English IV Final Review
Date: _____________
FORMATION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Create a timeline of the English language. Include all of the major languages/events/invasions involved.
Iberians>Celts>Romans>Angles, Saxons, and Jutes>Vikings>Normans
How has the history of the English language affected our modern English?
Over the centuries, English traditions and language have been reshaped by the island’s invaders. Each
group that invaded left its influence on the developing English culture and literature. The AngloSaxons were defeated in 1066 by William the Conqueror of Normandy (French). Most of our
vocabulary comes from Latin and French and our language STRUCTURE is Germanic (a Germanic-based
language). English is a combination of many different influences. Today we speak modern English.
What did the Romans leave behind? Why did the Romans leave?
Romans left behind a structure of roads, a defensive wall, and they were great admistrators but not
much in the way of language.
Describe the important effects of the spread of Christianity throughout Britain.
Christianity led to common faith and a common system of morality and right conduct; it also linked to
England to Europe.
Analyze and describe the Celtic religion and its practices.
When the Anglo-Saxons and Jutes invade Britain, the brought English (Anglisc).
Explain Anglo-Saxon principles, religion, and daily life.
The Anglo-Saxon bards/scops were important and honored members of the society.
What was the function of Anglo-Saxon bards? How were they important?
The Anglo-Saxon bards/scops were important members of the society. They were the people who
held all the history in stories.
How were Anglo-Saxon poems told? Poets sang to the strumming of a harp and they had a rich supply of
heroic tales that reflected concerns of the people
They were told in the mead halls, which were the center of the Anglo-Saxon communities. The stories
were dark and gloomy in tone.
What is alliteration? How was it used in Anglo-Saxon poetry?
The repetition of a particular sound. In the novel Beowulf; literary devices are used. These literary devices are
alliteration, assonance, caesura, and kenning. An example of alliteration is, "Marshes, and made his home in
hell," in "The Wrath of Grendel." This alliteration is used to describe Grendel's home as a hellish place. The way
that Grendel's home is described creates an image in the listener's mind of Grendel's home as this horrible,
frightening, and terrible place. This imagery makes appear Grendel as this monster because he lives in this
"Hellish place." All of this makes the listener gain a sense of fear.
Describe the use of kennings and provide examples.
A kenning is conventional, poetic phrase used for or in addition to the usual name of a person or
thing (wave-traveler for a boat). An example of kenning is, "And all as once the greedy she-wolf," in
"The Battle of Grendel's Mother." This kenning is used to give a trait of Grendel's mother personality.
It informs the listener why she wants to smite Beowulf. Grendel's mother is demonstrating traits of a
female wolf that is protecting her pup, Grendel. The listener can then easily infer that she is getting
revenge for her son.
What is a caesura? Provide an example.
Caesura is used to pause for a moment and emphasize something . An example of caesura is, "Then, when
darkness had dropped," in "The Wrath of Grendel." It is stressing the setting by emphasizing that it just became night. This
aids in the passage by setting the stage of Grendel's arrival. The caesura gives an image of the setting as well. The caesura
helps show motion in the passage which is, now that it is night, Grendel is coming.
Explain the Viking invasions. What did they bring with them? Where did they settle and where did they
not?
The Viking language was Norse and gave us many everyday words like anger, berserk, husband and
days of the week. England changed because of the blending of Anglo-Saxon and Norman Elements.
SONNETS AND POETRY
Know the following and be able to identify their use in a sonnet:
The word sonnet is derived from the Italian word “sonetto,” which means a “little song” or small
lyric. In poetry, a sonnet has 14 lines, and is written in iambic pentameter. Each line has 10
syllables. It has a specific rhyme scheme, and a volta, or a specific turn
Couplets: A couplet is two consecutive lines that rhyme.
Simile: a figure of speech in which two unlike things are explicitly compared, as in “she is like a rose.”.
Metaphor: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is
used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison, as in "a sea of troubles" or "All
the world's a stage" (Shakespeare).
Personification: the attribution of human nature or character to animals, inanimate
objects, or abstract notions, especially as a rhetorical figure.
Allusion: An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to a place, person, or event.
This can be real or imaginary and may refer to anything, including fiction, folklore,
historical events, or religious manuscripts. The reference can be direct or may be inferred,
and can broaden the reader’s understanding
Read more at http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-ofallusion.html#JSiSoaPcytPFEf8u.99
EXAMPLE: “I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinocchio’s.” This refers to the
story of Pinocchio, where his nose grew whenever he told a lie. It is from The Adventures of
Pinocchio, written by Carlo Collodi
Alliteration: Alliteration occurs when a series of words in a row (or close together) have the
same first consonant sound. For example, “She sells sea-shells down by the sea-shore” or
“Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers” are both alliterative phrases
Rhyme Scheme: Rhyme scheme is a poet's deliberate pattern of lines that rhyme with other lines in a
poem or a stanza. The rhyme scheme, or pattern, can be identified by giving end words that rhyme with
each other the same letter.
Petrarchan Sonnet (rhyme scheme):
octave rhyming a b b a a b b a and a sestet rhyming either c d e c d e or c d c d c d. Also called:
Italian sonnet
English (rhyme scheme) Sonnet
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, forming three quatrains (four lines in a group) and a closing couplet (two
rhymed lines). The problem is usually developed in the first three quatrains, each quatrain with a new
idea growing out of the previous one. Sometimes the first two quatrains are devoted to the same
thought, resembling the octave of the Petrarchan sonnet, and followed by a similar volta.
Spenserian Sonnet (rhyme scheme):
The Spenserian sonnet is a variation of the English sonnet with the rhyme scheme ABAB BCBC
CDCD EE, in which the quatrains are linked by a continuation of one end-rhyme from the
previous quatrain
The Kite Runner: Know the themes, central conflict, what is ironic about the day of the kite-flying
contest, plot, and the characters.
Give an example of a flashback in the novel. Amir thinking back to his childhood.
What does “one-eyed” Assef symbolize? His limited, one-sided perception
List similarities and differences between Hassan and Ali? Both Hazara, servants, loyal, honest
List Baba’s sacrifices he made throughout the novel. Moves to America, works two jobs, uses life
savings to pay for wedding
List the character traits of Baba, Ali, Rahim Khan, Amir, Sanubar, and Hassan.
List the themes of The Kite Runner.
What is the tone of most of the novel?
Ethos, Pathos, Logos
Be able to pick out examples of ethos, pathos and logos. BE ABLE TO USE ETHOS, PATHOS AND LOGOS
IN A MODEST PROPOSAL.
ETHOS: ETHICAL/CREDIBILITY (EXAMPLE- CARDIOLOGISTS RECOMMEND ECOTRIN MORE THAN ANY
OTHER BRAND OF ASPIRIN)
LOGOS: LOGIC
PATHOS: EMOTIONS/FEELINGS
Rhetoric is the art of using language to create meaning and accomplish a specific purpose.
Know PEAPS and how it is used.
P- Persona (who is speaking)
Exigence- Where does it exist?
Audience- Who are they speaking to?
Purpose- Why is it written?
Sort- identify the genre
BEOWULF:
Know the characteristics on an epic poem.
Celebrates a hero’s deeds, survived as oral traditions, many based on historical facts
In what language was Beowulf originally written?
Know the plot of Beowulf. Characters, how Grendal dies, biblical allusion