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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the alternate name that the introduction to "I Saw a Strange Creature..." gives to kennings?

2. Who said "What use is the abundance of books if there are none to read and understand them?"

3. In "A Colloquy" what profession does the pupil have?

4. The object in the second stanza of "Thirty-One Riddles" is what by nature?

5. In the stanza beginning "I'm a strange creature," what does the strange creature state it satisfies?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the beginning, when Latin was still a widely used language, what was English primarily used for?

2. Describe the three sections of "Bald's Leechbook".

3. In what ways was the runic alphabet used throughout Anglo-Saxon history?

4. Describe the appearance of the slaves that Gregory I came across prior to becoming Pope.

5. What are the four things that the shepherd does every day?

6. What was the purpose of "An Estate Memorandum"?

7. Where was the greatest amount of scientific prose found in Anglo-Saxon literature?

8. What was the reason that many Anglos found it necessary to learn the English language?

9. To whose writings are the Anglo-Saxon riddles compared?

10. According to the author of the introduction to "I Saw A Creature...," what "relief" does the author state is found in Anglo-Saxon riddles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the characteristics of an epic hero? In what ways does Beowulf exemplify these qualities? Be sure to describe each characteristic/quality with a direct textual example and explanation as to why Beowulf is an epic hero.

Essay Topic 2

Religion seemed to have saved the lives of many a seafaring man. Compare the religious thought in both "The Wanderer" and "The Seafarer." How are the authors' thoughts similar? In what ways was religion necessary for survival?

Essay Topic 3

Exile was a main theme throughout Anglo-Saxon literature. What selection from the text best represents the theme of exile? Why? Be sure to use textual evidence.

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