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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the name of the person that "was a crucial member of a tribe or a society" and existed as "a living memory"?
(a) The jester.
(b) The knave.
(c) The clergy.
(d) The scop.

2. What does Beowulf give to Wiglaf to signify Wiglaf's rise to king?
(a) A necklace.
(b) A goblet.
(c) A banner.
(d) A sword.

3. In "The Finnesburh Fragment," what does the first line say is "not burning"?
(a) The pits of Hell.
(b) The gables.
(c) The spires.
(d) The sky.

4. What does the word "wergild" mean?
(a) A man's value.
(b) The succession of kinship.
(c) A families land.
(d) The naming of a bard.

5. According to the introduction to the Heroic Poems section, what do heroic poems link our Anglo-Saxon ancestors to?
(a) Geatland origins.
(b) European origins.
(c) French origins.
(d) Dutch origins.

6. What does Beowulf use to fight Grendel?
(a) Nothing--no weapon.
(b) A sword.
(c) A chain.
(d) A dagger.

7. According to Byrhthelm in "The Battle of Maldon," who alone can say who would control the battle field?
(a) The queen.
(b) The peasantry.
(c) He, himself.
(d) God.

8. Who is Grendel a descendant of?
(a) Lucifer.
(b) Hrothgar.
(c) God.
(d) Cain.

9. In "The Wanderer," from whom does the wanderer plead for pity and mercy?
(a) God.
(b) His lord.
(c) His wife.
(d) The sea.

10. What poem is described by the author as "an antiquarian's delight"?
(a) Wulf.
(b) The Ruin.
(c) The Wanderer.
(d) Beowulf.

11. What is the name of the governing assemblies from the Anglo-Saxon period?
(a) Cleric-bards,
(b) Folk-moots.
(c) Wyrds.
(d) Soothslayers.

12. In a trial by ordeal, which rule speaks to the fine one would pay if found invalid and having broken the rules of the trial by ordeal?
(a) 4.
(b) 2.
(c) 1.
(d) 6.

13. What is the name of the High Priest who "replied without hesitation in "King Edwin's Council"?
(a) Coifi.
(b) Paulinus.
(c) Flambert.
(d) Derwent.

14. What does Beowulf tear off of Grendel?
(a) His tail.
(b) His arm.
(c) His hand.
(d) His leg.

15. What is the name of the hero in "The Finnesburh Fragment"?
(a) Hrothgar.
(b) Wyglaf.
(c) Beowulf.
(d) Hengest.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Battle of Maldon," who "over-confidently allowed the Danes to cross the causeway"?

2. Where does the wanderer's "best source of comfort lie"?

3. In "Germania," what is stated as the reason a chief fights?

4. When does the author believe that "Waldere" was written?

5. Where does the author state that the emotional center of "Deor" lies (which lines)?

(see the answer keys)

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