Study Guide
Study Guide for World Lit. Exam 2
1. What does Beowulf mean when he says that an undoomed man can escape death in battle if his courage is good?
If you are undoomed you might be able to escape death if you fight well in battle. If you don’t fight well or bravely you still have a possibility of death. If you are doomed, no matter how you fight you’re going to die.
2. In what ways is the code by which Beowulf fights like the Greek heroic code and different?
The Greek heroic code involves fighting bravely and winning honor and it is different because it applies to everyone and has a strong sense of doom.
3. Is there a good reason for Roland not to blow his horn when Oliver asks him to?
No. It is an element of pride that he didn’t blow the horn. It was his responsibility to protect them and he didn’t want to look bad.
4. How is The Song of Roland about the clash of two cultures and The Iliad is not?
The Iliad is about the Greeks and the Trojans. They are fighting with the same code and they worship the same gods. They both also have the same culture. Rolland is a clash of cultures of the Christians vs. Muslims.
5. What concepts of courtly love are illustrated by the two lais of Marie de France?
Lanval has a lady that he will be true and secret with. His denial is what he should do. At the trial his lady showed up.
6. Briefly describe the courtly-love allegory in Marie de France’s “Laustic.”
Love is represented by a bird and he kills the bird. The bird dies and the loves die with it as well.
7. In Chretien de Troyes’ The Story of the Grail what happens because Perceval does not ask about the grail?
The kingdom is not healed and he is sent out to find the grail castle again. The grail castle moves and appears at random, and Perceval did not say anything.
8. Discuss three ways that Dante’s “Inferno” unites the pagan classical world and the medieval Christian world.
The Christian concept of Hell is outlined from Aristotle. The monster are
1. What does Beowulf mean when he says that an undoomed man can escape death in battle if his courage is good?
If you are undoomed you might be able to escape death if you fight well in battle. If you don’t fight well or bravely you still have a possibility of death. If you are doomed, no matter how you fight you’re going to die.
2. In what ways is the code by which Beowulf fights like the Greek heroic code and different?
The Greek heroic code involves fighting bravely and winning honor and it is different because it applies to everyone and has a strong sense of doom.
3. Is there a good reason for Roland not to blow his horn when Oliver asks him to?
No. It is an element of pride that he didn’t blow the horn. It was his responsibility to protect them and he didn’t want to look bad.
4. How is The Song of Roland about the clash of two cultures and The Iliad is not?
The Iliad is about the Greeks and the Trojans. They are fighting with the same code and they worship the same gods. They both also have the same culture. Rolland is a clash of cultures of the Christians vs. Muslims.
5. What concepts of courtly love are illustrated by the two lais of Marie de France?
Lanval has a lady that he will be true and secret with. His denial is what he should do. At the trial his lady showed up.
6. Briefly describe the courtly-love allegory in Marie de France’s “Laustic.”
Love is represented by a bird and he kills the bird. The bird dies and the loves die with it as well.
7. In Chretien de Troyes’ The Story of the Grail what happens because Perceval does not ask about the grail?
The kingdom is not healed and he is sent out to find the grail castle again. The grail castle moves and appears at random, and Perceval did not say anything.
8. Discuss three ways that Dante’s “Inferno” unites the pagan classical world and the medieval Christian world.
The Christian concept of Hell is outlined from Aristotle. The monster are