B21EG01DC - INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE B2 (Q&A)

BLOCK-2

MAJOR PERIOD OF LITERATURE -1

UNIT -1

OLD ENGLISH AND MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. What is the origin of the term 'England"?

Ans. Anglia

2. Who was the king of Wessex?

Ans.king alfred

3. Who is the only English writer mentioned by Dante?

Ans.venerable bede

4. Which is the oldest extant epic in English?

Ans.Beowulf

5. Give a few examples of kenning.

Ans.swan-road, bone house

6. Name the first historical narrative in English.

Ans.tha Anglo Saxon chronicle

7. In which year did the Norman Conquest take place?

Ans.1066

8. Which language had the biggest influence on Middle English?

Ans. Norman french

9. What is the plague outbreak in England during 1348-49 known as?

Ans.black death

10. Who is known as the father of English poetry?

Ans.chauser

11. Name the work Dryden was referring to when he remarked "here is God's plenty".

Ans. The Canterbury tales

12. Who translated the Bible into English?

Ans.john Wycliffe

13. What are the major types of drama in Middle English?

Ans.mystery, miracle and morality plays

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1.write a brief note on the contributions of middle English writers

Ans.

Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400)

Chaucer is known as the father of English poetry. He is the poet who elevated the English

language to its current prosperity. His major works were The Canterbury Tales, The House

of Fame, The Legend of Good Women, The Book of the Duchess and Troilus and Cressida.

The Canterbury Tales is the earliest masterpiece in English literature. Its realism, detailed

characterisation, subtle humour and pervasive humanity continue to captivate modern

readers even today. The poem centres on 30 pilgrims on their way to visit the shrine of St

Thomas Beckett in Canterbury, narrating tales to each other to ward off their boredom. The

detailed portrait of characters drawn from all walks of life, including the Knight, the Wife of

Bath, and the Pardoner provides a fascinating view of Middle English society. In his Preface

to the Fables, Dryden famously remarked on the work: 'here is God's plenty."

William Langland (1332-1400) A 14th-century English poet who is best

known for his masterpiece, Piers the Plowman. It is a religious satire composed of over

15,000 lines in simple, unrhymed, and alliterative verse, delivering a scathing criticism of

the moral degeneracy of the aristocracy and the clergy. Langland's allegorical poem nar-

rates a series of spiritual dreams of a peasant. Here, Piers represents the moral, hardworking and spiritual peasant who lives by the values of truth, duty and love.

John Gower (1332-1408)

A Middle English poet who wrote in three languages, French, Latin and Middle English.

His best-acclaimed work, Confessio Amantis is his only work in English and is composedof 34,000 lines that narrate the didactic tales of the seven deadly sins.

Sir Thomas Malory (1415-1471) An English writer whose identity is under de-

bate. He is best known for his work, Le Morted'Arthur. The work narrates the legends of

King Arthur, the knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail. This compi-

lation of French Arthurian romantic tales went on to inspire a great number of poets such as

Milton, Spenser, Dryden, Tennyson, and soon. Malory is generally regarded the first great, individual prose stylist'.

John Wycliffe (1330-1384)

Wycliffe is known as 'the morning star of the Reformation' for his part in the revolt against

the corrupt clergy. Wycliffe also translated the Bible into English to make it more accessible

to the common man in another revolutionary move.

2.write short note on mystery plays, miracle plays, morality plays

Ans.

Mystery Plays

These picturesque religious dramas, also known as cycle plays, depict a series of events

from the Bible - mainly the mysteries of God. Mostly produced by merchant guilds, these

were highly popular during the time, performed annually in major towns, and drew huge crowds.

► The Second Shepherds' Play With a blend of comedy and satire, this play narrates the events during the birth of Christ.

Miracle Plays

These plays dealt with the real or fictitious accounts of the lives of saints - mostly on the Virgin Mary or St. Nicholas. It usually involved deus ex machina (god from the machine), a dramatic technique where a character of divine power is lowered onto the stage using a mechanical contraption to resolve the plot. There are few surviving miracle playsin English since King Henry VIII perceived them as a threat to his church and banned them during the sixteenth century.

►St. John the Hairy - In this play, the eponymous character murders a princess, but after he confesses and revives her, he is acquitted of his crime and becomes a bishop.

Morality Plays

As its name indicates, morality plays are aimed at teaching morality by depicting the actions and characters of ordinary people. There is less focus on religion and more focus

on the internal conflicts of the character, who has to go to either heaven or hell by the end of

the play. This moral conflict between the good and the evil forces - the highlight of these al-

legorical plays - is achieved through the dramatic personification of virtues and vices. The

good forces (represented by the good angel and the virtues) and the bad forces (bad angel

and the vices) are depicted as constantly battling for the human soul.

3.explaim some of the major writers of old English period

Ans.

