Middle Ages/Ballad Test
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A quiz to assess knowledge and appication of ballad form and the historical context of the Middle Ages to the works we are studying.
- 1.The Middle Ages are also known as :
- A.
The futile ages
- B.
The feudal age
- C.
The Age of Reason
- 2.After William the Conqueror triumphed at the Battle of Hastings, England changed because of its —
- A.
Defeat of the Germanic tribes
- B.
Adoption of the Norman feudal system
- C.
Emergence as the leading European political power
- D.
Acceptance of Anglo-Saxon culture
- 3.Feudalism’The Middle Ages' concept of hierarchy featured —
- A.
A caste system of lords, vassals, and serfs
- B.
Classes in Latin for young knights
- C.
Endless international warfare
- D.
Romantic attitudes toward women
- 4.I In the Middle Ages, women of rank —
- A.
Had political rights concerning domestic affairs
- B.
Were never allowed to manage their husbands’ estates
- C.
Held the same social status as their husbands or fathers
- D.
Improved their social positions through peaceful protest
- 5.The growth of cities in the Middle Ages led to all of the following events except the
- A.
Rise of courtly love and a system of chivalry
- B.
Development of lower, middle, and upper-middle classes
- C.
Rise of “people’s art” such as the ballad and the mystery play
- D.
Eventual collapse of the European feudal system
- 6.The Crusades influenced everyday life in England by
- A.
Causing writers to publish in many different languages
- B.
Exposing the English to other civilizations
- C.
Recapturing Jerusalem for Christianity
- D.
Inspiring the authors of the Magna Carta
- 7.The 1170 martyrdom of Thomas à Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, led to —
- A.
Hardships for the common people of England
- B.
The establishment of a new religion
- C.
Changes within the Church of England
- D.
Greater power in England for the Church of Rome
- 8.The most positive effect of the medieval church was —
- A.
The creation of a refuge for landless serfs
- B.
A rebellion against the monarchy
- C.
The use of Latin for everyday business
- D.
The fostering of beliefs and symbols that unified the people
- 9.The Signing of the Magna Carta by King John at Runnymede signaled the —
- A.
Alliance of the English barons with the Pope
- B.
King’s heightened power over the people
- C.
Aristocrats’ interest in the rights of commoners
- D.
Renewal of older, democratic ideals
- 10.As a result of the Hundred Years’ War between England and France,
- A.
England lost most of its population to disease and warfare
- B.
The English aristocracy disappeared as a political force
- C.
The yeoman class became the backbone of England
- D.
France gave part of Normandy to England
- 11.The Black Death ultimately resulted in —
- A.
Increased awareness of proper sanitation
- B.
Freedom for the serfs and greater power for the lower classes
- C.
Victory for the Lancasters over the Tudors
- D.
The reemergence of Anglo-Saxon religion
- 12.“Lord Randall” contains all the following elements except —
- A.
Domestic tragedy
- B.
Murder
- C.
Return of the hero from seafaring
- D.
Dialogue between mother and son
- 13.Where has Lord Randall been?
- A.
At war against the Normans
- B.
Across the ocean, chasing the Norse
- C.
On a crusade with his brothers
- D.
Hunting and having dinner with his love
- 14.Who killed Lord Randall?
- A.
His girlfriend
- B.
A rival for his girlfriend’s love
- C.
His girlfriend’s father
- D.
The killer’s identity is not known
- 15.What was The motive, or reason, for the murder?
- A.
Lord Randall’s girlfriend had been betrayed by him.
- B.
A jealous rival wanted the young lady for himself.
- C.
The young lady’s father wanted her to marry a richer nobleman.
- D.
No motive is given in the ballad.
- 16.“Get Up and Bar the Door” —
- A.
Illustrates the rituals of courtly love
- B.
Shows the importance of holiday puddings in the Middle Ages
- C.
Pokes fun at the crazy argument of a husband and wife
- D.
Condemns bandits who prey on simple folk
- 17.Intruders into the couple’s house are two —
- A.
Kings
- B.
Two gentlemen
- C.
Escaped convicts
- D.
Serfs from the neighboring manor
- 18.Thehttp://T The two intruders have come because —
- A.
They have a long-standing feud with the couple
- B.
The couple are known far and wide for their hospitality
- C.
They are at war and need to take over the house
- D.
They are traveling and need a place to stay for the night
- 19.What word best describes the two intruders’ behavior toward the couple?
- A.
Friendly
- B.
Loyal
- C.
Honest
- D.
Threatening
- 20.All of the following elements are typical characteristics of ballads except —
- A.
Sensational or supernatural events
- B.
Tragic subject matter
- C.
Omission of details
- D.
Usage of many metaphors
- 21.What is a refrain?
- A.
Another word for a ballad
- B.
A repeated word, line, or group of lines
- C.
A character’s action or lack of action
- D.
The standard meter for English ballads
- 22.“Lord Randall” is an example of a ballad whose structure is
- A.
A question-and-answer conversation
- B.
A description of a murder
- C.
A series of events narrated in chronological order
- D.
Built of large numbers of small details
- 23.How is “Get Up and Bar the Door” not a typical ballad?
- A.
It is comic.
- B.
The characters are not superhuman.
- C.
It is set in England.
- D.
Characters’ motives are not spelled out.
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