An Overview of the Things We’ve Done

Over the past several weeks, we’ve explored two foundational works of English literature: the epic poem Beowulf from the Old English period and Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (The Wife of Bath’s Tale [her name is Alison]) from the Middle English period. This review will, hopefully, help you get the key concepts, themes, and literary elements we’ve studied.

There were many changes in poetry in the time between Beowulf and Canterbury Tales, but the difference between the two which is most immediately obvious to the casual observer is that Canterbury Tales features end-rhymes. Beowulf has alliteration and Canterbury Tales rhymes. We (English speakers) got rhyming in poems from the French in the Norman Conquest in 1066. Before that poems basically never rhymed in English.

Also I can read Canterbury Tales in the original language with only a little trouble. Beowulf’s Old English is almost completely incomprehensible. That’s also thanks to the Norman Conquest.

Anyway. Here’s what you should know.

Medieval Literature: 9-Week Review Guide

You Should Know About…

Historical Context

• The transition from Old English to Middle English periods
• Anglo-Saxon culture and values vs. Middle English culture and values (in re chivalry, heroism, justice, etc.)
• The role of Christianity in both works
• The concept of the “hero” in different time periods

Beowulf

• The epic hero and how Beowulf fits it
• Major characters: Beowulf, Hrothgar, Grendel, Grendel’s mother, the dragon (also a bit of Heorot and Hrunting which are not characters)
• Key battles and what each represents
• The mix of Christian and pagan elements
• Themes: good vs. evil, mortality, legacy, what’s a hero, what’s a monster?

The Canterbury Tales

• Chaucer as both author and character
• What a frame story is
• The Wife of Bath’s character and her tale
• Social commentary in Chaucer’s work
• Themes: marriage, power, gender roles, justice (see the vocabulary)

Literary Devices

• Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds
• Kennings: Compound poetic phrases that rename things (e.g., “whale-road” for sea)
• Caesura: Pauses in the middle of lines
• Imagery: Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses
• Frame Story: A story within which other stories are told
• Tone: The author’s attitude toward the subject
• Mood: The emotional atmosphere experienced by the reader

Types of Conflict

• Character vs. Character: External conflict between persons
• Character vs. Self: Internal conflict within a character’s mind
• Character vs. Society: Conflict with social rules or norms
• Character vs. Supernatural: Conflict with supernatural forces
• etc.

Key Bits

Beowulf Focus Areas

• The description of Grendel and his lineage
• The different battle scenes and their settings and symbolism
• Beowulf’s character development from young hero to old king
• The final battle with the dragon

Wife of Bath’s Tale Focus Areas

• The knight’s crime and punishment
• The knight’s quest
• The old woman’s transformation and how she educate’s the knight
• The theme of sovereignty (specifically for women in relationships)

Vocabulary Review

For detailed vocabulary definitions and examples, please review our vocabulary . Key terms to know include:

• Sovereignty
• Chivalry
• Flattery
• Temporary
• Evidence vs. Inference
• Frame narrative
• Epic poem
• Allusion

Study Strategies

For the Multiple Choice Section

• Review character motivations and relationships
• Practice identifying literary devices in short passages
• Understand the historical context of both works

For Source-Based Questions

• Practice close reading of short passages
• Identify how word choice creates tone and mood
• Look for specific literary devices in context

For Short Answer Questions

• Be prepared to define terms and provide examples
• Practice writing clear, concise explanations
• Review the major themes and conflicts

For the Free-Response Question

• Plan your paragraph structure before writing
• Use specific examples from the texts
• Connect character development to broader themes

As you prepare for the exam, consider how these two works from different periods both reflect and challenge the values of their times. Think about how concepts of heroism, justice, and power are treated in each work, and how the literary forms (epic poetry vs. framed tale [as a poem]) deliver the message differently.

Good luck and godspeed.