CLASS SET
Beowulf Reading Guide
CLASS SET. Answer in your journals.
Answer in complete sentences.
Page 24
Grendel Attacks the Danes
1. Though this poem was created over a thousand years ago, Beowulf is still one of the best-known
heroes in English literature. Why might people still want to read about a warrior created over a
millennium ago?
2. Name at least three examples of alliteration used on page 24 of your book.
3. Where does Grendel come from? In other words, in what kind of place does Grendel live?
4. Who is Hrothgar?
5. What is Herot?
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6. What major theme of Beowulf does the conflict between Grendel and the Danes symbolize?
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7. Why does Grendel not attack Hrothgar?
The Coming of Beowulf
8. Who is Healfdane’s son?
9. Who is Higlac’s follower?
10. How do lines 90-97 demonstrate Beowulf’s heroic qualities?
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11. What is the mood in lines 106-124? Which details and imagery support your answer?
12. How do the watchman’s words on lines 143-147 help to characterize Beowulf?
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13. Who was Beowulf’s father?
14. Lines 173-181: According to Beowulf, what are Hrothgar’s options?
15. What does the watchman promise to do for Beowulf and his men?
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16. What are Beowulf’s credentials as a warrior? In other words, what are some of the
accomplishments of which he boasts?
17. Many pagan religions offered no hope of redemption in an afterlife. Why might heroes like
Beowulf be driven to seek out fame and glory?
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18. Line 225-258: Beowulf makes a prediction based on prior events. What past events are
described? What does Beowulf predict will happen in the future?
19. How do lines 260-268 demonstrate Beowulf’s resignation to fate?
The Battle with Grendel
20. What provokes Grendel to even greater anger than before?
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21. What do lines 293-295 foreshadow?
22. Lines 317-319: What motivates Beowulf in his time of need?
CLASS SET
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23. Why does Hrothgar’s hall withstand the battle between Beowulf and Grendel?
24. Lines 353-356: What heroic traits do Beowulf’s followers show?
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25. Why are weapons incapable of harming Grendel?
26. Why does Beowulf hang Grendel’s arm in the rafters?
27. Norse berserkers were warriors who worked themselves into a frenzy before battle, scorned the
use of armor, and became heedless of any wounds they might receive. How does Beowulf share
some of the characteristics of a berserker?
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28. To where does Grendel flee before dying?
29. Summarize what happens after Beowulf’s triumph.
The Battle With Grendel’s Mother
30. What does Grendel’s mother do when she fails to tear through Beowulf’s armor?
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31. Lines 461-464: What qualities of Beowulf does this passage reveal?
32. What saves Beowulf from the dagger wielded by Grendel’s mother?
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33. What does Beowulf use to defeat Grendel’s mother?
34. What does Beowulf do to obtain his “final revenge” after defeating Grendel’s mother?
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35. What do the “graybeards” think happened to Beowulf?
36. Lines 531-533: What traits do Beowulf’s followers show here?
37. What happens to the blade of the sword? Why?
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38. In Greek and Roman epics, a triumphant hero is followed by a procession of chariots, wagons of
treasure, and many captives. In Beowulf, the triumphant hero is followed by the head of Grendel.
What does this tell you about the time period of Beowulf?
The Battle with the Dragon
39. What causes the dragon to awaken?
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40. To whom did the dragon’s treasure originally belong?
41. How does the warrior’s speech have an elegiac mood? In other words, how is it like an elegy?
(Hint if you’re confused: glossary page R5.)
42. What does the elegiac mood foreshadow about the upcoming conflict with the dragon?
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43. Lines 665-667: What is ironic about this sequence of events?
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44. Lines 707-711: What do these lines reveal about Beowulf as a leader of his people?
CLASS SET
45. What does Beowulf have forged in preparation for his battle with the dragon? Why?
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46. [starts on page 41] Why does Beowulf feel that he has “nothing to fear?”
47. What character trait might lead to Beowulf’s downfall?
48. Contrast how Hrothgar reacts to Grendel, to the way Beowulf reacts to the dragon. What does this
tell you about the difference between Hrothgar and Beowulf?
49. Lines 755-757: Is Beowulf being foolhardy or noble in deciding to fight alone? Explain.
50. “I feel no shame, with shield and sword and armor, against this monster…” Against Grendel,
Beowulf boasted he would win barehanded. Now, against the dragon, he needs sword, shield, and
armor. What does this tell you about the dragon compared to Grendel?
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51. Lines 796-798: What does this passage reveal about Beowulf?
52. How is the mood here different than with the battle with Grendel?
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53. Lines 822-824: How does this passage show the bond of kinship in Anglo-Saxon culture?
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54. Lines 848-850: Wiglaf has never seen combat, and yet he is the most loyal of Beowulf’s
followers. What does this tell you about Wiglaf’s character?
55. Lines 858-861: What does this passage reveal about the relationship between a chief and his
followers?
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56. Lines 884-885: How might Wiglaf’s actions affect the fight?
57. Lines 905-907: What is ironic about Beowulf’s strength?
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58. What wound ultimately leads to Beowulf’s end?
59. [starts on page 46] Why does Beowulf believe he has been a good king?
60. Lines 972-974: Why does the treasure mean so much to Beowulf?
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61. Lines 1026-1030: Why does Beowulf plan the tower so carefully? [Hint: why did he seek fame
and glory to begin with?]
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The Funeral Fire
62. Lines 1104-1108: What does the hero’s death mean for the future of his people? [Hint: Also look
back to lines 1036-1039]
63. Why do the Geats bury the treasure they had won from the dragon?
64. What is the mood in this final section?