Review for Old English/Anglo-Saxon and Middle English/Middle Ages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
What is another name for the Anglo-Saxon period?
What are the approximate dates of the Anglo-Saxon period?
Where did the first speakers of English live?
What is the mystery behind Stonehenge?
Which group of English speakers started the tradition of Halloween?
When did Latin words come into the English language?
What was the original spelling of English?
Why is there very little Old English literature in existence?
What is the original of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday?
What are four characteristics of the Anglo-Saxon/Old English literature?
Old English literature has a juxtaposition of Christian and pagan elements. Explain why.
What happened in the mead hall?
Why are there variations of Old English literature?
“The Wanderer,” “The Wife’s Lament,” and “The Seafarer” are elegies. Why?
What are the characteristics of Anglo-Saxon riddles?
What was the language of the Vikings?
Alfred the Great got the nickname “the Great” because he did accomplish a number of things.
What?
What marks the end of the Anglo-Saxon era?
What marks the beginning and the end of the Middle Ages?
What language was spoken during the Middle Ages?
What changed from Old English to Middle English?
What are the approximate dates of the Middle Ages?
During the Middle Ages all important writings were done in what two languages?
What are some examples of French words in the English language?
Much of the Middle Age literature features knights. What is courtly love and chivalry? How do
you become a knight?
What two specific things happened as a result of the Bubonic plague?
How did the signing of the Magna Carta promote English?
Explain what the 100 years war did for the English language.
What happened as a result of the death of Thomas Becket?
What story is the basis of the incident?
Why was Geoffrey Chaucer’s writing in English important?
What is so great about the Canterbury Tales?
What is the background of the tales?
Why are the stories frame stories many times over?
What does physiognomy and humours have to do with personality?
What is a symbol?
What are the different types of irony?
Who is the real King Arthur?
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
What is a legend? Are legends always good people?
Why are the Arthurian legends so popular?
Why is King Arthur still popular?
Who are the primary Arthurian characters?
Who are the primary Arthurian writers?
What types of literature was popular during the Anglo-Saxon period?
What types of literature was popular during the Middle Ages?
***Study the AS review that you worked early.
***Study Grammar pages 23-32.
No specific questions will be asked about “The Wanderer,” “The Seafarer,” or “The Wife’s Lament”.
However, you should be able to discuss Anglo-Saxon poetic devices(kennings, alliteration, caesuras) and
Anglo-Saxon society characteristics. No specific questions will be asked about “Sir Gawain” or “The
Pardoner’s Tale”. However, you should know how to find irony and symbols in a story.