Beowulf Study Questions
1.
“Beowulf is to England what Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey are to ancient Greece: It is the first great
work of the _________ national literature . . . .”
2.
What story is the scop singing about in Herot Hall that angers Grendel?
3.
Why is Grendel’s lineage given? Who is his famous descendant?
4.
What physical description is given for Grendel?
5.
How many men does Grendel kill the first night? What does this say about his physical strength?
6.
Why did Herot lay empty for 12 years?
7.
Why hasn’t Hrothgar rid Herot of Grendel?
8.
What does Grendel dare not touch in Herot Hall? What is the implication of this?
9.
What is Beowulf’s reputation? Beowulf’s king, is _________, King of the Geats.
10.
Why does Beowulf come to Denmark? How many men does he bring with him?
11.
Who greets Beowulf in Denmark?
12.
What is Beowulf’s boast to Hrothgar and the Danes?
13.
How does Hrothgar know of Beowulf?
14.
How does Unferth taunt Beowulf?
15.
What is Beowulf’s response to Unferth’s taunts?
16.
What does Beowulf ask for in case he’s killed?
17.
Why does Beowulf meet Grendel bare-handed? And why does it end up being a good thing?
18.
What is done with the prize of the battle?
19.
What does Grendel’s mother do for revenge?
20.
How does the Beowulf poet get across that the watery mere of Grendel and his mother is a dark,
evil, foreboding place? (hint- animal anecdote)
21.
What saves Beowulf when Grendel’s Mother pulls a dagger on him?
22.
How is Beowulf able to defeat Grendel’s Mother?
23.
What does Beowulf do after killing Grendel’s mother? Why?
24.
After whose death does Beowulf assume the throne and rule the Geats?
25.
How long is Beowulf King of the Geats?
26.
A man stole what from a dragon’s hoard?
NOTE: Dragons often symbolize moral or spiritual corruptness and/or greed.)
27.
What do Beowulf’s men do when his sword fails him in fighting the dragon? How many men did
he bring with him?
28.
Who is Wiglaf?
29.
Describe the final battle with the dragon.
30.
What are Beowulf’s dying requests of Wiglaf? (2)
31.
What do Beowulf’s people do with the treasure liberated from the dragon’s cave?