Assignment # 3 / Post Modernist Literature / Contreras, Francisca

1. Which 2 readings did you choose, and why did you choose them?
I chose “Do androids dream of Electric Sheep?” by Dick P.K. and “Crash” by J.G. Ballard; first because their names attract my attention and second because when I started to read I found interesting the plot which being strange and disturb, it gets you to ask about a lot of things related to the life and the reality, and to think about what is the power of the technology on our lives?. However, this kind of story is shocking for me and sometimes I get nauseous; but there’s always curiosity with a book that talks about the future and of course I’m not the exception.

2. Are these readings very good or excellent examples of post-modernist literature, basing your analysis on the ppt presentations given in class? Why/Why Not?

In my opinion, they are excellent examples of post-modernist literature. The Dick’s reading reflects the entropy of the world where most of the humans are living in Mars because of a nuclear holocaust; moreover it shows absurdity and pushes things to the limit when in the story talks about the animals as owners of the world which is considered both a status symbol and a sign of righteous empathy. While the Ballard’s reading portrays the transformation of human psychology by modern technology, and consumer culture's fascination with celebrities and technological commodities, other important characteristic in the book is the characters where they don’t feel passion or sexual excitement to other people unless some kind of technology is involved, so in some way this represents important themes: go to extremes and reprobation full of a virtual and disturb reality.

3. Of all the readings you did this semester, which one was your favourite? Why?

Of course my favourite reading was “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Edgar Allan Poe because I’m an admirer of him and I enjoy reading his mystery stories full of suspense and horror but full of astuteness and intelligence at the same time, inciting not just to read more and more but also to think and use our analytical thoughts. Finally, I like this reading because you become part of the story being caught of it until the last line, until the solution of the crux. However I would like to mention that I enjoy reading some modernist stories of Raymond Chandler who wrote in a very similar style of Poe where he includes suspense, intrigue and a clever detective who has to solve the mysteries.

4. Of the 3 time periods we looked at this semester (Victorian, Modernist & Post-Modernist), which did you enjoy the most? Why?
I really enjoyed the Victorian era, on the one hand because is the Edgar Allan Poe’s era who is one of my favourite writers and on the other hand being loyal to my gender, I like the style of Victorian era because is positive and optimistic, rural and natural, including happy endings, where the good gay and the bad gay are clearly defined what allow to understand easily the plot of the stories. However, I enjoyed with the others periods but not so much like Victorian because they have something that cause on me disturbing feelings what obviously I don’t like.

Assignment # 2 / Modernist Literature / Contreras, Francisca

1. Which 2 readings did you complete from the reading list provided (or from your own selections)?

Dubliners: “A Little Cloud” and “A Painful Case” by James Joyce. Trouble is my Business: “The Lady in the Lake” by Raymond Chandler.

2. Based on these readings, compare (3 examples) and contrast (3 examples) the works you read with the themes from the ppt presentations in class on Modernist Culture and Literature.

In the reading “A little cloud” it is clearly represented the pessimism in Little Chandler when he thinks about Gallaher’s life and feels envy, after that he thinks how his life would be if he was alone, i.e. without his wife and his child and all he finds it is coldness. Finally, negative feelings come to him and he just cries.

In the reading “A painful case” we can see a sense of frustration and disillusionment in main characters (Mr. Duffy and Mrs. Sinico). Mrs. Sinico was married, however she feels as lonely as Mr. Duffy, full of coldness and disillusionment, but this became a reason for to be friends until Mrs. Sinico wanted something else than a friendship. Because of this Mr. Duffy cut the relationship causing more disillusionment and a big frustration too. On the other hand, Mr. Duffy demonstrated a sense of spiritual loneliness when rejected to Mrs. Sinico but he felt so guilty at moment of knowing that Mrs. Sinico has committed suicide so the sense of disillusionment continues in his life.

The reading “The lady in the lake” is situated during the Second World War and it is full of passion, corruption and crime represented by common people. Other point that is presented in this story it is the individualism of Mr. Kingsley because he seems to be worried about his wife who disappeared however; the only important thing for him is not to be in a scandal and not to damage his reputation.

Such a contrast we can use the Victorian era and we can say that it is clearly a rejection of that. First, these are not positive stories and have no happy endings, and all happen in the city or in the suburbs full of dark and negative things.

