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HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY MID -TERM TEST ON ENGLISH AND AMERICAN LITERATURE Full name: LE THI LUU Date of birth: 31/08/2001 FOR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH (No 3) Group: FHCT518 Subject Code: EN16 I Answer the following questions Question1 What do you know about the contents of “The Song of Beowulf”? Beowulf is the title of a Middle English epic consisting of 3,182 lines of long alliterative poetry set in Scandinavia It is considered the oldest surviving epic poem of the Old English language and is therefore often cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature, Beowulf can also be considered a literary work Earliest native English Legend has it that since ancient times, there was a race that sealed the entrance to a treasure called Revenants, which was guarded by a dragon This is also the burial place of a great king, who is also the founder of that treasure, Beowulf The royal palace of Heorot of Danner is often haunted by demons, causing many people to die without their bodies or go missing at dawn King Hrothgar was in dire straits, so he sent messengers everywhere to pray for salvation from good people A long time later, Beowulf of Getas volunteered to go to Danner to help King Hrothgar exorcise demons According to Hrothgar, the monster Grendel is a descendant of Kain in the Bible It often takes advantage of the night to wait for Heorot to fall asleep before killing him Hrothgar then showed how to hold a banquet from morning until night, then everyone pretended to sleep while still holding their swords and lying down When Grendel rushed in, they all recognized him through the strong smell, and then Beowulf pulled out his sword and cut off one of his arms Grendel was angry and ran away to the cave Grendel jumped into a deep lagoon in the forest Under the lagoon, there was a deep cave that had been its home since ancient times But Grendel hemorrhaged and died, and Mother Grendel went out to take revenge Initially, Mother Grendel assassinated Hrothgar's most outstanding subordinate, Scheer The king then mobilized Beowulf and his soldiers to chase Mother Grendel to the last cave The knight Unferth gives Beowulf the sword Haunting and challenges him to fight Mother Grendel Beowulf then took his precious sword and dived into the lagoon Fighting forever, Mother Grendel was finally beheaded by Beowulf Beowulf triumphs and is given the sword Niggling by King Hrothgar Beowulf returns home and is elected king He put all the wealth he captured in Grendel's cave into the Revenant's treasury at the foot of a great mountain, guarded by a dragon Fifty years later, a slave secretly stole a cup of gold and was discovered by the dragon The dragon was angry and flew away to burn everywhere to recover its wealth Beowulf then went with the warrior Wiglaf to fight the dragon After eliminating the dragon, Beowulf was exhausted from serious injuries and passed away Wiglaf ordered someone to take King Beowulf to the heart of the mountain to bury him King Beowulf is angry; the country is no longer formidable Not long after, Getas was plundered by surrounding barbarians, leading to its destruction, and leaving the treasure's secret forever buried underground Question 2 What is the historical background of the Anglo-Norman period? The historical background of the Anglo-Norman period dates to the 11th century and is characterized by the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 The Normans were originally Scandinavian settlers who had settled in the region of Normandy, in modern-day France Under the leadership of William, the Conqueror (William I), Duke of Normandy, they invaded England, defeating King Harold II of England at the Battle of Hastings With the Norman Conquest, the Anglo-Norman period began, which saw significant changes in England’s political, social, and cultural landscape The Normans brought their language (Norman French), customs, and feudal system, which gradually merged with the existing Anglo–Saxon culture The Normans replaced the Anglo–Saxon nobility with their supporters, establishing a new ruling class They also introduced the feudal system, which emphasized loyalty and military service in exchange for land and protection Norman French became the language of the aristocracy and the legal system, while Latin continued to be the language of the Church and education Over time, the interaction between Norman French, Latin, and Old English resulted in the development of Middle English, the precursor to modern English The Anglo-Norman period witnessed the construction of impressive castles, cathedrals, and other architectural wonders, which reflected the Norman influence on England’s cultural and artistic heritage The Anglo-Norman period came to an end with the death of King Richard the Lionheart in 1199 His successor, King John, faced challenges and eventually signed the Magna Carta in 1215, a significant step in the evolution of English constitutional law and the limitation of royal powers The Magna Carta marked a turning point in the transition to a more centralized English monarchy and the eventual decline of Norman's influence in England II Comments What are your comments on the first masterpiece of English literature- “The Song of Beowulf”? “The Song of Beowulf”, commonly known as “Beowulf”, is indeed a remarkable and enduring masterpiece of English literature As the first major work written in the English language, it holds a significant place in the literary canon and cultural heritage of the English–speaking world Here are some comments on the enduring significance of “Beowulf”: Pioneering work:” Beowulf” is a pioneering work that laid the foundation for English literature It marks the transition from oral storytelling to written literary expression The poem was passed down through generations as an oral tradition before being transcribed in its written form, making it a bridge between the Anglo- Saxon oral tradition and the written literature that followed Heroic Epic:” Beowulf” belongs to the heroic epic tradition, celebrating the valor, bravery, and heroic deeds of its protagonist, Beowulf The poem captures the ethos of the heroic age, portraying the values and ideals upheld by the warrior society of early medieval England Timeless Themes: The themes explored in “Beowulf” continue to resonate with readers across generations The themes of heroism, loyalty, honor, the struggle between good and evil, and the inevitability of mortality are timeless and universal, making the poem relatable and relevant to contemporary audiences Characterization: the characters in “Beowulf” are vividly portrayed, with Beowulf himself embodying the quintessential heroic figure The poem delves into the psychology and motivations of the characters, creating a nuanced and multi– dimensional cast