BEOWULF—STUDY GUIDE
Vocabulary:
sheaf
blaze
tributes
banquet
fen
slaughterhouse
despair
culprit
revenge
avenge
vengeance
mortal
fiend
abandoned
hideous
malicious
overcome
boil
contrary
staphylococcal
wound
astonished
rafters
exploit
cunning
prosperity
slay
long (for)
wits
boast
enormous
hoard
sacrifice
hive
den
quench
stake
vile
hilt
fame
fierce
plunder
ambush
counterattack
outnumbered
In your vocabulary journals write the following:
1.
2.
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4.
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6.
7.
Word
Part of speech
Dictionary definition
Page # where the word is found
Copy the sentence where the word can be found
Definition in your own words
Sentence
EXAMPLE:
From the dictionary:
Banquet (noun) 1. an elaborate and formal evening meal for many people, often
followed by speeches 2. an elaborate and extensive meal; a feast
From the book:
“And he sent out messengers inviting the most noble lords in the land to come to a
banquet to celebrate the opening of Heorot’s doors.” (Page 6)
My definition & sentence:
A banquet is a formal dinner where people usually dress up and are served fancy meals.
They may also listen to guest speakers.
During my senior year in high school I attended an awards banquet where guest speakers
came to announce scholarships.
Study questions:
A Ship Without a Sail
1. What is the setting of the story?
2. Who did the people think the child was and why was he there?
3. Who is Odin?
4. What did the people name the child?
5. Describe Scyld Scefing:
6. Describe Scyld Scefing’s funeral:
7. Why was this chapter called “A Ship Without a Sail”?
A Hall Full of Blood
1. Describe Hrothgar:
2. What did Hrothgar dream about and decide to build?
What did he call it?
3. How long did it take to build the hall?
4. What is the name of the most evil think in the fen?
Write a description of the animal:
5. What was Hrothgar’s second dream?
6. What happened to the king’s thirty body guards?
Ten Against Grendel
1. Describe Unferth:
2. From your description, can you tell he:
a. Is well-liked by all his peers
b. Is probably Grendel
c. Is not liked by his people
3. What did Unferth predict?
4. What does Unferth think happened to Hrothgar’s guards?
5. What do people say about Grendel?
6. Unferth is convinced Grendel caused the horrible deaths in the hall. King
Hrothgar believes Unferth is serious. What does King Hrothgar say to support
Unferth? What does he mean?
7. What is King Hrothgar’s plan to stop Grendel from killing again?
8. To whom did Unferth secretly toast? And what does this tell you about Unferth?
9. What happened to King Hrothgar’s nine brave men?
10. Tell how King Hrothgar’s life was saved:
Beowulf
1. Who is Hygelac?
2. Describe Beowulf:
3. What was Beowulf’s one weakness?
How did he make his weakness become a strength?
4. What was Beowulf’s greatest strength?
5. What did Beowulf decide to do?
Who will go with him?
What does he know about Grendel?
6. King Hrothgar’s coastguard told Beowulf’s men “You can’t win.” Beowulf’s
men muttered angrily amongst themselves. They found the coastguard’s words
insulting. Why did Beowulf’s men think the coastguard was being insulting?
7. Write a simile on page 27 that describes Beowulf:
Tell what a simile means:
8. What did Beowulf do with his sword? Why do you think he did that?
Nine Sea-Monsters
1. Why does Hrothgar want Beowulf to go home?
2. What does Unferth say was wrong with the apples?
3. What are Beowulf’s two weaknesses?
4. What does Queen Wealhtheow think will happen when a person admits their
weaknesses?
5. What was Beowulf trying to prove with the apple?
a. The apples are bad magic and will kill you.
b. Unferth is a liar and is trying to save Beowulf’s life.
c. Even the most evil has some good in it, you must look for it.
6. What story did Unferth tell to try to discredit Beowulf (make him look bad)?
How was Beowulf able to redeem himself (make himself look good)?
7. What is Beowulf’s plan against Grendel? What are his weapons?
Beowulf Against Grendel
1. Compare Unferth’s behavior to Beowulf’s as they waited for Grendel to appear:
2. “He had stopped drinking. He was afraid, but his fear fascinated him. His
bladder ached; he wanted to make water; but he did not dare go out in the night to
do so.” (p. 37) What does it mean to make water?
