Texts:
“Beowulf”
“The Seafarer”
Notes:
Calendar
Vocabulary
Literary Devices
What is an Epic Poem?
Study Guide
In-Class Essay Topics
I am big and
strong. Arg!
Handouts:
Anticipation Guide
Kenning Activity
Heroes vs. Villians
Dichotomy
Stone Cold Austin
Beowulf Unit
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Objectives
1. Through reading Beowulf, students will gain a better understanding of the importance of heroism,
courage and camaraderie to the early Anglo-Saxon peoples, and how their views on these traits
continue to inform western thinking.
2. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the text on four levels: factual, interpretive,
critical and personal.
3. Students will discuss the features of a literary epic and how these features are evident in Beowulf.
4. Students will be given the opportunity to practice reading aloud and silently to improve their skills in
each area.
5. Students will answer questions to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the main
events and characters in Beowulf as they relate to the author's theme development.
6. Students will enrich their vocabularies and improve their understanding of the novel through the
vocabulary lessons prepared for use in conjunction with the novel.
7. To see the relationships between history and literature
8. To understand the origin of language
9. The learn basic elements of Anglo Saxon poetry
Vocabulary
from Beowulf
Talon(s)
Murky
Gabled
Affliction
Infamous
Pilgrimage
Moor(s)
Solace(s)
Cower(ing)
Gnarled
Spawn(ed)
Reprisal
Taut
Relish(ed)
Bolt
Sinew(s)
Reparation
Host
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Literary Terms
Oral poetry
dialogue
Elegaic tradition (elegy)
alliteration
heroic tradition
rythym
scop
kenning
caesura
paradox
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What is an Epic Poem?
“An extended narrative poem, usually simple in construction, but grand in scope, exalted in style, and heroic
in theme, often giving expression to the ideals of a nation or race. ”
Te epic is generally defined: A long narrative poem on a great and serious subject, related in an elevated
style, and centered on a heroic or quasi-divine figure on whose actions depends the fate of a tribe, a
nation, or the human race. The traditional epics were shaped by a literary artist from historical and
legendary materials which had developed in the oral traditions of his nation during a period of
expansion and warfare (Beowulf, The Odyssey, The Iliad).
Epic Conventions, or characteristics common to both types include:
1. The hero is a figure of great national or even cosmic importance, usually the ideal man of his culture.
He often has superhuman or divine traits. He has an imposing physical stature and is greater in all
ways than the common man.
2. The setting is vast in scope. It covers great geographical distances, perhaps even visiting the
underworld, other wortlds, other times.
3. The action consists of deeds of valor or superhuman courage (especially in battle).
4. Supernatural forces interest themselves in the action and intervene at times. The intervention of the
gods is called "machinery."
5. The style of writing is elevated, even ceremonial.
6. Additional conventions: certainly all are not always present)
a. Opens by stating the theme of the epic.
b. Writer invokes a Muse, one of the nine daughters of Zeus. The poet prays to the muses
to provide him with divine inspiration to tell the story of a great hero.
c. Narrative opens in media res. This means "in the middle of things," usually with the hero
at his lowest point. Earlier portions of the story appear later as flashbacks.
d. Catalogs and geneaologies are given. These long lists of objects, places, and people
place the finite action of the epic within a broader, universal context. Oftentimes, the
poet is also paying homage to the ancestors of audience members.
e. Main characters give extended formal speeches.
f.
Use of the epic simile. A standard simile is a comparison using "like" or "as." An epic or
Homeric simile is a more involved, ornate comparison, extended in great detail.
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Beowulf Unit
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g. Heavy use of repetition and stock phrases. The poet repeats passages that consist of
several lines in various sections of the epic and uses homeric epithets, short, recurrent
phrases used to describe people, places, or things. Both made the poem easier to
memorize.
Aristotle described six characteristics: "fable, action, characters, sentiments, diction, and meter." Since
then, critics have used these criteria to describe two kinds of epics:
Serious Epic
Comic Epic

fable and action are grave and solemn

fable and action are light and ridiculous

characterrs are the highest

characters are inferior

sentiments and diction preserve the
sublime

sentiments and diction preserve the
ludicrous

verse

verse
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Beowulf Unit
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Literary Devices
DIRECTIONS: Write the definitions of each of the common literary devices used in “Beowulf”.
