Rev Fall 2011
Name:___________________________ Hour:______
Beowulf Guided Reading/Analysis and Hero Cycle Analysis Study Guide
Prologue-Section 2 (pgs 3-8)
*1. Why does the Beowulf-poet open his poem by discussing an old king from the past? Hint: literary term
2. The opening lines of the text explain what makes a good king. What are the virtues of a good king according
to these lines? *How is this reflective of Germanic/Old English society?
*3. What gives rise to the heroic code of courage? Why are these people (more specifically, the men) willing to
die for honor and glory? What do they want for their effort?
*4. What is their view of life after death? See the description of Beowulf's funeral (this is Hrothgar's father, not
Beowulf who will appear later).
5. Describe Grendel. Why does he attack the mead hall? Is he an outcast? *Is he envious of the hearth
companions' camaraderie? Is he just doing his duty as the bad guy, the monster that heroes can kill to win fame
and glory?
6. Who is Grendel a descendent of? Where does this story come from?
*7. What is the narrator's opinion of Grendel? What is his opinion of the Danes who are fighting against
Grendel?
8. How long do the people Beowulf went to help suffer with a creature attacking them at night?
Section 3-7 (pgs 8-15)
9. OUR HERO Beowulf is the leader of what people?
10. Where does Beowulf travel to help a king?
11. Describe Beowulf's arrival at Heorot. How is he treated at the shore when his boat lands? *Why is he
treated this way?
12. This is a pretty rough world of warfare and blood feuds; how do the men manage to keep things civil?
13. How are these warriors attired? Describe their "war-gear."
*14. Why do these warriors wear such fancy things? What do these fancy things represent to them?
Rev Fall 2011
15. What boast and promise does Beowulf make? *Why does he make such a boast? Is humility (being humble)
a personality strength? What could this foreshadow?
16. Beowulf goes to help Hrothgar because:
Section 8-12 (pgs 15-23)
17. Unferth challenges Beowulf, what does he bring up against Beowulf? *Why does Beowulf tell the sea
monster story?
18. Beowulf takes a “treasure” from his battle with Grendel. What is this “treasure” and *how could you
compare what he does with it to modern society?
Section 13-18 (pgs 24-34)
19. Many of the treasures that were of even greater value to these people were called __________________.
Why are they so much more valuable?
20. What is the king’s wife’s name who asks Beowulf to watch over her sons? Who would her parallels be?
(Hint: What makes a good A-S woman?)
WATCH DVD (Chapters 3-5 = approx 30 min)
Section 19-23 (pgs 34-44)
21. Why does the SECOND creature attack the men in the first place? *Why does she not have her own name?
22. What is the name of the sword that is borrowed to Beowulf to fight the SECOND creature? *Why is it
named? What other story that we read in class does this make you think of?
23. Where does Beowulf fight the SECOND creature who attacks?
24. What treasures does Beowulf take from the SECOND creature’s lair?
Section 24-27 (pgs 44-51)
25. What is written on the hilt that Beowulf gives to Hrothgar?
26. Hrothgar tells Beowulf to “Shun _________, famous champion.” What does this mean, what could it
foreshadow?
27. Describe the celebration at Heorot after Beowulf defeats the second creature. What does Hrothgar warn
Beowulf about? What does he suggest Beowulf should concentrate on? Is this consistent with the heroic life, or
is it more compatible with a Christian world view?
Rev Fall 2011
Section 28-33 (pgs 52-62)
28. Beowulf re-tells the story of his adventure at Hrothgar's court. Why do you think the story is repeated this
way? Was this story originally written down or recited orally?
29. What theme is developed in the inserted story of the Hetho-bards? How does it relate to the story of
Beowulf? Remember what the role of the scop was in this heroic society.
30. How does Beowulf become king of his homeland? How long is he king?
31. What rouses Beowulf's last foe, the Dragon, from sleep? What is the Dragon guarding? How is the dragon
like the Anglo- Saxons?
Section 34-38 (pgs 63-73)
32. Describe the arming of Beowulf before he goes out to fight with the dragon. Why does the author do this?
33. Beowulf is no longer a young man, but he defends his people. How is he different from Hrothgar in this
regard? Lacking the physical strength of youth, what heroic virtue does Beowulf have in ample supply?
34. How many thanes accompany Beowulf to the Dragon's lair? How many stay with him to the end? Who
stays with Beowulf?
35. What is the name of Beowulf’s sword?
36. Who kills Beowulf? How does he die?
38. What does Beowulf request for his burial?
Sections 39-42 (pgs 73-81 = END)
37. What is Beowulf’s tragic flaw? Where was this foreshadowed?
*41. What is going to happen after Beowulf’s death? What does the narrator fear now that Beowulf is gone?
39. What is a pyre? What other stories has this been mentioned in- in the book and in class?
40. What is an elegy?
*42. Does the text imply that this is the end of an era, a heroic age? Why?
Rev Fall 2011
43-50. Literary Analysis Essay: Beowulf is considered a hero. How can you prove this?
Step
Pg # Direct Quote “in quotations”
Birth
Call
Threshold
Helpers
Challenges
Transformation
Treasure
Return
Huh? = Detailed questions that you write down to bring for class discussion about things you do not get.
Light Bulb = The answer from class discussion
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?
Huh?