Trivia Questions Quiz: The Exeter Book And Beowulf!

The correct answer is Cotton Vitellius A.15. This manuscript is known as the Beowulf manuscript and is housed in the British Library. It is part of the Cotton collection, which is a collection of manuscripts assembled by Sir Robert Cotton in the 17th century. The shelf-mark refers to the specific location of the manuscript within the library's collection.

The correct answer is "Hwaet." In Beowulf, "Hwaet" is the first word, which translates to "Listen" or "Hear" in Old English. This word is often used as an attention-grabbing device to captivate the audience and draw them into the story.

The correct answer is Scyld. In the opening of Beowulf, the legendary king's first name is Scyld. This is evident from the line "Lo, praise of the prowess of people-kings of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, we have heard, and what honor the athelings won!" which refers to Scyld as the king of the Danes. Shield, on the other hand, is not mentioned in the opening of Beowulf as the name of the king.

All of the riddles in the Exeter Book are anonymous because the authorship of these riddles is unknown. The Exeter Book is a 10th-century anthology of Old English poetry, and it contains a collection of riddles that cover a wide range of topics. However, none of the riddles are attributed to any specific author, making them anonymous works of literature.

A good Anglo-Saxon king must have loyalty from his subjects, as it is crucial for maintaining a stable and united kingdom. However, loyalty alone is not enough; the king must also be able to reward his loyal subjects with wealth and resources, symbolized by gold. This ensures that the king can maintain the support and allegiance of his followers, as well as provide for their needs and protect the kingdom. Therefore, the statement is true, as loyalty and the ability to reward it with gold are both important qualities for a good Anglo-Saxon king.

The opening of Beowulf celebrates the lineage of Hrothgar, the Danish King. The poem begins by tracing Hrothgar's ancestry and highlighting his greatness as a ruler. This sets the stage for the epic tale that follows, as Beowulf, the protagonist, comes to Hrothgar's aid in battling the monstrous Grendel. Hrothgar's lineage is significant because it establishes his authority and the historical context of the story.

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The statement is false because riddles do not exclusively deal with Christian subject matter. Riddles can cover a wide range of topics and themes, including nature, animals, objects, and everyday life. While some riddles may have Christian references or allusions, it is not a requirement for all riddles to be about Christian subjects.

In the context of the opening of Beowulf, being a 'wrecker of mead benches' is a good thing because it signifies strength and power. In the poem, warriors are praised for their ability to destroy enemy mead benches, which were symbols of wealth and status. By wrecking these benches, the warriors demonstrate their prowess in battle and their ability to conquer their enemies. Therefore, in this context, being a 'wrecker of mead benches' is seen as a positive attribute.

The Dream of the Rood is a poem that describes the crucifixion of Jesus from the perspective of the cross. The style of the poem, with its vivid imagery and emotional tone, suggests that the author had the riddles in mind. The poem uses metaphors and symbolism to convey its message, similar to how riddles often use figurative language and hidden meanings. This connection between the style of the poem and the presence of riddles implies that the author intentionally incorporated riddle-like elements into the poem.