Unit 1 Review
British Lit. Comprehensive Exam
Beowulf
1. In which language was Beowulf written?
A. Old English
C. Middle English
B. Modern English D. Latin
2. What makes the story of Beowulf an Epic
Poem?
A. it is really long
C. it rhymes
B. it has an epic hero
D. it is a quest story
on a grand scale
Beowulf continued
3. Where is Beowulf from?
A. Angle-Land (England) C. Denmark
B. Herot
D. Land of the Geats
4. Beowulf believes that the outcome of all of
his efforts is ultimately determined by
A. God and fate.
C. the strength of his body.
B. the strength of his will. D. the needs of his people.
Beowulf continued
5. From whom is Grendel descended?
A. Satan
C. Cain
B. Judas
D. Ecgtheow
6. Who wants to avenge Grendel's death?
A. King Hrothgar C. Grendel’s Mother
B. Beowulf
D. Wiglaf
Beowulf continued
7. What is a kenning that refers to King
Hrothgar?
A. ring-giver
C. water witch
B. hoard-guard
D. sin-stained demon
8. Who remains loyal to Beowulf to the end?
A. Hrothgar
C. Unferth
B. Wiglaf
D. Grendel
The Canterbury Tales
9. Chaucer was radical in that he wrote in
A. Latin
C. French
B. British
D. vernacular: English
10. Why are the pilgrims going to Canterbury?
A. To meet King Henry III
B. To see a medieval mystery play
C. To worship the relics of Saint Thomas Becket
D. Because they are tourists
The Canterbury Tales
11. “The Pardoner’s Tale” mainly warns against excessive
A. greed.
B. drinking. C. laziness. D. optimism.
12. After the rioters abandon their search for Death, they
murder one another. This act is an example of :
A. irony
C. metaphor
B. imagery
D. personification
13. According to the old woman in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,”
what do women most desire?
A. power over men
B. a nice home
C. wealth and expensive clothing
D. flattery
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
14. What is Gawain’s relationship to King Arthur?
A. He is Arthur’s son
C. He is Arthur’s tarot card reader
B. He is Arthur’s brother
D. He is Arthur’s nephew
15. How much time does Gawain have to locate the Green Knight?
A. Exactly one year
C. Exactly one year and one day
B. Exactly six months
D. Exactly one year and eight days
16. What does the Green Knight set out to test?
A. his own virtue
C. Gawain’s virtue
B. his own physical abilities
D. Gawain’s physical abilities
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
17. Why does Gawain take the lady’s green sash?
A. Because he doesn’t want to die
B. Because he wants to give it to the Green Knight as a gift
C. Because he is overcome with desire
D. Because she threatens to kill him
18. Which of the following results from Gawain’s keeping the
green sash a secret from the lord?
A. Gawain flinches when the Green Knight attempts the first
blow.
B. The Green Knight’s first blow doesn’t touch Gawain.
C. The Green Knight’s second blow doesn’t touch Gawain.
D. The Green Knight’s third blow nicks Gawain’s neck.