" of English history

Alfred the Great

Unified Britain; wrote the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Old English

Anglo Saxon

Language that most affects Modern English

Anglo Saxon

Latin

a dead language

Primary epic

Beowulf

a tower

Beowulf's legacy to the Geats

Boasts

Considered appropriate for the A/S warrior

The bottom of the lake

Grendel's mother's home

Hrothgar's closest friend

Grendel's mother practicing wergild

Grendel's claw/hand

Piece of Grendel that Beowulf keeps

Treasure

Buried with Beowulf

Funeral pyre

Beowulf's cremation

Unferth

A foil for Beowulf; a Danish thane who accuses Beowulf of losing a swimming match

Fratricide

Beowulf accuses Unferth of this.

Welthow

Hrothgar's Queen (Danish)

Danelaw

Vikings' territory

Storytelling

Valued by the Anglo-Saxons

William of Normandy

Defeated King Harold

400 years; left in 410 AD

Roman rule in Britain

Druids

Settled Celtic disputes

Anglo-Saxon kings were chosen by this.

Witans

Hadrian's Wall

Romans built this to protect Britain from Scots and Picts

The importance of comitatus

Theme of Beowulf

Who wrote Beowulf?

unknown author; monk wrote it down

Stonehenge

Worship site of Druids

The heathen's only hope, hell...

Alliteration example

Noble protector of all seamen

Example of a kenning

Thinks he and his comrades should help Beowulf because in the past they promised repay Beowulf's kindness with their lives

Wiglaf

Feels sorrow that his mead hall stands empty

Hrothgar

The monster's thoughts were as quick as his claws

Indicates Grendel's intelligence

Shelterer of warriors

A kenning for Hrothgar

Refuses to use weapons

A sign of Beowulf's honor

Folk epic

Epic handed down from generation to generation

CE

Common Era (Replacing A.D. in some areas)

BCE

Before the Common Era