3. Unferth’s blood ran cold. He cowered into the shadow. He felt his own water
leaking down his leg, sore and warm and sticky. What is happening in this scene?
What does it mean when his blood ran cold?
4. Describe Grendel:
5. What happened to Grendel when Beowulf touched him?
6. What does light symbolize in the fight between Beowulf and Grendel?
7. Write an example of another time Grendel had felt this light (or love):
8. Who won the battle between Beowulf and Grendel? How do you know?
Celebrations
1. What did Beowulf do with Grendel’s arm?
2. What did Unferth do that astonished the Geats?
3. Why do you think Unferth thought Grendel was beautiful?
4. What did the people do to celebrate Beowulf’s victory?
How long did they celebrate?
5. What gifts did King Hrothgar and Queen Wealhtheow give to Beowulf?
6. Who did not join the celebration? Why?
What does he want instead? Why do you think he wants this?
7. Summarize the story of Sigemund and Fitela:
Why do you think this story was important to the Danes?
a. They thought giants were the strongest and most important warriors
b. They thought every warrior had an important skill, it didn’t matter how
big or small the warrior was.
c. They thought the only way to beat a monster was with teamwork.
8. Who is the one person who did not fall asleep?
9. What do black thoughts symbolize?
Revenge
1. Describe what was coming out of the fen:
Who was it?
2. What is it that Unferth longs for?
3. Is Unferth a part of the light or the dark? Explain.
4. What happened when she saw Unferth?
5. What three things happened when she was in the Hall?
6. Who does Wealhtheow think the monster is?
Into the Fen
1. Write a description of the Fen:
2. What was Beowulf’s preferred weapon against Grendel, and now his mother?
3. What was Wealhtheow’s warning to Beowulf?
4. What happened to Unferth?
5. What was Beowulf’s last order before he jumped into the pool?
Beowulf Against Grendel’s Mother
1. How did Beowulf breath under water?
2. How did Grendel’s mother capture Beowulf?
3. How did Beowulf save himself?
4. Where does Grendel’s mother live?
5. Who is Cain?
6. When is a man truly good?
7. How did Beowulf kill Grendel’s mother?
Grendel’s Head
1. What happened when Beowulf touched the giant sword?
2. How did Beowulf kill Grendel (again)?
3. What happened to the sword?
4. What did the Geats do with Grendel’s head?
5. What was Beowulf’s one injury? How did he get injured?
Beowulf Goes Home
1. How did Beowulf get rid of his toothache?
2. What did King Hrothgar give Beowulf as payment for his deeds?
3. Why did King Hrothgar wish Beowulf’s ship to be attended by white birds?
4. Why would Beowulf not mind if his ship were attended by black birds?
5. Explain why Beowulf decided not to use his sword in the battle against Grendel:
6. What color birds followed them home?
King Beowulf
1. What did Beowulf do with the treasure he had won?
2. What did King Hygelac give Beowulf for his loyalty?
3. What was Beowulf’s hobby during peaceful times? Why is this an unusual thing
for Beowulf to do?
4. Who becomes king after King Hygelac’s death? How old was he?
5. Explain how King Hardred was killed.
6. Who was able to escape?
7. Why do you think King Onela was reluctant to meet Beowulf fact to face in
mortal combat?
8. Who became king after King Hardred’s death?
The Firedrake
1. Explain how Beowulf avenged King Hardred’s death.
2. How long did Beowulf keep peace in the land? Describe Beowulf.
3. Who was the one person in Greatland who was not happy? Why?
4. Why did the slave risk taking some of the treasure?
5. What happened after the slave took the treasure?
6. Why do you think the slave put his head in water?
Beowulf Against the Firedrake
1. What is a firedrake?
2. What did the dragon do to show his anger?
3. What does it mean…”No, let him eat honey.”
4. What weapon will Beowulf use against the dragon?
5. What was Wiglaf carrying?
6. what was the story of Sigemund and Fitela? (from chapter 7)
7. What is Beowulf’s plan to rebuild the burned farms?
Bees
1. Describe Wiglaf as he entered the cave.
2. What was he carrying?
3. What happened each time Wiglaf passed a bee hive?
4. What did Wiglaf do with the large stake?
5. What was inside the large glove?
6. Where did Wiglaf throw the glove?
7. Explain how Beowulf beat the dragon.
8. Why didn’t Beowulf want anyone to know about the bees?
9. Who became king after Beowulf died?