CONCEPTUAL LINK 1  Towards a National Identity

Test Fila B

NOME .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLASSE ..................... DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TEST Link to texts

4
Fila B
Suggested time: 50 minutes

Wiglaf helps Beowulf

Anonymous
Beowulf (ca 11th century)
The passage you are going to read, printed in the modern translation of M. Alexander, contains the speech
of Beowulf’s young retainer, Wiglaf.

That day has now come 1 Who needs the

when he [Beowulf] stands in need of the strength of good fighters, strength of good
fighters?
our lord and liege1. Let us go to him,
help our leader for as long as it requires,
5 the fearsome2 fire-blast3. I had far rather 2 What would Wiglaf
prefer if he cannot

LI
that the flame should enfold my flesh-frame4 there
succeed?
alongside my gold-giver – as God knows of me.
To bear our shields back to our homes 3 What should the
would seem unfitting to me, unless first we have been able
10 to kill the foe5 and defend the life
of the prince of the Weather-Geats. I well know
that former deeds deserve not that, alone
EL fighters do?

4 Why does he not

CH
want Beowulf to
of the flower of the Geats6, he should feel the pain, feel pain?
sink7 in the struggle; sword and helmet, 5 What do the
15 corselet8 and mail-shirt9, shall be our common gear10. warriors wear for
the coming fight?
NI

1 liege. Signore. 5 foe. Nemico. 8 corselet. Corsaletto.

2 fearsome. Terribile. 6 alone … Geats. Lett.: Solo tra i fiori dei 9 mail-shirt. Tunica metallica.
3 fire-blast. Fuoco della battaglia. Geats: unico nella stirpe dei Geats. 10 gear. Corredi.
4 flesh-frame. Corpo. 7 sink. Affondare.
ZA

QUICK READ
1 READ the text quickly and answer the following question.
What are the two things Wiglaf plans to do with his comrades?
Marks: …… / 2

CLOSE READ
Test 4 Fila B

TESTS

2 READ the text again and answer the questions next to it.
Marks: …… / 10
(2 marks for each answer)

384 Idee per insegnare la letteratura inglese con

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La riproduzione di questa pagina tramite fotocopia è autorizzata ai soli fini dell’utilizzo
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 CONCEPTUAL LINK 1  Towards a National Identity
Test Fila B

NOME .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLASSE ..................... DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3 FIND the words which mean the following.

1 physical power
2 aid
3 prefer
4 beside
5 inappropriate
6 actions
7 lose
8 fight
Marks: …… / 8
(1 mark for each answer)

ANALYSIS
4 Pick out the alliteration in line 3 and say who it refers to.
Marks: …… / 2

5 The ‘former deeds’ referred to in line 12 are

LI
A past experiences of Wiglaf.
B events in a distant past.
C previous brave actions of Beowulf.
D necessary acts against the Geat people.

6 Find all the words and phrases linked to the hero Beowulf.
EL Marks: …… / 2
CH
Marks: …… / 2

7 The phrase ‘gold-giver’ in line 7 is

A a symbol of the Geat people.
B a personification of gold.
NI

C a kenning for the hero.

D a simile for the dragon.
Marks: …… / 2
ZA

8 Find a similar expression which stands for fight.

Marks: …… / 2

9 What typical characteristics of the epic poem does this passage present? Provide examples
from the text.
Marks: …… / 10

COMMUNICATION
10 CHOOSE one of the following questions and write a paragraph of about 100 words.
1 What are some of the values expressed in the extract? Can you think of some examples
of how they might still be relevant today, based on your personal experience?
2 How do Wiglaf’s intentions illustrate the heroic code prevalent at the time? Can you think
of what qualities might be important for a modern heroic code and why?
Test 4 Fila B

Marks: …… / 10
TESTS

Total marks: …… / 50

Idee per insegnare la letteratura inglese con

Spiazzi, Tavella, Layton Performer Shaping Ideas 1 © Zanichelli 2020
La riproduzione di questa pagina tramite fotocopia è autorizzata ai soli fini dell’utilizzo
nell’attività didattica degli alunni delle classi che hanno adottato il testo 385
Copia riservata all'insegnante palma perrotta - 111526