English 147 Final Exam 2022 with Complete Solutions

Part I. Literature Vocabulary. (Please define 8 of the following 12 literary terms to the best of your ability (2-3 sentences).) (16% OF EXAM, ALLOW 25 MINS) ... EPIC? - a long narrative poem, written in a formal or high style, traditionally about a hero and a series of heroic deeds or encounters, typically covering a long period of time. - Beowulf is an Epic. 00:02 01:22 Alliteration? - the repetition of a speech sound in a sequence of nearby words - the term is usually applied only to consonants, and only when the recurrent sound begins a word or a stressed syllable within a word Alliterative verse? - in Old English alliterative verse, alliteration is the principle organizing device of the poetic line - Repetition of consonant sounds (or sounds at the beginning of words) across the verse lines, across different words; creates rhythm; caesure in the middle of the line; first three stresses alliterate, fourth does not (usually) - used in Anglo-Saxon verse. - Poetic lines with four stresses and a strong CAESURA (i.e., a pause or break in a poetic line). - The first three stresses usually alliterate while the fourth does not. - We can model the standard pattern this way: aa : ax KENNING? - a "metaphorical compound" in Old English verse; a two-part word (in translation, sometimes a phrase) used to express poetic comparison. SOME KENNINGS that occur in Beowulf: • Whale's riding (ocean, sea) • Wave-crosser (ship) • War-net (armour, chainmail) • Swan's riding (ocean, sea) • Battle-flame (sword) • Heaven's gem (sun) • Bone-house (body) • Bone-rings (neck) • Word-hoard (speech, tongue) • Peace-weaver (woman) • Song-wood (lyre, harp) APPOSITION? - a parallel grammatical relationship between two or more words or phrases, or, when two or more units of a sentence have the same grammatical referent. EXAMPLES: Oben Scyld Scefing seized the mead benches from many tribes, troops of enemies struck fear into earls. (4-5) Then it was easy to find a thane who sought his rest elsewhere, farther away, a bed in the outbuildings, when was pointed out— truly announced with clear tokens— that hall-thane's hate. (138-42) LITOTES? - Ironic understatement, often for rhetorical effect or emphasis. - Classic example from Beowulf: [Beowulf:] I shall by myself have a word or two with that giant. (425-26) "FITTS" (SECTIONS) ? - Beowulf is divided into sections that Anglo-Saxons called a fitt (meaning "song" or "lay"). EPISODES? - Beowulf contains frequent passages that diverge from the main plot. - are merged into the main narrative (e.g., the story of Beowulf and Breca's swimming contest). - are in the narrative about the characters DIGRESSIONS? - Beowulf contains frequent passages that diverge from the main plot. - may appear as songs, anticipation of future events, and recollection of past events. REPETITION AS A STRUCTURAL DEVICE - funeral scenes, formulaic start of speeches (e.g., "Beowulf spoke, son of Ecgtheow"), repetition of key character elements (e.g., the descent of the Grendelkin from Cain), repetition of plot types (e.g., around mothers and sons). STRUCTURES OF BEOWULF UNIFIED STRUCTURE 1. The story of one man through Ame BIPARTITE STRUCTURE 1. Beowulf's youth (1-2199) 2. Beowulf's old age () TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE 1. First fight (Grendel) 2. Second fight (Grendel's mother) 3. Third fight (the Dragon) ALL THREE OF THESE CAN COEXIST - TO MAKE WHAT SOME HAVE CALLED AN "INTERLACE STRUCTURE" OR A "RING COMPOSITION."