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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. In what year was Bede born?

2. In "The Battle of Maldon," who does Byrhtnoth order to dismount?

3. How many men does Grendel murder just before his fight with Beowulf?

4. What does "The Seafarer" learn that ships are homes of?

5. What is the name of the hero in "The Finnesburh Fragment"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was defined as the "most unfortunate man" in Anglo-Saxon society?

2. What is the topic of the six "so-called Elegies"?

3. According to the author of the introduction to "Heroic Poems," what purpose do/did the heroic poems serve historically?

4. What is the basis of all elegies?

5. What must Beowulf do to kill Grendel's mother?

6. What happened in 1104 regarding the opening of Cuthbert's coffin?

7. Why did Caedmon state that he left the feast and went to the stables?

8. What does Beowulf do right after killing Grendel's mother?

9. What two things is "The Battle of Maldon" concerned with in regard to theme?

10. Why were some laws of the Anglo-Saxon period never put into writing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are three qualities of an elegy? Name the quality, give a textual example, and explain your choice. Why/how does the poem show the specific characteristics of an elegy?

Essay Topic 2

For many years Latin was the only written language to exist for Anglo-Saxons. Why was it important for the common man to learn Latin? In what ways did the emergence of the English language benefit the Anglos? Which language did the text deem more important? Support your answer textually.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the riddles presented in "I Saw a Strange Creature..." Look at the final page from the section and list the author's possible answer to the riddle. Choose a contrasting answer for the riddle. Support your answer in a fully developed essay paying special attention to specific textual evidence that supports your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 824 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample