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Selectio n Rev iew # 1
B e owulf : A New Tel l i n g
C h a p ter s I - IV
1. What is an epic? List some of the features of an epic story that we find in Beowulf. An
epic is a long narrative told in poetry. Epics include the deeds of great heroes against fearful
enemies. They usually include several stories told one after another. The story of Beowulf that
we are reading has been retold in prose (ordinary language), but the original version was
written in Old English poetry. The story is about heroes and monsters, and there are several
stories told one after another.
2. The exposition of a narrative tells us about its setting (time and place), the characters
involved, and the conflict or problem to be solved. Using the chart below, briefly describe
the setting, characters, and conflict in the story Beowulf. Possible answers are shown
(see back of page.)
Exposition of the Beowulf Narrative
Setting
Main
Characters
Conflict
(Problem)
3. Describe the monster Grendel. Where does he come from? What does he do to Hrothgar’s
finest warriors? Grendel is a slimy, vicious monster. He is bloated and disgusting, full of hatred
and evil. He is said to be a child of Cain and a horrible snake. Every night he comes out of
the swamp to attack Hrothgar’s palace. He eats up thirty of Hrothgar’s finest warriors on the
first night of celebrations, and he comes back every night looking for more people to eat.
4. What are some of Beowulf’s strengths and weaknesses? How has he made himself
stronger? Beowulf is a fairly short man, with short legs and poor eyesight. However, he has
made himself stronger by accepting his weaknesses and developing his strengths in other
areas. He has a broad chest and shoulders and strong wrists. More importantly, he is a good
man and very brave. His honesty, integrity, and determination have earned him the respect
of all who know him.
continued...
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5. We find many symbols in this story of Beowulf. Fill in the blank spaces in the chart
below, matching each symbol to the idea that it represents. Answers are shown on bottom
of page.
Symbols in Beowulf
Symbol
Meaning
Gold
Swords
Grain
Peace; prosperity
Evil
Light
Answers to Charts
Question #2:
Question #5:
Exposition of the Beowulf Narrative
Setting
“A long time ago,” in the land of the Danes---a
lonely place near the sea and a great swamp
Main
Characters
Hrothgar (the king); Wealhtheow (the queen);
the monster Grendel; Beowulf; Unferth
Conflict
(Problem)
Grendel comes to Hrothgar’s palace every
night to attack and eat any people he can find.
Symbols in Beowulf
Symbol
Meaning
Gold
Wealth
Swords
Power
Grain
Peace; security
Darkness
Evil
Light
Goodness
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Selectio n Rev iew #2
B e owulf : A New Tel l i n g
C h a p te r s V - IX
1. What insinuations does Unferth make about Beowulf’s character? How does Beowulf respond to these claims? Unferth says that Beowulf must be wicked because he can eat apples
that are cursed without harm. He also claims that Beowulf once tried to drown his friend Breca
because Breca was a better swimmer than he. Beowulf responds to these claims calmly but
firmly. He says that the apples are not cursed, and invites the king and queen to taste them
and see that they are good. He also tells the story of his swimming contest with Breca. He
says that Breca was the better swimmer and was carried by the waves all the way to Norway.
While this was happening, Beowulf was busy fighting and killing nine sea monsters that attacked him.
2. What happens in the fight between Beowulf and Grendel? Why does this make Unferth
angry? When Grendel comes to the palace, he kills and eats one of Beowulf’s men. However,
Beowulf grabs Grendel’s wrist and hold it tightly. He tells Grendel that his own evil is what will
destroy him. When Grendel tries to escape, Beowulf tears his arm off and Grendel bleeds to
death. Unferth becomes angry at this because he found Grendel beautiful. He was fascinated
by the evil in Grendel and did not want it to end.
3. There are two examples of story-within-a-story in this section. What is each story about?
How do they fit into the main narrative? The first story-within-a-story is about Beowulf’s
swimming contest with Breca long before. It fits in the main narrative as Beowulf’s answer to
Unferth’s insinuations about him. The second story-within-a-story is about the heroes Sigemund
and Fitela fighting the four-headed Fire Dragon. This story is told in Hrothgar’s hall as the king’s
poets celebrate Beowulf’s victory over Grendel.
4. Why does Beowulf go out into the fen with his men? What does he hope to do? Beowulf
goes out into the fen following the trail of the creature that killed Aeschere and took Grendel’s
arm. He believes this creature is Grendel’s Mother, an even worse monster. He hopes to track
her to her hiding place and kill her too.
continued...
44
5. Listed below are some phrases from this section of the book. For each phrase, decide
whether it is an example of alliteration, sensory image, or both, and place check marks
in the appropriate columns. Answers are shown (see bottom of page)..
Phrases
sickened by slaughter
Alliteration Sensory Image
riddled with rot
her fair hair trembled with gold
straightforward seriousness
a sound like the breaking of ice
red-hot nails driven into his skin
a strange, sweet-smelling spoor
Answer to Question #5:
Phrases
sickened by slaughter
riddled with rot
Alliteration Sensory Image
√
√
her fair hair trembled with gold
straightforward seriousness
√
√
a sound like the breaking of ice
√
red-hot nails driven into his skin
√
a strange, sweet-smelling spoor
√
√
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Selectio n Rev iew # 3
B e owulf : A New Tel l i n g
C h a p ter s X - XV I
1. What are the secrets to Beowulf’s victory over Grendel’s Mother? Beowulf stops losing the
battle with Grendel’s Mother when he becomes calm and stops being afraid of her. He accepts
his weakness and turns it to his advantage. He holds her tentacle tightly, stares her down
with his weak eyes, and talks quietly to her until she falls asleep and he can strangle her.
