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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 the stanza that begins "I saw a creature," what sticks out behind the creature?

2. What was the first use of the runic alphabet?

3. At dawn what is the first thing that the ploughman does in the morning?

4. What did the runic alphabet come to be used for later (after its first use)?

5. In late Anglo-Saxon England, what were women at liberty to accept or reject?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to the letters that survived pre-Conquest England?

2. In 754, what was deemed a reminder that "some pagans were determined to resist Christianity at all costs"?

3. Why does the author to the introduction of "I Saw a Strange Creature..." state that Anglo-Saxon riddles "satisfy us both as enigmas and as poems"?

4. Why does the fisherman state that he would not wish to fish for whales?

5. In what ways was the "Exeter Book" used prior to the book's importance being known?

6. What is the basic subject matter of Anglo-Saxon riddles?

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

8. What are the twelve charms?

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

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

Compare and contrast Beowulf and Grendel. How do each epitomize good and evil?

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

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.

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