3. Do you feel the works you read are very good or excellent representations of Modernist Literature? Why/Why Not?

I think they are excellent representations because contain intrigue, emotion and action but at the same time are in some cases illogical, pessimistic and negative which are the main themes of this era. Moreover, it is really clear the change of the way that stories are written, i.e. the difference between Victorian era and Modernist era are represented very good by R. Chandler who is sarcastic and cynic, he writes about the capitalist society, where the money and the search of the power are the real engines of the human relations.

4. Would you recommend the readings to friends or family? Why/Why Not?

Of course I would recommend these readings because the stories catch you, and you cannot leave them until you do not read the last line. One of the best things is that in these stories, nothing is what seems and everyone has something to hide. Moreover, these are interesting books and it is easy to read them.

Assignment # 1 / Victorian Literature / Contreras, Francisca

1. Which 2 readings did you complete from the reading list provided (or from your own selections)?

I chose: Irving, W. Rip van Winkle (USA, 1819-short story) and Poe, E.A. The Murders in the Rue Morgue (USA, 1841-short story).

2. Based on these readings, compare (3 examples) and contrast (3 examples) the works you read with themes from the ppt presentations given in class on Victorian Culture and Literature.

Clearly one of the themes present in one of these stories is the application of reason logically and the use of the scientific method in “The murders in the Rue Morgue”, however we can contrast the fact that the story is many times a bit fantastic almost epic allowing us to liberate every idea that we want.

Another theme that we can find is the American Revolution related to Victorian era which was in large wars for a long time.

Also we can find another theme which is the change. When Rip van Winkle gets up from his nap, the entire world has changed. Everything he was used to before be gone--even clothing styles has changed. So we can say: “the one that winks loses…”, this story has few reality however we can learn a lot of this “saying”, thinking about how many times we live without living and when we react the life is gone.

3. Do you feel that the works you read are very good or excellent representations of Victorian Literature? Why/Why Not?

I think they are good representations because they are written by middle class people to middle class people, want that the middle class realizes how the lowest classes live because it is believed that the social reform has to depart from the highest classes. Moreover, they want to entertain people through didactic stories. However, sometimes the stories lead to a real degradation of the social and spiritual values or like Poe in his story is not worried about the social business because he considers the reality is a mental process and not a physical fact.

4. Would you recommend the readings to friends or family? Why/Why Not?

Of course because Poe in his "analytical" stories, which share with other an implacable reason of the horror, we can find distinctive elements - the suspense, the invention of climates and the incredible way to arrive at the solution of the crux, inciting the reader to want to read more and more, making you feel caught by the story. And the other hand, Rip van Winkle is a good story to read too, however it’s a little more fantastic than Poe’s story but not because of it less interesting.

Assignment # 3 / Shakespeare and Early Modern English / Contreras, Francisca

1. Define and explain, The Great Vowel Shift.
The Great Vowel Shift was a major change in the pronunciation of the English language that took place in the south of England between 1200 and 1600, it was æ in Old English. The Great Vowel Shift is one of the historical events marking the separation of Middle and Modern English, mainly in the pronunciation.

2. Name 5 dialects of Modern English.
American English, Australian English, Indo-Pakistani English, New Zealand English, Philippine English.

3. One of the problems with Early Modern English was a lack of uniformity in spelling. Which 2 people (1-English, 1-American) helped establish standardized spelling?
English: Samuel Johnson, American: Noah Webster.

4. How many countries in the world have given Modern English official status?
Fifty three countries

5. The most recent statistics show that approximately how many people speak Modern English as a:I. First language? 309–400 million
II. Second Language? 199–1,400 million
There are over 508 million speakers of English.

6. When was Early Modern English spoken?
It was spoken between 1500 – 1650 AD.

7. How are the use of Pronouns different between Early Modern & Modern English?
In Early Modern English, there were two second-person personal pronouns: thou, the informal singular pronoun, and ye, which was both the plural pronoun and the formal singular pronoun. In Modern English the pronouns were much the same as today. One difference is that, much as a becomes an before a vowel, my and thy became mine and thine before vowels as well; hence, mine eyes, thine uncle, and so on.

