3. The battle of maldon

1. Read the poem ( http: www/georgetown.edu/faculty/ballc/oe/maldon-trans/html ) and give the gist your own words.

2. What traditions and customs of Anglo-Saxons can be traced in the poem?

3. Make up a portrait of an Anglo-Saxon warrior (his dress, weapon, сharacter etc).

4. What is the author’s message in describing Vikings and Anglo-Saxon warriors?

5. Analyse the references to Christianity.

6. What characteristic features of the old English poetry can you find in this poem?

7. Compare two translations of the same excerpts from the poem. What stylistic devices make the style elevated?

A

Birhtnoth spoke, raised his shield, brandished his slender ash-spear, uttered words, angry and resolute gave answer: "Dost thou hear, seafarer, what this folk says? They will give you spears for tribute, poisoned point and old sword, heriot that avails you not in battle. Sea-wanderers' herald, take back our answer, speak to thy people a message far more hateful, that here stands with his host an undaunted earl who will defend this country, my lord AEthel-red's homeland, folk and land. Heathen shall fall in the battle. It seems to me too shameful that you should go to ship with our tribute unfought, now that you have come thus far into our land. Not so easily shall you get treasure: point and edge shall first reconcile us, grim battle-play, before we give tribute."

B

Byrthnoth spoke, his shield raised aloft,

Brandishing a slender ash-wood spear, speaking words,

wrathful and resolute did he give his answer:

"Hear now you, pirate, what this people say?

They desire to you a tribute of spears to pay,

poisoned spears and old swords,

the war-gear which you in battle will not profit from.

Sea-thieves messenger, deliver back in reply,

tell your people this spiteful message,

that here stands undaunted an Earl with his band of men

who will defend our homeland.

Aethelred's country, the lord of my

people and land. Fall shall you

heathen in battle! To us it would be shameful

that you with our coin to your ships should get away

without a fight, now you thus far

into our homeland have come .

You shall not so easily carry off our treasure:

with us must spear and blade first decide the terms,

fierce conflict, is the tribute we will hand over."

Seminar #2 Geoffrey Chaucer “Canterbury Tales”

1. Summing up study questions.

1. What are the major themes of the Canterbury Tales?

2. Which pilgrims does Chaucer satirize? Which does he praise most highly? How does his treatment of these people indicate his own ideals about man?

5. Discuss Chaucer's use of irony in his treatment of one or more of the Canterbury pilgrims.

6. Discuss the ways in which Chaucer's style (diction, syntax, tone, selection and presentation of detail, etc.) reveals his feeling about two or more of the pilgrims he describes.

7. The complex question of marriage was much debated one in the 14th century, and the "Wife of Bath" appears as an expert on the subject. Yet Chaucer doesn't limit marriage views to those of the Wife. Instead he presents a series of characters who deal with marriage in highly individual ways, both comic and tragic. Speak about these characters and their attitudes to marriage.

12. In the Prologue Chaucer shows the traditional class structure of medieval society:

Who are the characters of each division?