English 12
Midterm Review
For your exam you will need to review the following passages and periods and be comfortable with the
following terms.
Reading/Stories
The Wanderer
The Seafarer
The Wife’s Lament
Writing
Elegy
Imagery
Alliteration
Complete Sentences
Sentence Fragment
Using Vivid words
Beowulf
Epic
Epic Hero
Anglo-Saxons
Medieval Time Period
Canterbury Tales
Prologue
The Pardoner’s Tale
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
Chaucer
Romance
Kenning
Tone
Chivalry
Irony
Allusion
Simile/Metaphor
Situational irony Verbal irony Dramatic irony Theme Figurative language Imagery Allusion Metaphor Simile Kenning
Heroic epic Exemplum Example
Romance
Example
Allegory Elegy -
History
The Anglo-Saxons took over a portion of Britain and changed the name to what now famous name?
What is the name of the language in which literature was written during the Anglo-Saxon and Medieval
periods?
What tone is contained in most writing of the Anglo-Saxon period?
What religious movement ended the fatalism of early Anglo-Saxon times?
What places became centers for intellectual, literary, art, and social activity?
What now famous history was written by Venerable Bede?
What is a lyric poem?
What two aspects of life greatly changed the landscape of medieval life?
What political and economic system did William the Conqueror introduce?
Who is at the head of the Feudal system?
Explain how William the Conqueror divided land.
What were the titles in the hierarchy system?
Who is the most famous writer of medieval times?
The Seafarer/The Wanderer/The Wife’s Lament
What tone do all elegies have?
What calling does the Seafarer constantly feel?
What is he missing? Why does he feel so alone?
What does the Seafarer think will bring him ultimate happiness in the end?
Why is the Wanderer wandering?
According to the wanderer, what does a wise man understand?
Why is the wife in the Wife’s Lament so sad?
What does the wife wish for her husband?
Beowulf
What was happening in 5th century AD ?
Who where the Germanic tribes and what did they do?
When was Beowulf written? Where?
What is the setting of Beowulf?
What are some of the important aspects of an epic contained in Beowulf?
What actual historical figure from the Beowulf story is real?
What code of honour was followed?
Who is the king that requests assistance from Beowulf? He is the king of?
What three stages of Beowulf’s life are represented in the story?
What is the name of the monster?
Grendel is a descendant of which biblical figure?
How does Hrothgar know of Beowulf?
In what way does Beowulf pledge to kill Grendel? Why is the manner in which he chooses to do so
significant to what we know about the Anglo-Saxon “Code of Honour”.
What is Grendel’s reaction to Beowulf’s attack?
How does Beowulf finish off Grendel? How does he choose to celebrate his accomplishment?
Who comes after Beowulf when Grendel is wounded? What happens?
How does Beowulf’s story end?
The Canterbury Tales
Who is the author?
What is a frame story?
Why are the pilgrims on a journey?
What contest does the innkeeper suggest?
What is the prize?
What moral lesson is discussed in The Pardoner’s Tale?
What is the discussion in the wife of bath’s tale?
Writing
What must every sentence have?
What is a sentence fragment?
A key to good sentence writing is to be able to identify vivid, sharp words in sentences that you read and
write. Underline the vivid words in the following sentences.
Ex.: The brisk, frigid air whisked through the trees.
Underline the vivid words.
1. The soft, gentle rain seeped into the ground.
2. Heavy snows drifted into the doorways.
3. Dusty air swirled the leaves.
4. Icy, icicle spears dripped onto the pavement.
5. Roaring rivers rolled over the banks.
6. Sharp comments fell upon our ears.
7. Soft, cuddly puffs of cotton fell from the box.
Write three sentences using vivid words.
1. _________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________
Choosing strong words is a good skill to know. Find a stronger, more vivid
word for each of the boldfaced words in these sentences.
1. The person argues loudly with the sales clerk.
2. The group of people moved slowly.
3. The wind blew through the trees.
4. The baby cried loudly.
5. The door closed loudly.
6. The rain fell softly.
Write a more vivid verb in each sentence.
1. They worked.
2. The birds sang.
3. They walked.
4. The small dog barked.