8. Which language families does Modern English belong in?
American English, Australian English, British English, Canadian English, Caribbean English, Hiberno-English, Indo-Pakistani English, New Zealand English, Philippine English, Singaporean English, and South African English.

9. Name 4 worldwide uses for Modern English.
There are diverse uses as controlling airplanes, developing software, conducting international diplomacy, and business relations.

10. In your opinion, what was the greatest influence on the spread of Modern English around the world? Why?
I think one of the most important was the literature because people could know different stories, share and enjoy with other seeing plays and after obviously an important thing was the music.

11. There has been a lot of controversy over the true authorship of Shakespeare's writings. Which 3 people are also candidates as the possible authors of Shakespeare's plays?
The possible authors are Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe, and Edward de Vere.

12. Briefly explain The Oxfordian Theory.
The Oxfordian theory of Shakespearean authorship holds that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (1550-1604), wrote the plays and poems attributed to William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon. The case for Oxford's authorship is based on perceived similarities between Oxford's biography and events in Shakespeare's plays and sonnets; parallels of language, idiom, and thought between Oxford's letters and the Shakespearean canon; and underlined passages in Oxford's Bible that may correspond to quotations in Shakespeare's plays.

13. Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, which according to the Folio Classification, fall into 3 categories. Name the 3 categories.
The categories are: Comedies, Histories and Tragedies.

14. In which town was Shakespeare born?
He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon.

15. Which famous London theatre (built by actors, for actors) is connected with Shakespeare's plays?
The Globe Theatre.

16. Even though Richard III is the most performed play, Hamlet is Shakespeare's most famous play. In your opinion, what does this portion of Hamlet's famous soliloquy mean:

To be or not to be, that is the question;Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to sufferThe slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,And by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep;No more; and by a sleep to say we endThe heart-ache and the thousand natural shocksThat flesh is heir to — 'tis a consummationDevoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;To sleep, perchance to dream. Ay, there's the rub,...

17. Name 5 post-Shakespearean artists whose work was heavily influenced by the writings of William Shakespeare.
Thomas Hardy, William Faulkner, Charles Dickens, Herman Melville and Henry Fuseli.

18. Which of Shakespeare's plays are included in The Wars of the Roses series?
19. Shakespeare wrote most of his works in blank verse composed in iambic pentameter. What is blank verse & iambic pentameter?
This means that his verse was usually unrhymed and consisted of ten syllables to a line, spoken with a stress on every second syllable. Its sentences tend to start, pause, and finish at the end of lines, with the risk of monotony.

20. Name 4 actors from Shakepeare's original company.
Richard Burbage, William Kempe, Henry Condell and John Heminges.

21. What were the Wars of the Roses (1377-1485)?
The Wars of the Roses were a series of bloody dynastic civil wars between supporters of the rival houses of Lancaster and York, for the throne of England.

22. Why was this war called the Wars of the Roses?
It has its origins in the badges associated with the two royal houses, although the roses were occasionally used as symbols during the wars, most of the participants wore badges associated with their immediate feudal lords or protectors.

23. What were the names of the 2 houses which fought in this war?
The White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster.

24. What prompted this civil war to begin?
The overthrow of King Richard II by his cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, in 1399. Richard II's government had been highly unpopular and Bolingbroke returned from exile, initially to reclaim his rights as Duke of Lancaster.

25. How did the war end?
The war ended with the victory of the Lancastrian Henry Tudor, who founded the House of Tudor which subsequently ruled England and Wales for 116 years.

26. Which Kings of England were participants in the Wars of the Roses?
The Yorkists: King Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III, Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, and Duke of York.
The Lancastrians: King Henry VI, Duke Somerset, Henry VII, Margaret of Anjou, Duke of Buckingham, and Thomas Percy.

Assignment # 4 / Thesis & Dissertation / Contreras, Francisca

1. What do the words thesis and dissertation, mean?
Thesis is an intellectual proposition or an academic work and Dissertation is a detailed exam or discourse and it could be about History, Science, Art, etc.

2. What is the difference between a thesis and a dissertation?
Thesis is utilised as part of a Bachelors or Masters course and dissertation is normally applied to a Doctorate.

3. List 10 (ten) components of a thesis.
1. Title page, 2. abstract, 3. table of contents, 4. introduction, 5. body, 6. materials and methods results, 7. indices and appendices, 8. glossaries, 9. images or figures, 10. bibliography.

