“BEOWULF” Reading Questions
This will be taken up at the end of the Unit and counted as a TEST grade. Answers must be in complete sentences and need to be done on a separate sheet of paper!
1.
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The EPIC HERO is the central figure in a long narrative that reflects values and heroic deeds of a particular society. Name
three contemporary fictional heroes from novels, films, or even television. Then, pick one of them and briefly analyze him
or her using the following questions.
What sort of evil or oppression does he/she confront? Why does he/she do it? What it the motivation?
For whom does he/she do it? What virtues does he/she represent?
THE WRATH OF GRENDEL
Who is the translator of this text?
What language was it translated from?
What disturbs the monster living “down in the
darkness”?
5. Why is the subject of the songs ironic? What does this
juxtapose in terms of theme?
4. What does the word “laments” mean?
5. What is a mail shirt?
6. What is a reparation?
7. After a night of drinking mead, the warriors fall asleep. How
does the author use strong imagery to describe Grendel’s
attack on the hall?
8. In what ways does Herot Hall contrast where Grendel lives?
9. How does the world find out what is going on with the
Danes? How is this significant to how information was spread
during this time?
10. Strangely, what in Herot does not Grendel touch? What
does it symbolize?
11. What significance can you see in the fact that Grendel
attacks at night?
THE COMING OF BEOWULF
1. Why do the Geats urge Beowulf to undertake his adventure
to help Hrothgar? Why would this be positive for a tribe?
2. How many Geats accompany Beowulf?
3. Who greets the Geats when they land on Danish soil? Why is
there initial reaction not positive?
4. Beowulf’s father was named?
5. What adorns the top of the Geats’ helmets?
6. What are “mail shirts”?
7. Where do you see an example of boasting?
8. What are the Geats instructed not to bring with them?
9. What does Beowulf mean when he says, “Now Grendel and I
are called together, and I’ve come”?
10. What will Beowulf use to battle Grendel? What does this
symbolize, in regards to his role as an epic hero?
11. If Beowulf dies, what instructions does he want Hrothgar to
follow?
THE BATTLE WITH GRENDEL
Explain about Beowulf’s father and the kindness
Hrothgar showed to him. What does this reveal about
Anglo-Saxon loyalty?
2. Describe the mead hall. What imagery does the author
use to make the reader feel as if they are there?
3. If Beowulf is successful, how will Hrothgar reward him?
4. What is the point of the story being told in a way in which
the Geats fall asleep? Could there be a lesson here?
5. How many men does Grendel eat before he comes to
Beowulf’s bed?
6. In the end, what is Grendel’s one thought?
7. Grendel escapes. What does he leave behind in Herot?
8. What does Beowulf do with it?
9. What happens to Grendel?
THE LAST BATTLE
1. What details describe the dragon? What could this
symbolize?
2. What is especially ominous about Beowulf’s men’s reaction
in the final battle?
3. Describe the items Beowulf was carrying or wearing in
battle?
4. Who remained to help him? How is this significant?
5. This epic closes on a somber, elegiac note—a note of
mourning. What words of images contribute to this tone?
6. Name one famous movie or book scene that this battle
reminds you of. Come up with at least 3 similarities to write
about.
THE BATTLE WITH GRENDEL’S MOTHER
1. After killing Grendel, Beowulf is told about what? Why does
he decide to continue with this mission?
2. How long was Beowulf in the water before he saw the shewolf?
3. How long had she ruled the waters?
4. A hoarded treasure in Old English literature usually
symbolizes spiritual death or damnation. How does this fact
add significance to this fight?
5. What happens around Beowulf that does not allow him to be
injured? What bigger theme does this illustrate?
6. What does Beowulf use to finally kill her?
7. What does he decide to take with him? Why doesn’t he take
more?
8. How long did Beowulf rule Geatland?
THE SPOILS AND THE FAREWELL
1. Who does Beowulf thank for these items?
2. What does he give to Wiglaf? Why?
3. What happens to Beowulf’s body?
4. What does Beowulf ask the Geat’s to build before he dies?
5. What was the last line of the epic?
6. Epic poetry usually embodies the attitudes and ideals of an
entire culture. What values of Anglo-Saxon society does
Beowulf reveal?
7. What universal themes does it also reveal?
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4.
1.
KENNING FIND: Locate at least two examples of the following in Beowulf:
2 hyphenated compounds,
2 kennings written as prepositional phrases,
2 kennings written as possessives