Alliteration: ___________________________________________________________________________
…hoping to kill anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.
…the struggling great bodies beating at its beautiful walls …
…gold-covered boards grating as Grendel and Beowulf battled across them.
So Hrothgar’s men lived happy in his hall till the monster stirred … and made his home in a hell
not Hell but earth.
Caesura: _____________________________________________________________________________
… Grendel went up to Herot, wondering what the warriors would do in that hall when their
drinking was done.
I’ve heard that my people, peasants working in the fields, have seen a pair of such fiends
wandering in the moors and marshes, giant monsters living in those desert lands.
…smashed them unknowing in their beds and ran out with their bodies, the blood dripping
behind him, back to his lair …
…to glow across the land and light it; the corners of the earth were made lovely with trees and
leaves, made quick with life …
Assonance: ___________________________________________________________________________
… lying in waiting, hidden in mist, invisibly following them ….
… And wondering what the bravest of warriors could do. And sometimes they sacrificed to the
old stone gods, made heathen vows, hoping for Hell’s support …
… sung of the ancient beginnings of us all, recalling the Almighty making the earth …
…and again twisted gold, heaped-up ancient treasure, will reward you for the battle you win!
Kenning: _____________________________________________________________________________
sky-candle (the sun)
battle sweat (blood)
giver of gold (king)
swan-road (the sea)
light-of-battle (sword)
earth-hall (burial
mound, barrow)
stout-hearted (brave)
helmet bearers
(warriors)
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dwelling place (home)
Beowulf Unit
Study Guide Questions
1. What were the Celts like?
2. What benefit did the Christian church bring to the English people?
3. How did the Vikings treat English churches and villages when they invaded?
4. Why was Alfred the Great considered a national hero?
5. What was feudalism, the system brought by William the Conqueror from Normandy(France)?
6. Who were the scops? (pronounced shopes)
7. How did Anglo-Saxons view the world?
8. What is caesura?
9. What is assonance?
10. What is alliteration?
11. What are kennings?
12. What is an epic?
13. What 4 qualities does an Epic Hero have to have?
14. What are the 4 Anglo-Saxon earthly virtues?
15. Did Anglo-Saxons believe that life was ruled by fate or God?
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Beowulf Unit
16. What prompts Beowulf to help Hrothgar by defeating Grendel? (Trick question)
17. What is unrealistic about Beowulf’s trip to the lair?
18. Why does Beowulf cut off Grendel’s head?
19. What is Grendel unable to touch?
20. Whom did the Danes ask for help?
21. Why will Beowulf use weapons against the dragon when he hasn’t used them before?
22. What “fails” Beowulf in each battle?
23. How does Wiglaf convince the Geats to help Beowulf?
24. What are some symbols and images added by Christian monks after the poem was composed?
25. What honor does Beowulf give Wiglaf?
26. What does Beowulf say that indicates the decline of Anglo-Saxon society?
27. What do the Geats put in Beowulf’s tower?
28. What does the end of the poem indicate about how this story was started and spread?
29. What is the purpose of Beowulf’s boast?
30. What 2 things does G’s comparison to Cain indicate?
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Beowulf Unit
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In-Class Essay Topics
1. Justify Beowulf as an epic poem. In other words, how is it an epic? Be sure to define an epic, and
mention Beowulf’s context in Anglo-Saxon society, the Anglo-Saxon earthly virtues and the
characteristics of an epic hero.
2. Assess the influence of outside forces on this poem. Be sure to include Christians, Pagans, Scops,
Monks, Animism and/or Scandinavian folk tales. Be sure to point out any contradictions that you
see within the poem.
3. Choose a dichotomy that is present throughout the poem and defend its significance to each of
the three battles. An example is good/evil – clearly, Beowulf fights for good and Grendel, his
mother and the dragon for evil. Are you sure that the dragon really fights for evil? What
symbols, allusions and images connect Beowulf with good and his opponents with evil? Other
ideas are: light/dark, heaven/hell, powerful/weak, brave/fearful.