4. Define the following terms:
a. title page: it’s the sentence that should describe what thesis is about.
b. abstract: it’s like a summary of the thesis which should refer to the problem, the possible solutions and the probable impact into the field.
c. table of contents: it’s a list about items of information, an index (indice).
d. annotated bibliography: It’s a bibliography that gives a brief summary and an evaluation of the research sources.
e. introduction: it should be an overall view of the contents of the thesis, such as: information about the topic, the importance of the topic, the motivations for the tesis, etc.
f. materials and methods: materials are the elements that you have to use in the thesis or dissertation, and method is the way that you have to follow according the thesis or dissertation.
g. results: it is the final consequence of our investigation based in our initial question or title.

5. What is a style guide?
It’s the pattern that candidates have to use for writing a thesis document. Sometimes the institutions have their own pattern but there are national and international standards and recommendations for the presentation of theses.

6. What is an examining committee?
It’s a thesis committee formed for a group of professors from the student's university plus his or her primary supervisor, an external examiner and a chair person. They will have to ask questions about the thesis itself and the subject matter.

7. In Canada, how many pages is the average undergraduate thesis?
A typical undergraduate thesis might be forty pages. Masters theses are approximately one hundred pages. PhD theses are usually over two hundred pages.

8. What are the 4 verdicts, you can receive on your thesis?
1.- Accepted / pass with no corrections
2.- The thesis must be revised.
3.- Extensive revision required
4.- Unacceptable

9. What is a thesis committee?
It is a committee that supervises a student's dissertation. The committee is chosen by the students.

10. Describe the process of submission of the thesis?
It’s the last formal requirement for most students after the defense.

11. Define the term, thesis statement.
The thesis statement declares the thesis or argument of the author. A thesis statement answers a research question and could be expressed in one or two sentences the focus of the essay.

12. Now that you've answered these questions, do you feel that writing a thesis will be hell? Explain.

Assignment # 3 / Biography Paragraph / Contreras, Francisca

AN ETERNAL DREAMER

22 year old, María José is a little girl in her family, but a big woman in her life. She’s made important dreams come true, such as: to visit other countries or to enliven parties as a DJ. However, it’s not enough for her. She’s always thinking of more dreams and feeling calm about herself (impossible is nothing, because her dreams will never end).

Assignment # 3 / Autobiography Paragraph / Contreras, Francisca

THE PAST WILL BE ALWAYS BETTER

I studied in six diferent schools. In fact, I’ve lived in more than six places. My favourite place was the countryside, full of happiness and peacefulness. I lived there for two years in my grandmother’s house and now I’m waiting to go back one day and relive the greatest time in my life.

Assignment # 1 / What is writing? / Contreras, Francisca

1. According to the article, why was writing invented?

At first writing was invented as a consequence of the burgeoning needs of accounting, they used writing as a method of recording and presenting transactions. After in Mesoamerica writing may have evolved through calendrics and a political necessity for recording historical events.

2. Writing is both a noun and a verb. Explain.

Writing as a noun, the thing that is written; and writing as a verb, which designates the activity of writing. It refers to the inscription of characters on a medium, thereby forming words, and larger units of language, known as texts. It also refers to the creation of meaning and the information thereby generated.

3. Name the 4 different categories of writing systems.

The 4 categories are: logographic, syllabic, alphabetic, and featural.

4. Why are ideographic and pictographic methods NOT considered categories of writing systems?

Because ideographic (symbols for ideas), has never been developed sufficiently to represent language and pictographic is insufficient to represent language on its own.

5. Name 10 different types of writing tools and materials.

The different types of writing tools and materials are: stone tablets, clay tablets, wax tablets, vellum, parchment, paper,copperplate, styluses, quills, ink brushes, pencils, pens, and many styles of lithography.

6. True or False: The difference between prehistory and history is when written records were kept.

True

7. Who developed the first writing system:

a. Sumerians

b. Mesopotamians

c. Hittites

d. none of these answers are correct.

8. Which cultural group were the only ones to develop a written language in the Americas?

The Maya culture.

9. It is possible that the Chinese language was developed:

a. c. 1500 BCE

b. c. 6000 BCE

c. c. 3200 BCE

d. none of the answers are correct.