Cynewulf (c. 800-825)

Not much is known of this poet except his name. Cynewulf is associated with four religious poems in Old English: "The Fates of the Apostles" and "Elene" from the Vercelli

Book, and "Christ II" and "Juliana" from the Exeter Book. All these poems are based on

Latin compositions and are attributed to him due to the runic letters of his name spelt out in

the epilogues.

King Alfred (c. 849-899)

King Alfred, the King of Wessex, is known as

the greatest among the Anglo-Saxon Kings. It is because of his strong influence that the

kingdom of Wessex grew extremely powerful. Moreover, the West-Saxon dialect soon

became superior to the three other dialects of Old English-namely Northumbrian, Mercian

and Kentish. King Alfred, a poet and translator himself, led almost all the translation works during this

period and it was in his court that the written English language originated. He also brought

Mercian scholars to his court to translate numerous prose works into English. In addition,

he co-authored the national history, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which traces the history

of England till the ninth century.

Venerable Bede (c. 673-735)

This monk is known as the father of English history due to his masterpiece The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. The major historical record on the Old English period. this work was translated from Latin to English by King Alfred. Bede is credited with the modern method of dating history-AD (AnnDomini). Furthermore, he is the only English writer mentioned in Dante's Divine.

ComedyCaedmon (c. 657-684)

He is generally regarded as the first English poet whose works have survived to date. In

the work, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Venerable Bede has narrated an account of how Caedmon got inspired to write poetry for the first time. According to Bede's account, Caedmon was an illiterate farmhand who was struck by a vision to sing poetry praising the Almighty's creations. This eventually led to his work Caedmon's Hymn.

3.write a note on Renaissance man

Ans.

A typical Renaissance man would be someone who is a master of all trades - from science

and Mathematics to art and literature. Can you think of an example of such a figure?

The Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci is considered a classic example of the Renaissance

man. This polymath proved his exceptional craftsmanship not only in painting but in

many other art forms, such as architecture and sculpture as well. Moreover, da Vinci was also reputed as a master engineer and even has several scientific inventions to his credit. Another example of a master craftsman would be the famous artist Michelangelo, who is equally skilled in painting, architecture and sculpting.

Here are some more examples of the 'Renaissance man' from literature: The eponymous

hero of Hamlet by Shakespeare: "What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how

infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an

mangel! in apprehension how like a god! (Hamglet Act 2 Scene 2)

2.write down the major poets of Elizebethan age

Ans.

Sir Thomas Wyatt (1503-1542)

Sir Thomas Wyatt is credited with the introduction of the sonnet, originally from the

Italian language, into English. Not only did he compose original sonnets but he also trans-

lated several Petrarchan sonnets from Italian to English. Although Sir Thomas Wyatt hadintroduced the Italian sonnet to English literature, it was later adapted and perfected by the fellow courtier poet Surrey.

► Earl of Surrey (1517-1547)

Henry Howard, the Earl of Surrey is usually regarded as the creator of the English sonnet

form. His style and lyricism are considered to be far superior to Wyatt. In his translation of

Virgil's Aeneid, Surrey introduced the blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) which

eventually became the most widely used poetic form in English.

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► Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586)

The famed courtier of Queen Elizabeth I with a reputation for chivalry and nobility, Sidney's most important contribution to English poetry this his work Astrophil and Stella (1591). The

Petrarchan sonnet was introduced to English through this work; written on his lover, Lady E

Penelope's marriage to another man. Com- TE posed of 108 sonnets and 11 songs of remarkable lyricism, this poem became the most influential sonnet sequence in English literature of Major works: Astrophil and Stella (1591), Arcadia (1580).

Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)

Spenser is considered the next great poet to emerge in England after Chaucer. Known as

the 'poet's poet' for his peerless lyrical beauty, he is the greatest of all the Elizabethan poets. this His work The Shepheardes Calendar (1579) Poe is considered to be a landmark in the genre of pastoral poetry. It is comprised of twelve

eclogues - short, dramatic poems set in the countryside, usually involving a series of di-

alogues between shepherds. Interestingly, the Sir twelve eclogues here correspond to the twelve schol months of the year. His marriage poems Ep- as pC

ithalamion (1595) and Prothalamion (1596) also showcase Spenser's intricate poetic craft

3. Explain some saline changes during commonwealth period

Ans.

Soon after King Charles I was executed, England came under parliament rule and wagland, Scotland, and Ireland) in 1649. Thi declared a Commonwealth (constituting E

parliament led by Oliver Cromwell be known as the Protectorate. The period be

tween the execution of Charles I in 1649 2 the Restoration of the monarchy in England

by his son Charles II in 1660 is known as the Interregnum- a period where England had no

king. This period marked the transition between the Caroline and Restoration eras.

As the theatres remained closed for eightee years, the literary form of drama vanished

entirely during this period. Poetry also diminshed and there was an expansion of nonfiction

prose in its place. A wealth of political writing led by John Milton was the major contribution

of this period. Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes was one of the most influential political and terary texts of the era.