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Beowulf Unit
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Beowulf Unit
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DIRECTIONS: Use the following anticipation guide to mark whether or not you agree (A) or disagree (D)
with each statement.
1. English is a dead language. ______
2. English is the most widely spoken language
in the world today. ______
3. Beowulf was written in Middle English.
______
4. Old English is comprised of Celtic, Latin, and
Spanish language influences. ______
5. Old English is sometimes referred to as
“Anglo-Saxon” English. ______
14. All heroes must struggle against great odds.
______
15. All heroes must be victorious over all
obstacles. ______
16. A hero must use violence to achieve his/her
goals. ______
17. Men are more likely to be heroes than
women. ______
18. Physical strength is the most important type
of strength for a hero. ______
6. I know exactly what a hero is. ______
19. I have done something heroic. ______
7. Everyone has the potential to be a hero.
______
20. People envy heroes. ______
8. There are no heroes left in the world.
______
21. I hope to be a hero someday. ______
22. It is stupid to risk your life for obscure ideals
and other people. ______
9. I know someone personally whom I
consider a hero. ______
23. Anger gets in the way of heroic action.
______
10. I think that we need heroes. ______
11. I like movies and television shows about
heroes. ______
24. Animals can be heroes. ______
12. A person can do heroic things and still not
be a hero. ______
25. It is okay for a hero to use any means to
achieve his/her goal. ______
13. Everyone and every culture can agree on
the qualities that make a hero. ______
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Beowulf Unit
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A kenning is a literary device in which a poetic phrase substitutes for a noun. In the best kennings, one
element of the phrase will create a striking, unexpected comparison. Often used in Anglo-Saxon poetry
and especially in Beowulf, a kenning provides powerful imagery that would help the audience focus on
the words of the scop or poet telling the story. A kenning also allows the scop some variety, so words
don’t become overused. Finally, Anglo-Saxon poetry depended heavily on alliteration, and some
kennings provided additional alliteration.
When we translate these kennings from Anglo-Saxon, they lose some of their poetic quality. Listed
below are some modern kennings. Can you find examples of striking imagery, alliteration, consonance,
rhyme, and assonance among them? Can you identify the concept each kenning represents?
1. gas guzzler
6. eye candy
2. headhunter
7. cancer stick
3. web surver
8. boob tube
4. rug rat
9. couch potato
5. land line
10. tramp stamp
Can you create at least 5 kennings of your own? Write this in your notebook. Be sure to include poetic
qualities, such as alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia, etc.. Suggestions: WHS, star, ship,
plane, car, poem, book, movie, etc
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Heroes vs. Villains
DIRECTIONS: Beowulf is the ultimate story of hero vs. villain, but it is not the only story in our history.
Please complete the chart below using your own knowledge of fictional heroes and villains. Specifically,
name four fictional heroes and villains PAIRS. Then think about the qualities of the heroes you have
identified.
Fictional Heroes:
Ex. Batman
Qualities of Fictional
Heroes:
Ex. Strong, trustworthy,
unkillable, mysterious,
dark
Fictional Villains:
Ex. Joker
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Qualities of Fictional
Villains:
Ex. Odd, insane, willing
to kill anyone, hateful,
likes revenge
Beowulf Unit
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Heroes vs. Villains Cont.
What are the essential conflict(s) these pairs face? As you read Beowulf, you will be able to identify
many of these same qualities in the character of Beowulf. In the space provided, speculate on the
timeless or at least enduring nature of these qualities. Ask yourself what the qualities of a hero tell us
about the values of ordinary people.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Dichotomy means “opposites on the same spectrum”.
Examples:
Light/dark
Male/female
Good/evil
Beowulf/Grendel
Non-examples:
Apples/oranges
BMW/Mercedes
School/fun
Beowulf/Cain
DIRECTIONS:
Step 1. On a separate piece of paper, choose two dichotomies present in Beowulf and find 2+ examples
for each. Try to be original.
