Beowulf Study Guide
“The Coming of Grendel”
1. What reference from the Bible is
being made in the opening lines of the
Beowulf? The Creation
2. King Hrothgar’s men lived happy
in what hall and until who came?
Herot Hall; Grendel
3. Grendel is said to be a descendant
from which Biblical character?
Probably why? Cain – He killed his
brother Abel; they are both evil
4. “Wondering what the warriors
would do” contains what kind of
literary element? Alliteration
5. How many men (Danes) did the
monster kill at one fell swoop? 30
What were the men doing in the hall
at the time of their deaths? Sleeping
6. Herot Hall stood empty for how
many years? 12 years
7. “Mankind’s enemy” is a kenning
that renames whom? Grendel
8. Why did Grendel never try
attacking King Hrothgar? His throne
was protected by God.
9. When Hrothgar’s men didn’t get
immediate help from God, to whom
did they turn? Old stone gods
“The Coming of Beowulf”
1. Beowulf is allowed to go to
Denmark and fight Grendel, because
the wise ones checked what pagan
characteristic? Omens (p.15)
2. Beowulf chose how many of the
mightiest Geats to go with him? 14 (p.
16)
3. When Beowulf tells the watchman
he has come to rid his country of a
strange and vicious creature, he is
referring to whom? Grendel
4. Beowulf visits King Hrothgar
inside Herot Hall. Why is he able to do
this, even though Grendel continues
attacking it? He only comes at night.
5. Why does Beowulf ask permission
from King Hrothgar to fight Grendel
for the Danes? He follows protocol and
doesn’t want to embarrass or upstage
Hrothgar by rudely butting in the
business of the Danes. He has respect
for the king.
6. Beowulf refers to Hrothgar as “O
shelterer of warriors and your
people’s loved friend.” What do we
call this type of literary element?
Kenning
7. How many giants did Beowulf say
he drove into chains? Five (p. 18)
8. Beowulf tells Hrothgar he will fight
Grendel without using what? Weapons
Why not? They won’t work on Grendel
9. Why does Beowulf tell Hrothgar
not to prepare a funeral for him if
Grendel kills him? Grendel will tear
him to scraps. There will be no body
to bury.
“Unferth’s Taunt”
1. How does Unferth taunt Beowulf?
He says Beowulf lost a swimming
match to Brecca when they were
young.
2. What became of Brecca? He
became King of the Brondings.
3. Beowulf says, “Ah! Unferth, my
friend, your face is hot with ale.” What
does that mean. Unferth is drunk and
mouthing off to Beowulf.
4. What does Beowulf say about the
swimming match with Brecca?
Beowulf swam behind Brecca, because
I was the stronger swimmer. They
became separated by a flood.
5. What saved Beowulf from the sea
creatures tearing at him? His chain
mail.
6. How many sea-huge monsters did
Beowulf kill? Nine
7. What terrible crime did Beowulf
say Unferth committed? He murdered
his brothers.
8. Beowulf told Unferth that if he
were so great then who wouldn’t be
terrorizing Herot Hall? Grendel
9. How did King Hrothgar react to
Beowulf’s saying that the Danes
couldn’t rid Herot Hall of Grendel? He
was glad Beowulf was there to do it
for them, because the Danes couldn’t
defeat Grendel.
“The Battle with Grendel”
1. How many Geats did Grendel kill?
One (p. 23)
2. What did Grendel realize about the
second man he grabbed to kill? It was
Beowulf. He had never fought a man
as tough as Beowulf. He has met his
match. He wanted to run away.
3. “That shepherd of evil, guardian of
crime” refers to whom? Grendel What
do we call this literary device? (Hintit’s the same answer as the previous
#6) Kenning
4. What did Grendel want to do
shortly after he grabbed Beowulf? Run
5. Hrothgar built Herot Hall to stand
forever. He thought only what could
destroy it? Fire
6. Who is being referred to as “that
mighty protector of men”? Beowulf
What literary element is this called?
Kenning
7. Why couldn’t weapons hurt
Grendel? Grendel bewitched or put a
spell on them.
8. What body part or parts did
Beowulf manage to rip from Grendel?
Arm, claw, shoulder and all.
9. What did Beowulf do with the
body part or parts? He hung them
from the rafters of Herot Hall. Why
would he do this? As a trophy
10. Where did the mortally wounded
Grendel go when he left Herot Hall? To
his den or home. What eventually
happened to him there? He died there.
Big Questions
Isolation is a motif in Beowulf’s fight with
Grendel. How does isolation play such an
important role in the story? Grendel
shuns society and is distraught and angry
when others gather and socialize. His
isolation and his intentions to kill anyone
who does, emphasizes his evil nature and
his inability to love one another.
Why does goodness triumph over evil?
The story is said to have originated
around 800 A.D. Christianity has entered
the lives of many people by this time.
Because God is considered good and the
pagan Grendel is evil, the good and
Christian Beowulf defeats the fiendish
Grendel. Goodness prevails over evil.