UNIT -2

RENAISSANCE

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. Who introduced printing to England in 1475?

Ans.William Caxton

2. What was the first printed collection of English poems?

Ans.tottels miscellany

3. How many lines do a sonnet have?

Ans.14

4. Which sonnet is divided into an octave and a sestet?

Ans.petrarchan sonnet

5. Who introduced the blank verse in English?

Ans.sir Thomas wyatt

6. Who is known as the 'poet's poet?

Ans.Edmund Spencer

7. Who introduced the essay form in English?

Ans.francis Bacon

8. Which is the first major work on literary criticism in English?

Ans.the defense of poesy

9. Which verse form is called 'Marlowe's mighty line"?

Ans.blank verse

10. What is the name of the theatre established by Shakespeare's acting company?

Ans.globe theatre

11. When was the King James Bible published?

Ans. 1611

12. Who developed the genre of 'comedy of humours?

Ans.ben Johnson

13. Who are the Cavalier poets?

Ans.Richard lovelace,Robert Herrick,Thomas carew

14. Who is the representative poet of Metaphysical poetry?

Ans.john Donne

15. What was the parliament led by Oliver Cromwell known as?

Ans. Protectorate

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1.list out the features of neoclassicism

Ans.

► Imitation of Greco-Roman classics

►Idealization of order, symmetry

▶ Age of reason and enlightenment and harmony

▶ Adaptation of classical literary genres, such as epics, odes, pastorals and satires

▶ Idealistic and artificial

► Fostered in a highly political and urbane environment

► Elegance in structure and form Emphasis on wit, decorum and civility

► Restraint of emotion/imagination and focus on intellect bre!

▶ Obsession with external appearances

► Emphasis on universal truths and general ideas

► The predominance of comedy and satire

▶Development of journalism

▶Development of the genres of diary and periodical essay

► Birth of the novel

2.write a short note on restoration drama

Ans.

The Restoration Age is regarded as the great-

est age of comedy and satire in English liter-

ature. With the restoration of the monarchy,

the Puritan ban on theatres was lifted. Dramare-entered English life and society as theatres

reopened all across England. As if to com-

pensate for the harsh censorship during the

preceding Puritanical era, the plot lines of

Neoclassical drama became increasingly li-

centious and even crass at times.

The Neoclassical drama was often a ploy to

poke fun at the frivolities of court life and

the aristocracy. It gradually developed into

a distinct genre called Restoration comedy-

the height of the comedy of manners. Mod-

elled after the French dramas of Molière, the

comedy of manners reveals the frivolous na-

ture and relationships of the fashionable up-

per-class society. Wit, urbanity, and sparkling

dialogue were the characteristic features of

this

genre. As they often employed brilliant,

polished repartee between the characters,

these dramas became famous for their liberal

use of wit.

3.what are the difference between Renaissance and neoclassicism

Ans.

► Renaissance regarded art to

be a creative and spontaneous

process, whereas Neoclassicism

viewed it as a product of conscious study and effort.

► In contrast to the humanistic

approach of the Renaissance,

Neoclassicism believed that

man is essentially imperfect and

flawed.

► Renaissance focused on self-ex-

pression while Neoclassicism

emphasised self-restraint. More over, Neoclassicists viewed

art as, objective, rational and

impersonal.

► In contrast to the creative and

innovative spirit of the Renaissance, Neoclassicists believed

that art attained its height of

excellence during the Classical

Age. To achieve similar perfection, they insisted on closely

following the classical style and

theories.

► Instead of the high individual-

ism of the Renaissance, Neo-

classicism viewed human nature

as general and universal.

UNIT - 3

NEOCLASSICAL AGE

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. Where did the Neoclassical movement originate?

Ans. France

2. Name the work in which Plato describes the concept of mimesis.

Ans.the Republic

3. What are the three dramatic unities?

Ans.time, place, action

4. Which classical genres are considered to be high genres?

Ans.tragedy, epic, ode

5. Which are the major classical genres that were adapted by the Neoclassical writers?

Ans.epics, pastorals,satires

6. What are the subdivisions of the Neo-classical Age?

Ans. The restoration period,the augustan age, the age of sensibility

7. Who is called the father of English criticism?

Ans.john Dryden

8. Name an important mock-epic by Dryden.

Ans.mac flecknoe

9. What was the standard form of Neoclassical poetry?

Ans.heroic couplet

10. Name two major Restoration comedies.

Ans. The country wife,

11. What is the alternative name of the Augustan Age?

Ans.age of pop

12. Name the literary club of Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift and John Gay.

Ans.scriblerus club

13. Who launched The Tatler in 1709?

Ans.1711

14. When was The Spectator launched

Ans.Richard steels

15. Who was the creator of The Female Spectator?

Ans.eliza Heywood

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