Examples:
Good/evil
- People: Cain/Abel & Beowulf/Grendel
- Places: Herot/Grendel’s lair & Herot/exile (moors, marshes)
Light/dark
- Line 1: “down in the darkness” (Grendel)
- Line 9: “setting the sun and moon to glow” (God)
- Line 41: “with the sun’s first light” (Danes)
- Line 74: “shadow of death” (Grendel)
Suggestions
Happiness/sadness
joy/misery
Hero/criminal
Sound/silence
Community/exile
Step 2: What is the significance of your dichotomy to the story as a whole? Does it characterize the Epic
Hero? Does it show which side is good and which is evil? Does it help the reader understand the
plot or characters in a new way? Does it reinforce Christianity or Animism throughout the
poem?
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Beowulf Unit
Beowulf: Geatland
Beowulf vs. "Stone
Cold" Steve Austin
Stone Cold: Texas
What they wear
Who will layeth the smack down?
by Jim Rasenberger
Beowulf: Hard-ringed, gold-filigreed chain mail
In one of the more curious publishing
phenomena of the year, "Beowulf," an epic
poem written over a millennium ago -- and
loathed by high school students ever since -has moved up to No. 8 on the New York Times
bestseller list. Meanwhile, over in TV land, the
World Wrestling Federation continues its
mystifying climb in the ratings. As of two weeks
ago, the WWF's "Raw Is War" program on
Monday nights is pulling in 7.7 million viewers,
dominating cable in its time slot.
At first glance, "Beowulf" and the WWF don't
seem to have much in common. But closer
inspection reveals some startling similarities.
Both feature ominously named, testosteronefueled men who are capable of unlikely and
bizarre feats of prowess. Both ostensibly
revolve around blood-drenched free-for-alls
but, in fact, mainly entail oversize guys boasting
and shouting between fights.
Putting aside possible reasons for their
convergent popularity, here's a more pressing
question: How would Beowulf do in the ring
against one of the WWF's reigning champs, say,
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin? Let's compare:
The contestants
15
Stone Cold: Black lace-up boots, black leather
vest, black briefs
What the writers say
Beowulf: "The mightiest man on Earth."
(Seamus Heaney, Nobel Prize-winning poet)
Stone Cold: "Stands head and shoulders above
the rest." (Jorge Montenegro, contributor to
Wrestling World magazine)
Best finishing move
Beowulf: The "grip of 30"
Stone Cold: The "stunner"
Defining moment
Beowulf: Engaged in an ocean-swimming
contest with his childhood friend, Breca. Swam
a full week while wearing armor and carrying a
sword. Lost the race but survived an onslaught
of "sea-brutes" before reaching the coast of
Finland.
Stone Cold: Bled profusely and passed out
during a "Submission Match" with his archrival,
Canadian "Hit Man" Bret Hart. Lost the match
but received exuberant cheers of "Austin!
Austin!" from the sold-out crowd.
Beowulf, aka "Prince of the War-Geats"
Career highlight
"Stone Cold" Steve Austin, aka "The
Rattlesnake"
Place of birth
Beowulf: Tussled barehanded with the monster
Grendel in the Mead Hall. Used his celebrated
"grip of 30" to rip off Grendel's arm and throw it
into the rafters. Later, tracked Grendel's mother
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Beowulf Unit
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to her underwater lair and whupped her, too,
before lopping off Grendel's head.
Stone Cold: "And that's the bottom line, 'cause
Stone Cold says so!"
Stone Cold: Smashed Hart over the head with a
steel chair on "Raw." Later, brutalized Hart's
knee with a wrenching "sharpshooter." Then
hid in Hart's ambulance and attacked again,
putting Hit Man out of commission for three
months. After that, took on Hart's brother,
Owen, and whupped him, too.
The verdict
When not engaged in mortal combat
Beowulf: Peacefully rules the Geats for 50
years.
Stone Cold: Guest-stars on "Nash Bridges."
Best quote
Beowulf: "Hand-to-hand is how it will be, a lifeand-death fight with the fiend."
