English Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

Beowulf is considered to be one of the oldest extant works of literature in the English language. It is an Old English epic poem that dates back to the 8th or 9th century. Option A English is incorrect because the poem predates the standardization of the English language. Option B: French is incorrect because this poem is believed to have been composed in England, not France. Option C: Irish Gaelic is incorrect because while Ireland's Ancient Gaelic literature is rich, Beowulf is not part of that tradition. It is a Scandinavian style epic.