Beowulf Study Questions
Write your answers in complete sentences on your own paper.
1. Why is the boast important in Anglo Saxon Literature (esp in Beowulf)? (Historical
Lens)
2. Why is Shild’s prowess described? (Historical Lens)
3. Lines 26-52 describe King Shild’s final days, his funeral, and the afterlife. Lines 168188 Speak of the reason Grendel would not attack Hrothgar. How is the description
inconsistent? (Deconstruction Lens) What does this inconsistency signify?
5. Which characteristic was most important for an Anglo-Saxon king to possess?
(Historical Lens)
6. What do lines 287-293 mean to you? (Reader Response)
7. What is significant about lines 331, and 415-455? (Formalism Lens)
8. Why does Unferth point out Beowulf’s swimming match with Brecca in section 8?
What is Beowulf’s reply to Unferth? (530-587) (Formalism)
9. Line 597, What reason does Beowulf give for Grendel’s repeated attacks?
(Formalism)
10. Why does Queen Welthow share drink from her cup with Beowulf and his warriors?
(Line 626) (Feminist Lens)
11. What is unusual about Beowulf’s preparation to fight Grendel? (Psychological Lens)
12. Why did Beowulf’s soldiers sleep while they were waiting for Grendel to attack?
(700-709) Why does Beowulf allow the first Geat soldier to be eaten? (Psychological
Lens)
13. Why couldn’t the men’s swords hurt Grendel? (Formalism)
14. How did Beowulf kill Grendel? (Formalism)
15. How do the readers know that Grendel is actually dead? (page 35) (Formalism)
16. What do these lines tell us about the method of information spreading? (Line 865874) (Cultural/Historical Lens)
17. Why was Beowulf compared to Siegmund? (Cultural/Historical Lens)
18. Who was the best according to the poet? (Biographical Lens)
19. Why did Grendel lose his arm to Beowulf? (965-980) What happened to Grendel’s
arm? (983-986) (Formalism, Cultural, Marxist)
20. What were some of the treasures won by Beowulf? (1025-1060) (Historical, Marxist)
21. Why does the poet tell the story of Finn and Hnaf? (1068-1154) (Biographical,
Marxist)
22. Why do the people still trust Unferth? (1166) (Cultural/Historical)
23. How must soldiers live? (1250) (Psychological, Cultural/Historical)
24. What was the price paid for sleeping after the banquet held in celebration after
Grendel's death? (Formalism)
25. According to the poetry, a mother’s fierceness is no match for any man’s strength
(1282-1283) Then in lines 1298-1299, the poet says no Geat could have stopped her
from killing a “glorious soldier.” What does this say about the poet, the society, and the
Geats? (Biographical, Historical, Formalism)
26. Why wasn’t Beowulf the savior this time? (1295-1315) (Psychological, Historical)
27. Why do you think Beowulf seeks out Grendel's mother instead of waiting for the next
attack? (Psychological)
28. Where does he seek her? (Mythological)
29. Why did Beowulf kill an ocean serpent (wave roamer)? (Psychological, Mythological,
Historical)
30. What is an Epithet? (Formalism)
31. What was the name of Unferth’s sword?(1457) (historical, psychological)
32. What type of literary device is “Beowulf and fear were strangers” (1471)?
(Formalism)
33. Beowulf makes a will before he dives in the water to fight. What is significant
about... (Psychological)
1. The things he thinks are most important?
2. The people he chose to leave them to?
3. The fact that he makes a will at all?
34. Lines 1492-1622 describe the fight between Grendel’s mother and Beowulf. Who
won? How? What is symbolic about Unferth’s sword being so inneffective against
Grendel’s Mother? (Formalism)
35. What did Beowulf take from Grendel’s mother as proof of his victory? (Semiotics)
36. Lines 1700-1761. King Hrothgar is giving Beowulf advice on how to be a good king
and seeking fame. First he says one thing, then another which contradicts the first.
What is the contradiction and why does this happen multiple places in the story?
(Deconstruction)
37. Why did Unferth give Beowulf a gift and what does it symbolize? (Formalism)
38. In lines 1888-1962, the author tells a story of a woman. Who was she and why was
she important to the culture and the poet? (Feminist, Historical)
39. Lines 2019-2069 describe weddings and wars. Why does the poet include this
information? (Cultural/Historical, Feminist)
40. Lines 2155-2163 describe the suit of armor given to Higlac from Hrothgar. At one
point the poet explains who owned the armor and who should have owned it. What does
this indicate about Hergar? (Formalism)
41. 2183-2189 describes how Beowulf was seen as a young man and how he is seen
after his exploits with King Hrothgar. How is this significant? (Formalism)
42. What was the significance of Beowulf and King Higlac’s relationship?
(Psychological)
43. How did Herdred die? (Historicism, Formalism)
44. Why did the dragon awaken in Geatland? (Cultural/Historical)
45. In Lines 2246-2277, which culture’s ideas are represented in the reasons given for
abandoning the treasure? (Cultural/Historical)
46. “the cup brought peace to a slave, pleased his master, but stirred a dragon’s
anger...” (2285-2309). What do these lines tell the reader about the Anglo-Saxon and
Christian culture during the time period in which the book was written. What do they tell
you about the poet? (Historical, Biographical)
47. Why does the poet choose to tell how Beowulf became the king of Geatland? What
does it prove? (2349-2390) (Psychological, Historical)
48. Higlac’s widow offered the crown to Beowulf instead of her own son, Herdred.
Why? What does this say about the widow, Herdred, Beowulf, and Anglo Saxon ideas?
(2369-2374) (Feminist, Historical)
49. Beowulf’s response to the offer to be king reveals a deeper understanding of his
character. How does his response reveal his culture’s beliefs? (Historical)
50. How did Herdred die? (2380-2390) (Formalism)
51. How do Beowulf’s actions when he first becomes king reveal his cultural norms?
(Marxist, Historical)
52. Why would King Hrethel take Beowulf from his family when Beowulf was only 7
years old? (2427-2433)(Historical)
53.How does the story of Herbald and Hathcyn reveal the cultural values of the AngloSaxons? (HIstorical)
54. The poet speaks about the “childless father” (2444-2459). What universal feeling is
revealed in the text? (Mythological/Archetypal)
55. How did Beowulf die? What is significant about the way he dies and the way he is
buried? (Cultural/Historical)
56. Lines 2845-2891 discuss cowardice. Why is this included in this section of the
poem?
57. Why are the Geats afraid after Beowulf’s death?
58. What happened to Beowulf’s body? Why is this significant?
Beowulf Assignments:
POSTER: Group project, Describe the ideal Anglo-saxon Hero King using text support
from BEOWULF and other sources. Be creative.
ESSAY: Individual project, Write a comparison/contrast essay in which you compare
BEOWULF to the modern idea of a hero. You need to use another story of your choice
from the Literature book in order to accomplish this.
BOAST: During the Anglo-Saxon period, boasting was not only acceptable, it was
expected. You wil write a boast about yourself. Use Beowulf’s example, and remember
the Anglo-Saxon values when you are writing. These will be read aloud in class.