Beowulf Review Sheet
Identifications
 Hrunting
 Shild
 Epic
 Welthow
 Herot
 Kenning
 Esher
 Unferth
 Alliteration
 Cain
 Geatland
 Hrothgar
 Grendel
 Hero’s Transformation
Quote Identification
1) Let your sorrow end! It is better for us all to
avenge our friends, not mourn them forever, each
of us will come to the end of this life on earth; he
who can earn it should fight for the glory of his
name; fame after death is the noblest of goals.
2) The beast went back to its treasure, planning a
bloody revenge, and found what was missing,
saw what thieving hands had stolen. Then it
crouched on the stones, counting off the hours
till the Almighty’s candle went out and evening
came, and wild with anger it could fly burning
across the land, killing……
3) But she rose at once and repaid him with her
clutching claws, wildly tearing at him. He was
weary, that best and strongest of soldiers; his feet
stumbled and in an instant she had him down,
held helpless. Squatting with her weight on his
stomach, she drew a dagger, brown with dried
blood, and prepared to avenge her only son
4) That I, alone and with the help of my men, may
purge all evil from this hall. I have heard, too,
that the monster’s scorn of men is so great that
he needs no weapons and fears no one. Nor
will I. My lord Higlac, might think less of me if I
let my sword go where my feet were afraid to,
if I hid behind some broad linden shield: my
hands alone shall fight for me, struggle for life
against the monster. God must decide who
will be given to death’s cold grip.
5) With God’s good grace he helped himself, swung
his sword alone, won his own revenge. The help I
gave him was nothing, but all I was able to give; I
went to him, knowing that nothing but Beowulf’s
strength could save us, and my sword was lucky,
found some vital place and bled the burning
flames away. Too few of his warriors remembered
to come, when our lord faced death, alone.
6) He journeyed, forever joyless, straight to the
door, then snapped it open, tore its iron
fasteners with a touch and rushed angrily over
the threshold. He strode quickly across the
inlaid floor, snarling and fierce: his eyes
gleamed in the darkness, burned with a
gruesome light. Then he stopped, seeing hall
crowded with sleeping warriors, stuffed with
rows of young soldiers resting together. And
his heart laughed, he relished the sight.
7) (this person’s) hair wound tight and gray on her
head, groaned a song of misery, of infinite
sadness and days of mourning, of fear and sorrow
to come, slaughter and terror and captivity.
8) The prince took it, thanked him, and declared
the weapon one he was proud to own; his
words blamed it for nothing, were spoken like
the hero he was!
Essays
1. Many people think that Beowulf develops themes that apply to life today. Write an
essay in which you explain why you agree or disagree. Respond to these questions:
What are some of the themes in Beowulf? Can you see ways in which these themes
might be important to you? Why or why not?
2. The hero of an epic poem normally embodies the ideals of conduct that are most
valued by the culture in which the epic was composed. Write an essay in which you
show how Beowulf embodies the ideals of conduct in the Anglo-Saxon culture. You
should mention at least four of Beowulf’s virtues. For each one, cite the part or parts
of the epic where the virtue is displayed.
3. Explore the function of Beowulf’s boasting in the story. What purpose does it serve
early in the story? How does it change by the end?
4. Explore the potential for evil in human nature as developed in the characterization of
Grendel (and his motivation). How can his story be a metaphor for what the human
experience could be? How does his background affect him? What message or
warning may the Anglo-Saxons have been sending out about human existence?
5. Compare and contrast Beowulf and Grendel. How are they similar? What similarities
are suggested in the story? What significant characteristics differentiate them? What
makes them good enemies?
6. Compare and contrast Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the Dragon. How are they
similar and how are they different? Also describe how Beowulf’s fight against each of
them was different.
Key Themes
Fate
Gift giving
Greed
hospitality
Loyalty
Leadership
Modesty
Cowardice
Remembrance
Faith
English IV
Name ______________________
Beowulf Unit Test
Block-Period ____________
Part I – Identifications
Item/Word
1.
Explanation
2.
3.
4.
5.
Part II – Multiple Choice
1. _____
6. _____
11. _____
2. _____
7. _____
12. _____
3. _____
8. _____
13. _____
4. _____
9. _____
14. _____
5. _____
10. _____
15. _____
Part III – Quote Identification (***remember that the “speaker” could be the narrator***)
Quote # ________
Who is the speaker of the quote? Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Quote # ________
Who is the speaker of the quote?
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Quote # ________
Who is the speaker of the quote?
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Quote # ________
Who is the speaker of the quote?
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Quote # ________
Who is the speaker of the quote?
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
English IV – Biber
Beowulf Unit Test ANSWER KEY
Name ______________________
Period ____________
Part I – Identifications
Item/Word
Hrunting
Shild
Welthow
Herot
Esher
Unferth
Cain
Hrothgar
Geatland
Grendel
Explanation
Sword that Unferth gives to Beowulf when he goes to fight
Grendel’s mother
An orphan who changed his fate and became a great king
Hrothgar’s wife
Mead-hall build by Hrothgar to celebrate past victories
Hrothgar’s best friend, beheaded by Grendel’s mom, head left on
cliff by the lake
Danish soldier who tries to belittle Beowulf by telling of his lost
swimming match with Brecca; later they become friends.
Killed his brother – ancestor of Grendel
King of Denmark, kind, well-liked
Beowulf’s homeland
Monster who kills Danes, doesn’t like their singing and merrymaking
Part II – Multiple Choice
1. ____C_
6. _A____
11. __D___
2. ____B_
7. ___C__
12. ___A__
3. ____A_
8. _A____
13. ___C__
4. _____D
9. __C___
14. __C___
5. _____B
10. ___B__
15. ___B__
Part III – Quote Identification (***remember that the “speaker” could be the narrator***)
Quote # ___1_____ Who is the speaker of the quote? Who is the speaker talking to or
Beowulf
about?
Hrothgar
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Beowulf wants the Danes to get ready for revenge on Grendel’s mother,
Quote # __2______
Who is the speaker of the quote?
narrator
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
Dragon
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Dragon discovers someone has stolen from him and plans his revenge
Quote # _3_______
Who is the speaker of the quote?
Narrator
Who is the speaker talking to or
about? Grendel’s mother and
Beowulf
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Grendel’s mom almost winning the fight with Beowulf
Quote # ______4__
Who is the speaker of the quote?
Beowulf
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
Hrothgar about fighting Grendel
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Beowulf boasting of his strength, he will fight Grendel with bare hands.
Quote # __5______
Who is the speaker of the quote?
Wiglaf
Quote # __6______
Who is the speaker of the quote?
narrator
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
The Geat soldiers who left Beo’s
side
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Wiglaf re-telling the fight with the dragon and scorning the traitors
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
Grendel
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Tells of Grendel’s first attack
Quote # ___7____
Who is the speaker of the quote?
narrator
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
Gnarled old woman at end of story
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
She fortells their future when all will be gone
Quote # _____8___
Who is the speaker of the quote?
narrator
Who is the speaker talking to or
about?
Beo and Unferth
What do the lines mean? What is important about the lines?
Beo accepts Unferth’s sword – they make up