Beowulf Study Questions Part 3
1. What other adventures does Beowulf have after killing Grendel’s Mother?
2. Why does the author choose to tell how Beowulf became the king of Geatland? What does it
prove? (2349-2390)
3. 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 and ideas? (2369-2374)
4. Beowulf’s response to this offer tells something more about Beowulf. What does it prove
about him? (2375-2379)
5. How did Herdred die? (2380-2390)
6. As his first act as the King of Geatland, what did Beowulf do? (2391-2396) What does this
indicate about Anglo Saxon Culture?
7. Why would King Hrethel take Beowulf from his family when Beowulf was only 7 years old?
(2427-2433)
8. What happened to Herbald (eldest son of King Hrethel)?
9. What happened to Hathcyn (youngest son of King Hrethel)?
10. The story talks about “the childless father“ (2444-2459). What does this section reveal about
Anglo Saxon culture?
11.Who kills the dragon?
12. How did Beowulf die?
13. What did Wiglaf bring Beowulf on his death bed? (2784-2785)
14. What did Beowulf ask Wiglaf for when he was about to die? (2801-2804) Why is this
significant?
15. What did Beowulf give Wiglaf? (2809-13)
16. Wiglaf calls Beowulf’s soldiers cowards. Why? What does this discussion reveal about
Anglo Saxon Culture? (2845-2891)
17.What is the Geats’ expected fate after the Franks and the Swedes learn of Beowulf’s death?
Why? (2910-)
18. What happened to the dragon’s body? Beowulf’s body? The treasure? (chapters 42 and 43)