Beowulf Documentary Questions
Answer the questions below as you watch the documentary. You should answer them on
this sheet of paper so that you may study from it later. Circle the true/false answer. For
the fill in the blanks, if there is one line the answer is one word. (The length of the line
does not indicate the length of the word)
Fact Questions:
1. Beowulf is the oldest story in the English language. (TRUE
FALSE)
2. Beowulf’s heroic actions are compared to the heroes of ______________
mythology.
3. The myth of Beowulf tells the story of the clash between ______________ and
________________.
4. Beowulf is fiction inspired by fact. (TRUE
FALSE)
5. The author of Beowulf is ______________________.
6. At the time of the writing of Beowulf, ____________________ had just taken
hold in Anglo-Saxon England.
7. There are many Christian symbols in Beowulf. (TRUE
FALSE)
8. Grendel is descended from the world’s first ___________________.
9. Grendel is _______________________ of the joy, merriment and parties going
on in the mead hall.
10. Grendel cannot harm the Danish ___________________.
11. Beowulf is from ________________________.
12. Beowulf is primarily seeking ______________________ or status.
13. The ____________________ _____________________ __________________ at
Sutton Hoo revealed dismembered bodies that indicated a violent attack.
14. In Ancient Norse world, the person who was to buried was put on a
_______________________ along with his valuables and then it was all
______________________.
Reflection Questions: (Answer these on the back of this sheet; at least 2 sentences for
each answer! We want you to THINK about these! You will have to infer the answers,
they are not answered directly in the movie!)
1. How is “fiction based on fact” different than a true story?
2. Does it matter that we do not know who wrote Beowulf? Explain.