English 12/DiMatteo
Beowulf study guide
name______________________________________
Answer the following questions about the text, using text support (quotations and/or line references) whenever possible. In class, you may
work with a partner or small group; at home, you must work independently.
I. lines 64-209: introduction (pp. 1-5) _____________________________________________________________
1. What is the purpose of building Heorot?
2. What is the “hard grievance” the demon has?
3. What Biblical story is referenced to explain Grendel’s temper? Explain the connection.
4. Characterize Hrothgar in lines 129-136.
5. What lines reveal how long is Heorot Hall effectively closed?
6. What religious advice does the poet offer in lines 175-188?
II. lines 399-455: Beowulf announces his purpose to Hrothgar (pp. 6-7) ____________________________________
7. What three successful adventures does Beowulf report to Hrothgar? For what purpose?
8. What will Beowulf use to overcome the monster?
9. What request does Beowulf make in the event of Grendel’s victory?
III. lines 491-610: Unferth and Beowulf (pp. 8-11) _________________________________________________
10. What does Unferth speak to Beowulf about and why?
11. How does Beowulf respond about Breca? How does he insult Unferth?
IV. lines 645-862: Beowulf battles Grendel (pp. 12-18)_________________________________________________
12. What does Hrothgar promise Beowulf if he is successful?
13. Explain lines 691-93. Does this make them reasonable or cowardly?
14. Give at least three kennings used to describe Grendel from pp. 13-15.
15. How many men does Grendel kill on this trip to Heorot?
16. How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?
17. What do “Beowulf’s warriors” contribute to the battle? Why do they fail?
18. Explain the purpose of the last two lines (861-62).
V. lines 957-989: Beowulf speaks about the battle (p. 19) _______________________________________________
19. What would Beowulf change about his victory? Whom does he hold responsible?
20. Describe Grendel’s skin.
VI. lines 1251-1309: Grendel’s mother seeks revenge (pp. 20-21) _________________________________________
21. Grendel’s mother takes what two items from Heorot?
22. How does this section make her less monstrous and quite maternal, in a human sense?
VII. lines 1345-1396: Where to find Grendel’s mother (pp. 22-23) ________________________________________
23. Describe, in your own words, where Grendel’s mother can be found.
24. Interpret Beowulf’s final sentence to Hrothgar (lines 1395-96). What do you think he expects?
VIII. lines 1497-1650: Beowulf seeks Grendel’s mother in her underwater lair (pp. 24-28)_______________________
25. What does Beowulf think about when his sword fails? What is your reaction?
26. Why do the “grey heads” assume Beowulf was killed?
27. With what two items does Beowulf emerge from the water?
After Reading_________________________________________________________________________________
28. What impact does alliteration and kennings have on you, the reader? Provide two of your favorite examples of each.
29. Would Beowulf be an appealing hero to a modern audience? Why or why not?
30. Is Hrothgar a good leader? Provide at least two positive and two negative qualities about him and come to a
conclusion.