10. Where does the word, alphabet, originate?

The word "alphabet" came into Middle English from the Late Latin word Alphabetum, which in turn originated in the Ancient Greek Αλφάβητος Alphabetos, from alpha and beta, the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.

11. Name 3 types of NON-linear writing systems.

Braille,fingerspelling, and Morse code

12. Name 2 examples of NON-alphabetic writing systems.

Egyptian hieroglyphs and Chinese characters are two of the best-known writing systems with predominantly non-alphabetic representations.

13. The alphabet helps distinguish between which 2 types of spoken sounds?

The International Phonetic Alphabet and phonetic approximation of foreign words.

14. In English, what was The Great Vowel Shift?

It was æ in Old English.

15. Japanese is a complicated language not only because there a 3 different forms of the written language and there are at least 14 levels of formality, but because the spoken language originated from the Korean peninsula and the written language originated from China. English has a similar complicated history. Briefly explain the origins of the English language.

English is a West Germanic language that originated from the Anglo-Frisian and Lower Saxon dialects brought to Britain by Germanic settlers and Roman auxiliary troops from various parts of what is now northwest Germany and the northern. Initially, Old English was a diverse group of dialects, reflecting the varied origins of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms of Great Britain. This was then influenced by two waves of invasion. The first was by language speakers of the Scandinavian branch of the Germanic family. The second was the Normans who spoke Old Norman and developed an English variety of this called Anglo-Norman. After the Norman conquest, Old English developed into Middle English, borrowing heavily from the Norman vocabulary and spelling conventions.A significant number of English words, especially technical words, have been constructed based on roots from Latin and ancient Greek.

Assignment # 2 / Middle English / Contreras, Francisca

1. Approximately when was Middle English spoken?

It was spoken between the Norman invasion of 1066 and about 1470

2. What were the major factors which led to the development and the spread of Middle English?

The major factors were: the loss of Normandy in 1204, the rivalry between England and France during the Hundred Years' War and the introduction of the printing press into England in the 1470’s.

 

3. Match the following Old English words with their Anglo-Norman equivalent:

A. Pig  B. Cow C. Wood D. Sheep E. House F. Worthy G. Bold

Pork  Beef   Forest Mutton Mansion Honourable Courageous

 

4. Compare & contrast the structure of nouns, pronouns and verbs, between Middle English & Modern English.

Nouns: Middle English retains only two separate noun-ending patterns.

	singular		plural
nom/acc	engel	nome	engles	nomen
gen	engles*	nome	engle(ne)**	nomen
dat	engle	nome	engle(s)	nomen

The strong -s plural form has survived into Modern English, while the weak -n form is rare (oxen, children, brethren ; and in some dialects eyen [instead of eyes], shoon [instead of shoes], hosen [instead of hose(s)] and kine [instead of cows]).

 

Verbs: the first person singular of verbs in the present tense ends in -e ("ich here" - "I hear"), the second person in -(e)st ("þou spekest" - "thou speakest"), and the third person in -eþ ("he comeþ" - "he cometh/he comes"). (þ is pronounced like the unvoiced th in "think").

In the past tense, weak verbs are formed by adding an -ed(e), -d(e) or -t(e) ending. These, without their personal endings, also form past participles, together with past-participle prefixes derived from Old English: i-, y- and sometimes bi-. Strong verbs, by contrast, form their past tense by changing their stem vowel (e.g. binden -> bound), as in Modern English.

Pronouns:

Personal pronouns in Middle English
		Singular			Plural
		Subject	Object	Possessive	Subject	Object	Possessive
First		I	me	mi(n)	we	us	ure
Second		thou	thee	thy	ye	you	your
Third	Impersonal	hit	it/him	his	he they	hem them	hir their
	Masculine	he	him	his
	Feminine	sche	hire	hir

 

Old English pronouns First and Second Person
	First Person		Second Person
	singular	plural	singular	plural
nom.	ic, ih	wē	þū	gē
acc.	mec, mē	ūsic, ūs	þec, þē	ēowic, ēow
gen.	mīn	ūser, ūre	þīn	ēower
dat.	mē	ūs	þē	ēow

 

Third Person
	masc.	fem.	neut.	pl.
nom.	hē	hēo	hit	hīe
acc.	hine	hīe	hit	hīe
gen.	his, sīn	hiere	his, sīn	heora
dat.	him	hiere	him	heom

 

5. How is pronunciation different between Middle English and Modern English?

All letters in Middle English words were pronounced, therefore 'knight' was pronounced /knɪçt/ (with a pronounced and the as the in German 'Knecht'), not /naɪt/ as in Modern English.

