Assignment

Question 1

1 The foreign-born son-who-never-was that remained loyal when others ran away.

2 A young man who loves a woman more beautiful than the queen, and who almost loses her.

3 The poet-guide who led a fellow poet through the realms of the underworld.

4 The outsider who terrorizes a king and loses both his hand and his life for his trouble.

5 The noble warrior who is the voice of reason for Charlemagne's rear guard troops.

6 The braggart hero whose ultimate sacrifice is unrecognized by his followers.

7 The warrior hero who essentially blew his brains out when faced with impending failure.

8 A womanizing young nobleman growing up with few or no restraints

9 An empassioned sinner who is saved by his beloved with the guidance of an ancient poet.

10 A consummate storyteller, daughter of a vizier, and eventually the wife of a king.

Question 2 (2+ sentences)

Briefly explain what is meant by the innate nature of sin.

Question 3 (2+ sentences)

Briefly explain the religious and social perspectives illustrated in Attar's The Conference of the Birds. Address specifically which religions are addressed and which one Attar holds in higher regard. Also mention his view on man-woman relationships.

Question 4 (2+ sentences)

Using an example, explain how Dante links the punishments to the sins he mentions in Inferno.

Question 5 (2+ sentences)

Identify two ways that Li Po and T'ao Ch'ien's perpective on life differs from that of Augustine.

Question 6 (2+ sentences)

What do you think prompted the shift to personal reflection and contemplation that heralded the Middle Ages and was illustrated by Augustine's Confessions?

#SHORT ESSAY

Question 7 (30 points) (6+ sentences)

In a short essay, explain the conflict between Christianity and Islam as it is reflected in the literature of the Middle Ages. Refer to Attar's The Conference of the Birds and the poem, The Song of Roland.

Question 8 (30 points) (6+ sentences)

Briefly compare the portrayal of women in 1001 Nights, The Tale of Genji, and Lanval. How does the medieval view of women compare to the roles of women in the ancient literature that we have studied?

Question 9 (30 points) (6+ sentences)

Briefly compare the ideal of heroism as reflected in the passages we read in Beowulf and The Song of Roland (consider both Roland and Oliver) to the ideals reflected in ancient literature.