English 12 Test Review
Literature Unit One, Parts 1 & 2
“from Beowulf” – Important
Characters
Hrothgar – King of the Danes
 Beowulf – Geat hero who has battled
monsters and giants prior to coming to
Hrothgar’s aid.
 Grendel – Monster born of evil created
when Abel slew Cain. Hates the singing
and celebration that issues from Herot, so
he attacks Herot, slaying men in their
sleep each night.

“from Beowulf” – Important
Characters

Grendel’s mother – referred to a “greedy
she-wolf”; Comes to Herot for revenge
after Grendel’s death; Kill’s Hrothgar’s best
friend and is slain by Beowulf at the
bottom of the lake.
“from Beowulf” Important Plot
Points
Grendel attacks Herot out of anger over
the singing and rejoicing.
 Beowulf learn of the Danes’ plight and
comes with many strong Geats to offer
aid.
 Beowulf regarded with suspicion by
Danish watchmen.

“from Beowulf” Important Plot
Points
Beowulf stays awake, enabling him to
fight and defeat Grendel without the use
of weapons.
 Grendel flees Herot to die & Danes
celebrate joyfully.
 Grendel’s mother seeks revenge.
 Beowulf pursues Grendel’s mother and
defeats her at the bottom of the lake.

“from Beowulf” Important Plot
Points
Beowulf chops off Grendel’s head to prove
his strength.
 Hrothgar and his men watch the lake
hopelessly and are amazed when Beowulf
returns victorious.

“from Beowulf” Important Quotes
“Fate will unwind as it must!”
 “This was a different Herot than the hall
he had emptied”

“from Beowulf” Vocabulary
Forged
 Lament
 Shroud
 Writhing

“A Brief History of Heroes”

Article from Time Magazine which details
how each historical era has defined
“heroes” differently
“A Brief History of Heroes”
Renaissance hero - A manly man who
excelled at warfare, scholarship,
government, and the art of love
 Romantic hero - A person who explored
the arts and love as a way to celebrate
inner emotions and individual creativity
 19th Century Hero - The earnest, middleclass man who did his duty

“A Brief History of Heroes”
Virginia Woolf rejected the idea that only men
could be heroes.
 George Orwell expressed appreciation for the
19th century hero in his argument that a hero
possesses “a moral quality which must be
vaguely described as decency”
 According to the article, in modern society, the
perception of ideal heroes is threatened by mass
media’s concentration on the personal lives of
heroes.

“A Brief History of Heroes”
According to the article, in modern society,
the perception of ideal heroes is
threatened by mass media’s concentration
on the personal lives of heroes.
 Adolf Hitler’s militarism led people to no
longer associate military achievements
with heroism.

The Canterbury Tales: Prologue
Solicitous
 Estimable
 Discreet
 Disdainful
 Prevaricate
 Be familiar with the characteristics of each
Pilgrim and the purpose of the pilgrimage.
Use your notes!!!!

The Canterbury Tales
The Pardoner’s Tale
Adversary
 Prudent
 Deftly
 Gratified

The Canterbury Tales
The Pardoner’s Tale
Three rioters come across an old man
whom they believe to be a spy for Death.
 The old man directs them to Death. When
they arrive at the indicated location, all
they find is gold.
 The two eldest rioters send the youngest
to town for bread and wine, and plan to
kill him upon his return and to keep the
money.

The Canterbury Tales
The Pardoner’s Tale
The youngest rioter visits an apothecary
and buys poison, which he puts into the
wine.
 The eldest rioters kill the youngest.
Afterwards, they drink the poisoned wine
and are also killed.
 The tale teaches a moral lesson about the
danger or greed.

The Canterbury Tales
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
Reproved
 Conceded
 Dispersed
 Arrogance
 Sufficient

The Canterbury Tales
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
The tale expresses the author’s view of
women as powerful and intelligent.
 According to the wife of bath, Christian
friars have driven away all elves and
fairies
 The old woman tells the knight that
women desire power over their husbands.

The Canterbury Tales
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
To save himself, the knight must marry an
old and ugly woman who tells him that
true gentility comes only from God.
 When the knight says, “My lady and my
love, my dearest wife,/I leave the matter
to your wise decision,” he gives the old
lady what she most desires, so she
rewards him by becoming young,
beautiful, and faithful.

Additional Notes on the Exam
The test contains 60 questions.
 59 questions are multiple choice
 The final question is a short answer
question that requires some analysis.
 This review is not exhaustive. You are
accountable for all information discussed
in class during our readings of the various
selections.
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