 In earlier Middle English all written vowels were pronounced. Later, the final had become silent in normal speech.

6. What is the Chancery Standard, and how did it come into effect?

It was a written form of English used by government bureaucracy and for other official purposes from the late 14th century. It is believed to have contributed in a significant way to the development of the English language as spoken and written today. Because of the differing dialects of English spoken and written across the country at the time, the government required a clear and unambiguous form for use in its official documents. Chancery Standard was developed to meet this need. 

7. Who wrote the Canterbury Tales?

The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century. 

8. Describe the medieval pilgrims who journeyed from Canterbury to London.

They are 29 pilgrims who meet in Tabard Inn and set out on a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. The group is described in detail, with characters from all classes, upper and lower, represented. Religious characters, such as a prioress, monk and a Pardoner, travel alongside a shipman, miller, carpenter, reeve, squire, yeoman and a knight, among others.

9. Why did the pilgrims take this journey?

To pay their respects to the tomb of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.

10. It is thought that some of the stories in The Canterbury Tales originated in Italy. What was the name of the Italian book and who wrote it?

The name of the italian book is The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio.

11. The Canterbury Tales is considered an extremely important book, both in terms of English Literature & in the history of English writing. In your opinion, why is this book so important?

It’s important because:

  - It’s a record of the roots of English and how it has evolved.

  - It’s an important piece of English literature that give us a sample of the history and the society in the Middle ages and we can compare and realize that there is not so much difference about nowadays just the technology. 

12. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is:

a. A collection of German folk tales, similar to Grimm's Fairy Tales.

b. A collection of Japanese ghost stories, similar to Kwaidan.

c. A detailed explanation of the proper etiquette & behaviour for all knights in Medieval Europe.

d. A medieval romance poem, with Arthurian themes.

e. None of the above.

f. All of the above. 

13. Who is Sir Gwain?

He is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table.

14. What is the challenge that The Green Knight proposes to the Knights of the Round Table?

The Green Knight offers to allow anyone to strike him with his axe if the challenger will take a return blow in a year and a day.

15. What is the similarity between Sir Gwain and the Green Knight and the Irish tale of Cúchulainn?

The similitary between the tales is that Cuchulainn's antagonist feints three blows with the axe before letting his target depart without injury. 

16. What is the importance of the pentagram/pentangle in the poem?

The pentangle on Gawain's shield is seen by many critics as signifying Gawain's perfection and power over evil. The poem describes the pentangle as a symbol of faithfulness and an "endless knot". In line 625, it is described as "a sign by Solomon". Solomon, the third king of Israel, in 10th century B.C. was said to have the mark of the pentagram on his ring, which he received from the archangel Michael. The pentagram seal on this ring was said to give Solomon power over demons. 

17. How are numbers used to symbolize events in the poem?

The poet highlights number symbolism to add symmetry and meaning to the poem.

For example: three kisses are exchanged between Gawain and Bertilak's wife; Gawain is tempted by her on three separate days; Bertilak goes hunting three times, and the Green Knight swings at Gawain three times with his axe, or the fifth five is Gawain himself, who embodies the five moral virtues of the code of chivalry: "friendship, generosity, chastity, courtesy, and piety". All of these virtues reside, as the poet says, in the "Endless Knot" of the pentangle, which forever interlinks and is never broken

18. What is the significance of Sir Gwain's neck wound?

During the medieval period, the body and the soul were believed to be so intimately connected that wounds were considered an outward sign of inward sin. The neck, specifically, was believed to correlate with the part of the soul related to will, connecting the reasoning part (the head) and the courageous part (the heart).

19. Which actor played The Green Knight in the film adaptation, Sword of the Valiant?

The actor was Sean Connery.

20. In many ways this poem is, in the modern sense, a soap opera. Compare Sir Gwain and the Green Knight with a modern Chilean teleseries.