McNair’s English 12
Beowulf Review Sheet
You will need to know the following information for your
final Beowulf test on Tuesday!
Character Descriptions:
1. Danes:
2. King Hrothgar
3. Edgetho
4. Geats:
5. Higlac
6. Beowulf
7. Wiglaf
Be able to write the name of the character that each description best fits:
1. Terrorizes a great hall
2. Made of iron, wood, ivory, and gold
3. Caught by surprised when attacked
4. Killed when head is chopped off
5. Healfdane’s son
6. Higlac’s follower
MUST know the plot of Beowulf: Know the following battles…
1. Grendel - What tactics did Beowulf use? How did he win? Etc.
2. Grendel’s mother - Where did this happen? What saved Beowulf’s life? How did he kill her? What did he bring back to
Hrothgar?
3. The dragon - Who came to Beowulf’s aid? How did they kill the dragon?
Concepts:
1. How Beowulf’s tragic flaw led to his downfall
2. What the Geats are afraid will happen now that Beowulf is dead
3. Know the values of Anglo-Saxon society (go back to notes on first day of this unit)
Be able to answer the following questions about the story and Anglo Saxon notes:
1. Why is Beowulf determined not to use his hands in the battle with Grendel?
2. What does Beowulf hang from the rafters of Herot as a trophy? What happens to this trophy?
3. Why can’t Beowulf’s men help him when he is fighting with Grendel?
4. Before Beowulf arrives, who are the only people who survive Grendel’s attacks of Herot?
5. What drives Beowulf on in his battle With Grendel’s mother? What saves his life in that battle?
6. At the beginning of the story, why does Grendel attack the Danes? What makes him angry with them?
7. Why was it important to Anglo-Saxons to have a poem written about their brave deeds?
Key Terms:
1. Epic Poem:
2. Alliteration:
3. Kenning:
4. Personification: