Mid-Term Exam Study Guide

Dear Students,

Please ensure that you are familiar with the terms below, and are able to formulate a one-sentence answer for the questions given. The mid-term will allow for some choice, and will feature matching, multiple choice and short-answer questions. N.B. The chapter breaks are only a general indication of where to find each item; in fact, many items are treated in more than one chapter.

Two hours are allotted for this exam, which will be open-book, i.e., textbooks and class notes permitted. Remember to consult the PowerPoint presentations for further assistance in your studying.

Frank Senn, The People's Work, Chs. 1-2

Terms: sect/cult, Abba, John the Baptist, Saul/Paul, Eucharist, AD 70, Didache/"Teaching of the 12 Apostles", Gentile, refrigerium, leitourgia/liturgia, "in communion", familia Dei/"family of God", syncretism

What sociological models are proposed to describe the early Christian worshipping community?

What role did the bishop play in the early Church?

Why were the graves of martyrs important?

What was the significance of baptism?

What is an apocalyptic worldview?

Chs. 3-4

Terms: Kyrios/Dominus, "eighth day", symbols of 4 Evangelists, "the Lamb", polis/civitas, asceticism/ascesis, Anthony of Egypt, "ora et labora"/"prayer & work", Lauds, Vespers, Advent, Epiphany, All Saints, Pascha

Why is the biblical book the Apocalypse/Revelation important for understanding early Christian worship?

Why were Christians persecuted in the early centuries of the Church?

What was the inspiration behind, or rationale for, the rise of Christian monasticism?

What are two theories regarding the origin of Christmas?

Chs. 5-6

Terms: Edict of Milan (AD 313), Constantinople, Hagia Sophia, fermentum, canons, Sacrament of Orders,

What is a basilica and what role did it play in the 4^th c. Church?

Where did liturgical vestments originate?

Where does the term "Mass" come from?

What was the iconoclastic controversy?

Why was Jerusalem important for the development of the liturgy?

Chs. 7-9

Terms: the Ordinary of the Mass, the Propers of the Mass, Benedict of Nursia, Cyril & Methodius, Christmas Day AD 800, vernacular, Books of Hours (Horae), Lent, Annunciation, Candlemas, Carnival, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, crèche,

What are the Psalms; explain their use in Christian liturgy?

Why was the voice the preferred instrument in early Christian worship?

What was the standard Christian fast?

David Hiley, Gregorian
Chant, Ch. 1

Terms: monophony, polyphony, mendicant, Divine Office/Opus Dei, Prime, Tierce, Sext, None, Compline, Requiem Mass, processions & stations, 5 Ordinary Chants, syllabic, melismatic

Link to Updated Syllabus

Please follow the link here for an updated syllabus; recent changes (under "Course Schedule") indicated in fuchsia!

Topic & Bibliography for Biographical Essay: EXTENSION & Further Details

Dear Students,

It seems best to allow an extension for the submission of the Biographical Essay title & bibliography, originally due this Tuesday. Please do bring a draft of this to class, which you can share with the class as a whole, and in regard to which, perhaps, receive helpful feedback.

The assignment itself will be due at noon, on Thursday, Feb. 10. Please submit a hard-copy to the Humanities office, unless particular circumstances prevent this (contact me, if so). I will have extended office hours that day (1:30-4:30 pm) for those who may wish to discuss their project.

What is expected?

To quote the syllabus:

The Biographical Essay affords the chance to examine in-depth the life and legacy of a medieval figure, whose importance is in some respect related to the theme of the course (Héloïse, Abelard, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Anselm, Hildegard of Bingen, St. Francis, etc.). Since this is an upper-level humanities course, you are expected to make use of a number of sources for your essay, including primary sources. In other words, you should plan to have recourse to period writings pertaining to your chosen topic. A great variety and number of such writings can now be accessed through the internet, via sites such as Paul Halsall's Medieval History Sourcebook.

Of course, the library remains the best place to begin… A choice of topic and initial bibliography for this assignment (3-5 primary sources, along with at least three secondary sources) are due on February [10], while the assignment itself is due on March 8. It should run 1750-2000 words, and be formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style.

For the choice of topic and initial bibliography I need to see evidence that work has been done to ensure that the sources listed will prove of use to the chosen topic. This "check & balance" is intended to help those of you who are not used to writing research papers to "stay on track."

Please, therefore, do the following:

1) Write a 1-2 sentence DESCRIPTION of your paper topic, in addition to your proposed title This should summarize the goal of your Biographical Essay.

2) ANNOTATE your bibliography, i.e., write a short sentence (point form is acceptable) after each entry, explaining why you have chosen this source (book section, article), and how it will pertain to your topic

I trust that these simple measures will be worthwhile to your overall research...

Links to PowerPoint Presentations I

Please follow the links below to PDFs of the respective lectures:

Biblical and Classical Culture: The Historical and Theological Background of Christian Liturgy

The Text of the Mass: The Ordinary & Propers; Introduction to Gregorian Chant

Early Christian & Byzantine Art & Architecture