This would be a bruising, no-holds-barred
grapple. On the verbal front, the edge goes to
the foulmouthed Rattlesnake. His unprintable
boasts are legendary. Also, nobody knows what
Beowulf is bragging about most of the time.
(What are sea-brutes, anyway?) In the ring, the
thane's acclaimed breath-holding abilities will
stand him in good stead when the 254-pound
beer-swilling Austin sits on his face and
corkscrews his left knee. Once the real brawling
begins, however, the edge goes to the Geat.
That grip spells sheer doom for Stone Cold's
rotator cuff!
Source: Rasenburger, Jim. “Beowulf vs. ‘Stone Cold’ Steve
Austin: Who will layeth the smack down?” Salon
Magazine, 20 April 2000. Web. 28 Aug. 2010.
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Beowulf Unit
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Plan
DAY 1
World Map (Or Computer Day)
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
Play Middle Ages Music
APK/NI: Book activity (22 Min)
a. Open book, read headings, images (p 2-42) (5 Min)
b. In journals, write down your predictions about the culture.
i. What did they value?
ii. What was the primary religion(s)
iii. What were the roles of men & women?
iv. What were their expectations
c. Pair w/Neighbor (2 Min)
d. Share w/ Class (5 Min)
e. Pick your favorite image in the book. Describe in writing what happened before/after the scene. (10 Min)
World Map
f. In groups of 2-3, identify the map (5 Minutes)
g. Share (2 Minutes)
GEN:
Exit Coupon: What Did You Learn
HW:
Print out a “Beowulf” article from Google
DAY 2
British Isles Map; Anticipation Guide (Mon)
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
Grammar #1; Play Middle Ages Music
APK/NI: 1. Review World Map and Identify Locations (5 Min)
2. Review British Isles and Identify Locations. Students may use the book (p. xvi & p.3 ) (10 Min)
3. Beowulf Line Brainstorming (DIR: Stand in two lines, share for a minute what you learned). Grade everyone with
check marks.
4. Anticipation Guide
5. Read introduction (if time)
GEN:
Ask class to review what we learned. Write it down on a piece of paper. Throw it at someone
else. See what the other person learned.
HW:
Read Introduction; Quiz Tomorrow
DAY 3
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
Quiz; Introduction & Anglo-Saxon Lecture; Heroic Handout (Tue)
English Map
Middle Ages Music; Quiz: Introduction. On a piece of paper, answer the following questions:
1. Who occupied the British Isles before the coming of the Anglo Saxons?
2. Why has so little of the Anglo-Saxon poetry survived?
3. What are the two major traditions of Anglo Saxon Poetry?
4. What is the function performed by the scop?
5. What event brought the Anglo-Saxon period to a close?
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Beowulf Unit
NI:
GEN:
HW:
DAY 4
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
APK:
NI:
APP:
HW:
1. Anglo-Saxon PowerPoint Presentation w/PowerNotes (10 Min) (PowerNote Handout/Overhead)
2. Heroic Handout
Exit Slips (What do you want to know more about?)
N/A
Begin Reading, Introduce Epic Poem (Wed)
Middle Ages Music; Grammar #3
1. Read “Beowulf” w/Drumbeats
th
- Only surviving manuscript dates from 1000, but work composed during 8 Century.
rd
th
- Poem deals with the exploits of a 3 or 4 Century Geats and Danes, is probably based on
earlier work.
- Note the influences: Christians, Pagans, Scops, Monks, Animism and/or Scandinavian Folk Tales
2. Complete Literary Devices Handout
Create five discussion questions using Costa’s Level of Inquiry (Costa’s Overhead)
Study for Geography Quiz
DAY 5
Read, Epic Poem Discussion; Discussion (Thur)
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
Middle Ages Music; Geography Quiz
APK/NI: 1. Read “What is an epic poem?”
