Beowulf Test
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I. Moments of Significance to Know
(in chronological order)
The Dan Legends o Background info on Shield Sheafson, Beow, Hrothgar o Story of Shield Sheafson’s burial
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Hrothgar’s Mead-Hall- Heorot o Heorot is threatened
Grendel- descendant from Cain- what does this mean?
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Grendel’s rule
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King Hygelac’s warriors vow to sail to Daneland- Beowulf
Beowulf’s Boasts/ Arrival to Heorot o Which formalities are observed?
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Connection between Beowulf’s family and Hrothgar
Beowulf’s narcissism and pride
FATE- wyrd
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Who paid Comitatus for Beowulf’s father?
What does the Geat and Dane celebration look like?
Unfearth- an enemy at first
Swimming match against Breca- what was Beowulf able to do?
Wealhtheow- Hrothgar’s Queen
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Beowulf’s formal boast- what does he say?
Grendel attacks the Geats in Heorot o What is heard? o What is the outcome? o What weren’t the Danes successful?
Beowulf immediately becomes a legend to the scops
The tale of Sigemund the dragon-slayer o King Heremod compared to Beowulf
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Grendel’s mother and her lair
The Victory Feast- formalities- passing of the horn-cup
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Hrothgar’s gifts to Beowulf
The Dane and Frisian Tale o Story of Hildeburh and Finn o Lessons learned from poem?
symbolic seating at the Victory Feast
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Grendel’s mother’s attack o Lessons about revenge

The Mere o Aeschere’s Head o Hrunting lent by Unfearth- doesn’t work o The battle underwater o Beowulf finds a blade o The value of revenge o Decapitates Grendel- symbolism o Blade melts- why? o The gold hilt is displayed o Grendel’s head displayed
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Hrothgar’s advice to Beowulf o Comparison to Heremod o The fall-backs of power o Fragility of life- metaphor o Warnings about getting too comfortable
II. The Hero’s Journey
Identify:
THE ORDINARY WORLD
THE CALL TO ADVENTURE
REFUSAL
MEETING THE MENTOR
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
TESTS, ALLIES, ENEMIES
THE INMOST CAVE
THE ORDEAL
THE REWARD
III. Find multiple examples of the following terms within the text:
Alliteration and its effect
Kennings and their purpose
Caesuras and its effect

Anglo-Saxon specific terms:
Comitatus wergild wyrd mail-chain ring-giver scop