2. Describe Beowulf’s life after he returns home. List some practical examples that show his
goodness and humility. Beowulf lives a quiet, peaceful life after he returns home. He gives
most of the wealth he received from King Hrothgar to his uncle, King Hygelac. He is granted a
large estate and spends his time keepng bees. When King Hygelac is killed, Beowulf refuses to
become king. Instead, he promises to protect Hygelac’s young son, Hardred, who is the rightful
king. Only after Hardred grows up and dies in battle does Beowulf agree to become king.
3. Describe life in the kingdom during Beowulf’s rule. What changes this? While Beowulf is
king, life is peaceful and happy for forty years. However, this changes when an unhappy slave
steals a cup from the Firedrake, a fearful dragon who lives in a mountain. The Firedrake
becomes so angry that he burns up a whole valley and everyone in it.
4. How has Beowulf changed by the time he goes out to fight the Firedrake? How does he
hope to win the battle? By the time he goes to fight the Firedrake, Beowulf has become an
old man. He is nearly blind, and his armor is too big for him. However, he is still courageous
and clever. Beowulf knows that he is not physically strong enough to conquer the Firedrake.
He hopes to use his intelligence to outsmart it.
5. How do Beowulf and Wiglaf destroy the Firedrake? Why does Beowulf tell Wiglaf not to
tell the people the real story? Beowulf and Wiglaf destroy the Firedrake using a clever strategy.
Beowulf taunts the dragon and calls it names. When it opens its mouth to reply, Wiglaf jams a
stake between its jaws. Then he throws a glove down its throat that contains the queen bee.
The other bees follow the queen bee into the dragon’s stomach and sting it to death. Beowulf
tells Wiglaf that the people might not be ready for a hero who wins his battles by trickery. He
instructs Wiglaf not to tell the whole story, but to let them believe in him as an “ordinary hero.”
6. Name one lesson Beowulf wanted others to learn from his life. One lesson Beowulf wanted
others to learn is that there are both good and bad in all people, and some good can always be
found in what is bad. Another lesson is to recognize your weaknesses and become stronger by
turning your weaknesses into strengths. A third lesson is to use cunning, not just brute strength,
to overcome an opponent.
46
Name:
L itera tu r e Te st # 1
B e owulf : A New Tel l i n g
C h a p te r s I - IV
1. What are epic poems usually about? What features of an epic story do we find in Beowulf?
2. Who is Grendel, and what has he done to frighten everyone in Hrothgar’s kingdom?
continued...
47
3. In the chart below, list two of Beowulf’s strengths and two of his weaknesses. How does
Beowulf handle his weaknesses to turn them into strengths?
Strengths: Beowulf Has...
Weaknesses: Beowulf Has...
1.
1.
2.
2.
4. There are a number of symbols found in this narrative. In the chart below, list three of these
symbols, and tell what each of them stands for.
Symbols in Beowulf
Symbol
Meaning
48
Name:
L itera tu r e Te st # 2
B e owulf : A New Tel l i n g
C h a p te r s V - IX
1. How does Beowulf’s struggle with Grendel end? How does Unferth react to this outcome?
2. This section of the book includes two examples of story-within-a-story. Briefly tell what ONE of
these is about.
continued...
49
3. Match each of the following terms in column A with its description in column B. Write the
appropriate letter in the space beside the number.
A. Literary Terms
____ 1. sensory image
B. Descriptions
a. an object that stands for an idea
____
2. symbol
b. introduces the characters and setting
____
3. alliteration
c. tells readers how something looks, sounds, feels,
tastes, or smells
____
4. story-within-a-story
____
5. exposition
e. a poem that tells a story
____
6. narrative poem
f. a story that comes in the middle of a longer narrative
d. words that have the same beginning sounds
4. List several things that lead Beowulf and the others to conclude that Grendel’s Mother has
been in the hall. Why does Beowulf go out to the fen with his men?
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Name:
L itera tu r e Te st # 3
B e owulf : A New Tel l i n g
C h a p te r s X - XV I
1. What does Beowulf have to do to overcome Grendel’s Mother?
2. What does Beowulf do when he arrives home in the land of the Geats? How does it happen
that he becomes king?
continued...
51
3. Explain how Beowulf and Wiglaf conquer the Firedrake.
4. State one of the principles or beliefs that Beowulf lived by and taught to others.
52
Name:
Vocabu la r y Tes t # 1
B e owulf : A New Tel l i n g
C h a p te r s I - IV
WRITE MEANINGFUL SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS:
sufficient
dutifully
cultivating
consciences
companion
integrity
emerging
mortal
inquisitive
precise
53
Name:
Vocab u la r y Tes t # 2
B e owulf : A New Tel l i n g
C h a p ter s V - IX
WRITE MEANINGFUL SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS:
insinuated
relentlessly
exploit
restraint
objections
impudent
apprehensive
relinquish
capacity
pandemonium
54
Name:
Vocabu la r y Tes t # 3
B e owulf : A New Tel l i n g
C h a p te r s X - XV I
WRITE MEANINGFUL SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS:
succumbed
intelligible
infintely
intangible
subsided
deftly
penetrate
encounter
agile
dwelling