2. Read “Beowulf”
GEN:
HW:
DAY 6
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
NI:
GEN:
HW:
DAY 7
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
NI:
APP:
GEN:
HW:
Read; Discussion (Fri)
Begin Reading
Middle Ages Music; Collect WOW; Grammar #4
1. Dichotomy Discussion & Worksheet
2. Read “Beowulf”
WOW #2; Write a Kenning
Pre In-Class Essay (Mon)
Middle Ages Music; Grammar #5
“Beowulf”, “The Seafarer”
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Beowulf Unit
DAY 8
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
NI:
GEN:
HW:
In-Class Essay (Tue)
DAY 9
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
NI:
GEN:
HW:
(Wed)
DAY 10
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
APP:
GEN:
HW:
Movie (Thur)
DAY 10
ST:
G/Obj:
BELL:
APP:
GEN:
HW:
Movie (Fri)
Middle Ages Music; Grammar
“Beowulf”, “The Seafarer”
Middle Ages Music; Grammar
“Beowulf”, “The Seafarer”
#6
#7
Middle Ages Music; Grammar #8
Movie
Middle Ages Music; Grammar #8
Movie
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Beowulf Unit
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Themes in Beowulf
Revenge: The death of a kinsman must be avenged by his male relations, in blood or in money.
Wergild: The wergild is the law of vendetta, which specified that a person who had suffered damages through the killing of a relative might
exact a sum of money from the murderer as an expiation of the crime. The value of the wergild was set depending on the social status of the
person killed. An earl was assessed higher than a freeman, and a freeman higher than a commoner (or churl). Men were assessed higher than
women of the same class.
Kinsmen: The Germanic tribe had an enlarged definition of kin, including friends and those to whom one owed favors, even over generations.
Burial Practices: Burial at sea is the most familiar form of Germanic tribal burial, but they also buried warriors and kings in mounds and in a
stone barrow. Burials often included the weapons and wealth of the corpse. Sutton Hoo, the remains of a burial ship discovered in Suffolk,
England, was discovered in 1939. This find proved that the ostentatious descriptions of the burial of kings at sea were not just descriptive
language, but a true description of life during this time period.
Boasting: Boasting was considered an art and the prerogative of a warrior.
Fate: Pagan tradition depicts nature as hostile and the forces of death as uncontrollable. Blind fate picks random victims. It is sometimes
referred to “wyrd” which could be pronounced as “word” or “weird.” Fate was out of human control, but man could control the way in which
he met his fate.
Women: The female role in Beowulf is twofold. First it involves peacemaking biologically througha woman’s marital ties with foreign kings as a
peace-pledge or a mother of sons. Secondly, it involves peacemaking socially and psychologically as a cup-passing and peace-weaving queen
within a hall.
Comitatus: Germanic tribes which invaded Britain held strong beliefs in the basic family unit and were industrious and warlike. They chose
their kings for birth and their generals for merit. Even poor tribal members could become rich and powerful if they were willing and able to
prove themselves brave and adept in battle. The practice of comitatus (a term used by the early historian Tacitus) was an agreement by which a
youth would attach himself to a strong leader for the purpose of gaining riches and prestige. This arrangement could have been the precursor
of the lord-thane relationship of feudal institutions of the time, which can also be observed in Beowulf.
Christianity: The poet of Beowulf is Christian, but the society he describes is not. Sometimes the narrator’s voice comments from a Christian
perspective on pagan values, beliefs, and customs.
Classes: There were two classes of people in Anglo-Saxon society: members of the aristocracy (the privileged ruling few) and the common
people, including bondsmen and captives. Only a few exceptions were called “freemen,” a status held as some type of reward or special favor.
Warriors: Warriors kept their armor and weapons at their sides at all times. The Beowulf poet praises the Geats, “They were always prepared
for war, whether at home or in the field, as their lord required” (1246-50). The warrior’s kit would include a helmet, shield, spear and chain
main, and, if he had high status, a sword. They used crested or combed helmets from the 7th and 8th century, with a very sturdy all-iron
construction. Mail shirts consisted of rows of riveted rings alternating with of butt-welded rings. The rings were of gray steel, skillfully formed
into an intricate mesh, and they linked and jingled on the move. Shields and spears were part of the basic fighting kit of the war-band. Swords
were powerful heirlooms to be prized for their power and might; they may have had names, or carried owner inscriptions and images of the
mythic past. They had richly decorated hilts, and with their iron blades were fierce, double-edged weapons, which needed two hands to swing
them. The seax, was a single-edged weapon, just as effective as the double-edged sword.
