En16 văn học anh mỹ bài 17

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<b>HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITYMID -TERM TEST ON ENGLISH AND AMERICANLITERATURE </b>

<small>FOR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH (No 3)</small>Subject Code: EN16

Full name: Date of birth: Group:

<b>I. Answer the following questions: (50 points )</b>

1. What do you know about the contents of “The Song of Beowulf”? 2. What is the historical background of the Anglo-Norman period?

(The file sent will be named after each student’s name. Plagiarism will lead to failure)1. One of the most significant Old English epic poems in Anglo-Saxon literature is"The Song of Beowulf," or just "Beowulf." It is one of the oldest and longest Old Englishepics, composed in its Old English form during the eighth and eleventh centuries.

The story revolves around the Geatish warrior Beowulf, who helps the Danish kingHrothgar battle the monstrous Grendel when it erupts at the meadow hall, Heorot.Beowulf faces up against Grendel's mother in perilous combat after defeating the beast ina bloody conflict with the help of a band of soldiers. The poem's last section describesBeowulf's reign as the Geats' king. Following his seventh year in power, he engaged in avaliant but ultimately deadly fight with a dragon that was guarding riches. A lamentmarks the poem's conclusion, underlining themes of mortality, heroism, and the passingof time.

Several recurring themes in "Beowulf" are the heroic code, the value of kindred anddevotion, the certainty of fate, and the never-ending conflict between good and evil. Thepoem offers a glimpse into Anglo-Saxon society's cultural ideals and their way of life.

2. The Anglo-Norman era, which spanned the late 11th and early 13th centuries, was asignificant time in English history. It started in 1066 with the Norman King William theGreat's conquest of England at the Battle of Hastings and finished in the 13th centurywith the Plantagenet dynasty's downfall.

To maintain his authority, William the Great established a new feudal system,constructing several castles and setting up guards. The Domesday Book, a record ofEngland's territory and people, was widely used at this time to represent the strict Normanrule. The kings of Normandy and Plantagenet kept their positions of authority by creating

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new judicial and administrative frameworks. Thomas Becket, the Bishop of Canterbury,and King Henry II engaged in a bitter dispute that resulted in Becket's agonizing death in1170.

The Anglo-Norman era, when Norman and English combined to create thefoundation of modern English, was also a significant phase in the evolution of thelanguage. Conflicts and battles between the aristocracy and the court dominated politicsduring this time. After a century of war with France and internal strife between thefactions of York and Lancaster, including the Wars of the Roses, the Plantagenet dynastyfinally came to an end in the 13th century.

<b>II. Comments (50 points ) </b>

What are your comments on the first masterpiece of English literature “The Song of Beowulf ”?

The impassioned depiction of old English culture included in "The Song ofBeowulf" transports the reader to an earlier era akin to a performance, leaving a lastingimpression. Its language is not limited to words; it also includes popular music andpriceless treasures set in an era-appropriate setting.

The vocabulary used in Beowulf's Love Song is not limited to narrative; it alsoincludes lyrics about the hero's heart, heaven, and earth. We sense the Old English songwith every step, as if it were a lullaby for a newborn, a celebration of devotion andsacrifice. The narrative in classical language is both a cryptic vision of the future and asymbol of the past. Words are rivers that connect the past and present, like clouds floatingin midair. Every line has a language that is reminiscent of history's perfume and the saltywind of the sea. The words used in Beowulf's Love Song conjure up visions of never-ending highways, footprints in the sand, and a recital of conflicts and triumphs. It's notsimply a story; it's a melody, full of mystery and vibrancy, like clouds in the sky oftradition.

"The Song of Beowulf" is an exploration of language and a word trip at the peak ofhistorical waves. Those are the poetic lines drifting across the stars in the night sky,illuminating the shadows of the past. Not only is it history, but it's also a magnificentpiece of linguistic art and a performance of brave spirits.

<b>Một số yêu cầu:</b>

<i>+ Sinh viên nộp file word lên hệ thống + Ghi rõ mã đề trong bài làm.</i>

<b>Chú ý: </b>

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<i>+ Chế tài xử lý đối với bài phát hiện có sự sao chép ( VD: nếu phát hiện sao chép thì bài làm củasinh viên sẽ không được công nhận và nhận điểm 0….)</i>

<i>+ Giảng viên có thể trao đổi, nhận xét góp ý cho bài làm của sinh viên trên diễn đàn hoặc buổi Vclass (SV tham gia lớp Vclass đầy đủ để được giải đáp)</i>

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