Beowulf
Study Guide 4 of 4
Lines 2143 - 2416
1. Beowulf gives the treasures from Hrothgar to Hygelac. Why do you suppose he
does this?
2. Throughout the recounting of his adventures, Beowulf says little in praise of
Hrothgar or his warm feelings towards the King. Beowulf also says to Hygelac,
his uncle, “I have few kinsmen / who are close, my king, except your kind self”
(2150-2151). Why do you suppose Beowulf is so prudent?
3. The narrator then tells us that in giving Hygelac all these gifts, Beowulf did what
a relative and subject must do, “So ought a kinsman act, / instead of plotting and
planning in secret / to bring people to grief, or conspiring to arrange / the death of
comrades” (2166 - 2169) Earlier in this tale, where did we hear of treachery
among comrades?
4. The narrator then praises how Beowulf honorably lives the rest of his life. Why
does the narrator’s description surprise the modern reader? That is, how does the
scop’s version of “honorably” compare to our own?
5. Beowulf, we are told, becomes King and rules the Geats without problems for 50
years. What rouses the sleeping dragon?
6. What is the origin of the treasure, and what does the incident say of earthly
pleasures and goods?
7. In what way in the dragon like Grendel?
Lines 2417 - 2630
1. At the outset, we are told that Beowulf will not survive the encounter with the
dragon. Why do you suppose the narrator wishes to let us know that fact?
2. Led by the thief who stole the goblet, the army arrives at the cave. What happens
then?
3. What familiar motif is repeated in this section?
4. Beowulf wounds the dragon, but the fighting is going badly for him. What
happens to his band of warriors?
Lines 2631 -2693
1. Of all the comrades that run off, one, Wiglaf, turns to the others and exhorts them
to go with him to Beowulf’s aid; they refuse. What causes Wiglaf to go back?
2. How does Beowulf, who has always fought monsters by himself, respond to
Wiglaf’s suggestion that he needs help?
3. What happens next to Beowulf?
Lines 2694 - 2808
1. Wiglaf risks his life to strike and weaken the dragon. Beowulf then is able to
deliver the blow to the dragon that kills it. What, then, is suggested by the
following: “They had killed the enemy, courage quelled his life; / that pair of
kinsmen, partners in nobility, / had destroyed the foe. So every man should act, /
be at hand when needed” (2706 - 2709).
2. Beowulf, knowing that he is mortally wounded, says that at this point he would
give his armor to his son if he had one. A bit later, he does give his armor to
Wiglaf. Why does this come as no surprise?
3. What does the dying Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do that echoes the theme of conflicts
between material and spiritual values?
Lines 2809 - 3075
1. DespiteWiglaf’s effort to restore Beowulf, the king dies. Wiglaf cannot alter
God’s will. What theme is demonstrated here?
2. When the ten cowards come out of hiding, Wiglaf berates them for the lack of
loyalty to their lord and their cowardice. What does he predict for the Geats?
3. Wiglaf sends word of Beowulf’s death back to the people, and he also has the
messenger repeat his prediction. The messenger also relates why the Franks,
Frisians, and Swedes all will happily attack the Geats. What, at this point, are
your thoughts on the constant warfare that goes on in this culture? What do you
suppose is the poet’s attitude on this same point?
Lines 3076 - end
1. Wiglaf says that they tried to tell Beowulf not to go to the cave and confront the
dragon, but he went anyway. Wiglaf then says that the treasure was grimly won.
What does that suggest about Beowulf’s motives in going to the cave?
2. If Beowulf’s motivation is less than noble, does that make him any less a hero?
3. What indication is there that the author believes that the accumulation of wealth is
useless?