War: For Germanic tribes, war was considered a natural, desirable and constant part of life.
Wealth: One of the roles of the king was to share wealth. Part of the function of a hall was to provide a setting for the sharing of wealth with
the king’s warriors and thanes.
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Beowulf Unit
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ANSWERS
Study Guide Answer Key
16. What prompts Beowulf to help Hrothgar by defeating
Grendel? (Trick question)
Nothing – he comes of his own accord – wants to help
1.
What were the Celts like?
Farmers and hunters, lived in fierce clans
2.
What benefit did the Christian church bring to the English
people?
Promoted peace and unified people
3.
How did the Vikings treat English churches and villages when
they invaded?
Sacked and plundered, burned villages and killed villagers
4.
Why was Alfred the Great considered a national hero?
Defended against Danish invasion, maintained civilization,
and encouraged learning
5.
What was feudalism, the system brought by William the
Conqueror from Normandy(France)?
Hierarchy of land control – kings-nobles-knights-serfs
6.
Who were the scops? (pronounced shopes)
Bards/storytellers
7.
How did Anglo-Saxons view the world?
Fatalistic, grim
8.
What is caesura?
Alliteration with a pause – usually a comma or semi-colon
9.
What is assonance?
Repetition of vowel sounds – can be at beginning or middle
of words
17. What is unrealistic about Beowulf’s trip to the lair?
He sinks for hours through the water
18. Why does Beowulf cut off Grendel’s head?
Final revenge
19. What is Grendel unable to touch?
Hrothgar’s throne
20. Whom did the Danes ask for help?
Old stone gods (pre-Christian)
21. Why will Beowulf use weapons against the dragon when he
hasn’t used them before?
It is an impossible task, plus he is old now
22. What “fails” Beowulf in each battle?
weapons
23. How does Wiglaf convince the Geats to help Beowulf?
Reminds them of favors and gifts from Beowulf
10. What is alliteration?
Repetition of consonant sounds at beginning of words
24. What are some symbols and images added by Christian
monks after the poem was composed?
25. What honor does Beowulf give Wiglaf?
He’ll be next King of Geats
26. What does Beowulf say that indicates the decline of AngloSaxon society?
Wiglaf is the last of “our far-flung family”
27. What do the Geats put in Beowulf’s tower?
Dragon’s treasure
11. What are kennings?
metaphors
28. What does the end of the poem indicate about how this
story was started and spread?
Geats remembering Beowulf share story, tell about his
bravery
12. What is an epic?
Long poem – tells a story – has a hero
13. What 4 qualities does an Epic Hero have to have?
Glorified, On a quest, Ethical, Strong (GOES)
29. What is the purpose of Beowulf’s boast?
Prove his strength and show respect for Hrothgar
14. What are the 4 Anglo-Saxon earthly virtues?
Bravery, Loyalty, Generosity, Friendship
30. What 2 things does G’s comparison to Cain indicate?
Both are murderers and exiled from the community
15. Did Anglo-Saxons believe that life was ruled by fate or God?
fate
Kennings Handout Answer Key
1.
gas guzzler – a vehicle that has poor gas mileage, alliteration, striking imagery
Updated 08.11 by T. McIlvain
Beowulf Unit
2.
headhunter – a person who finds executive positions for job seekers, consonance (“h”),
3.
striking imagery
4.
web surfer – a person who spends time online, striking imagery
5.
rug rat – a mischievous child, alliteration, striking imagery
6.
land line – a traditional telephone, alliteration
7.
eye candy – a person or thing with visual appeal, striking imagery
8.
cancer stick – a cigarette, striking imagery
9.
boob tube – television, rhyme, striking imagery
10. couch potato – a person who gets little exercise, assonance and striking imagery
11. tramp stamp – a tattoo on the lower back, rhyme, striking imagery
Updated 08.11 by T. McIlvain
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