British Literature Final Exam – Study Guide (Fall 2014)
LITERARY TERMS TO KNOW
Alliterature
Universal Value
Epic Hero
Kenning
Elegy
Homily
Caesura
Allusion
Character foil
Tone
Sonnet
Haiku
Frame Story
Irony
Motif
Symbolism
Characterization
Soliloquy
Paradox
Mood
Apostrophe
Oxymoron
Aside
Couplet
Parallelism
Iambic Pentameter
Pastoral
Quatrain
Conceit
Juxtaposition
Rhyme Scheme
Turn (sonnets)
Central Theme
Hyperbole
Diction
FILL IN THE BLANKS
Anglo-Saxon Period
This period is often called _________________________ because of the prevalent ignorance and
violence. Many of the early invaders of the island practiced pagan religions marked by a
belief in ________________. Even though Julius Caesar claimed to conquer the British Isles
for ___________________, the amount of time it took for his countrymen to return there and
truly take over was ________________________. Meanwhile, by A.D. _________, the religion
known as _____________________ was beginning to spread throughout the island. Two
groups known as the ________________________ and the _____________________ combined to
become the Anglo-Saxons whose culture left a lasting impact. ______________________was
the Anglo-Saxon king who unified England. Simultaneously, early professionals called
____________________ travelled around “performing” the epic poetry, which was typically
about the great deeds of an ________________________. There were also shorter poems from
this time called ____________________ that were typically sang such as “The Seafarer.”
Finally at the close of the Norman Conquest, _________________________ from ______________
was crowned the king of England on Christmas Day in __________. During a time of very few
schools, ________________________became centers of learning. A great monk from the time
period was the author named _________________________________.
Complete the chart.
TITLE
Beowulf
GENRE
THEME
KEY SYMBOL
Grendel
“The Seafarer”
“The Wife’s
Lament”
Medieval Period
William the Conqueror documented records for the purpose of taxation in a work titled
___________________________________. After his death, England was in a state of near
_________________________ until _____________________________ took the throne in 1154.
Later the unpopular King John became the villain referenced in the
_____________________________ legends and also was forced to sign the
_____________________, which limited his power. This rocky time period consisted of the
_____________________________War fought between England and France, the plague known
as _________________________, and the Wars of the ____________________ fought between rival
families. Three cultural influences were the economic system introduced after the Norman
Conquest called ____________________________, the Church led by the ___________________ in
Rome, and the code of conduct for knights called ____________________________. Geoffrey
Chaucer’s masterpiece called The Canterbury Tales held together by a ____________________
about travelling pilgrims paints of picture of medieval life. Other important texts called
________________________________ were stories of adventure, love, chivalry, and heroism.
The Middle Ages ended with the death of ________________________________.
Complete the chart.
TITLE
“The Wife of
Bath’s Tale”
“The Pardoner’s
Tale”
Sir Gawain &
the Green
Knight
GENRE
THEME
KEY SYMBOL
Le Morte
d’Arthur
Renaissance Period
Some writers such as ______________________________ and __________________________ were
killed because of political positions that were unfavorable to the rulers. Additionally
growing conflict with the church led ________________________ to cut ties with the pope and
declare himself the head of __________________________. This was after a German monk
named ____________________________ publicly criticized the corruption of the Church. Next
England experienced stability during the ________________________ Era. The Stuarts then
rose to power, so a Catholic group tried to blow up the ruler in a failing event called
_______________________________. Ultimately England found itself in a Civil War with the
Royalists against supporters of _______________________. General _________________________
led the overthrow of the Royalists, and a __________________________ was established.
Throughout the age, society felt that the ideal “____________________________” was a wellrounded person who cultivated his talents to the fullest. Inventions like the ____________
and the _____________________________ made life simpler. _________________________ was
arguably the dominant playwright. Poetry could be divided into the following categories:
_______________________, _____________________, ________________________, and
_____________________________. Spiritual writing was another important genre of literature.
Complete the chart.
TITLE
Macbeth
“The Passionate
Shepherd to
His Love”
Spenser’s
“Sonnet 30”
Paradise Lost
GENRE
THEME
KEY SYMBOL
Fill-in-the-blank Answers
This period is often called The Dark Ages because of the prevalent ignorance and violence.
Many of the early invaders of the island practiced pagan religions marked by a belief in
wyrd (fate). Even though Julius Caesar claimed to conquer the British Isles for Rome, the
amount of time it took for his countrymen to return there and truly take over was about a
century. Meanwhile, by A.D. 300, the religion known as Christianity was beginning to
spread throughout the island. Two groups known as the Angles and the Saxons combined
to become the Anglo-Saxons whose culture left a lasting impact. Alfred the Great was the
Anglo-Saxon king who unified England. Simultaneously, early professionals called scops
travelled around “performing” the epic poetry, which was typically about the great deeds of
an epic hero. There were also shorter poems from this time called lyric poems that were
typically sang such as “The Seafarer.” Finally at the close of the Norman Conquest, William
the Conqueror from Normandy, France was crowned the king of England on Christmas Day
in 1066. During a time of very few schools, monasteries became centers of learning. A great
monk from the time period was the author named the Venerable Bede.
Medieval Period
William the Conqueror documented records for the purpose of taxation in a work titled the
Domesday Book. After his death, England was in a state of near anarchy until Henry II took
the throne in 1154. Later the unpopular King John became the villain referenced in the
Robin Hood legends and also was forced to sign the Magna Carta which limited his power.
This rocky time period consisted of the Hundred Years’ War fought between England and
France, the plague known as the Black Death, and the Wars of the Roses fought between
rival families. Three cultural influences were the economic system introduced after the
Norman Conquest called feudalism, the Church led by the pope in Rome, and the code of
conduct for knights called chivalry. Geoffrey Chaucer’s masterpiece called The Canterbury
Tales held together by a frame story about travelling pilgrims paints of picture of medieval
life. Other important texts called medieval romances were stories of adventure, love,
chivalry, and heroism. The Middle Ages ended with the death of Henry VII.
Renaissance Period
Some writers such as Sir Thomas More and Sir Walter Raleigh were killed because of
political positions that were unfavorable to the rulers. Additionally growing conflict with the
church led Henry VIII to cut ties with the pope and declare himself the head of the Church
of England. This was after a German monk named Martin Luther publicly criticized the
corruption of the Church. Next England experienced stability during the Elizabethan Era.
The Stuarts then rose to power, so a Catholic group tried to blow up the ruler in a failing
event called the Gunpowder Plot. Ultimately England found itself in a Civil War with the
Royalists against supporters of Parliament. General Oliver Cromwell led the overthrow of
the Royalists, and a commonwealth was established. Throughout the age, society felt that
the ideal “Renaissance Man” was a well-rounded person who cultivated his talents to the
fullest. Inventions like the compass and the printing press made life simpler. Shakespeare
was arguably the dominant playwright. Poetry could be divided into the following
categories: pastorals, sonnets, cavalier, and metaphysical. Spiritual writing was another
important genre of literature.