The Death of Beowulf & Mourning Beowulf Notes
“The Death of Beowulf”​
Notes--Take notes on the following as you read through the passage on
pages 66-69​
. Add any additional notes you feel are necessary to your understanding of the piece.
Topics &
Questions
Notes:
What is the purpose of the lines 736-741? Explain.
Based on your understanding of the poem as a whole, what conclusions can you draw from
Beowulf’s comment, “I can leave/ This life happy, I can die, here,/ Knowing the Lord of all
life has never/ Watched me wash my sword in blood/ Born of my own family.”?
Identify a ​
kenning​
and explain its purpose.
Explain the poet’s purpose of lines 776-778 (starting with “So” and ending with “hidden!”).
Identify a ​
stock epithet​
and explain its purpose.
What is implied by Beowulf when he says, “I sold my life/ For this treasure, and I sold it
well.”?
What does Beowulf ask of Wiglaf?
What does Wiglaf’s speech in lines 851-862 reveal about the importance of honor and the
consequences of dishonorable behavior in Beowulf’s time?
What did you learn as a result of your notes?
“Mourning Beowulf”​
Notes--Take notes on the following as you read through the passage on p
​age
70​
. Add any additional notes you feel are necessary to your understanding of the piece.
Topics &
Questions
Notes:
Why would the Geats leave all of the treasure with Beowulf in his death?
What connection can you make to the oral history of the Anglo-Saxons based on this
passage? Support your response with specific text.
Explain the what made Beowulf lead “a life/ as noble as his name.”
How did Beowulf’s people feel about their King based on lines 889-895? Explain the
contrast between the sentiments conveyed in this section and the fact that his men
deserted him while he fought the dragon. What does this reveal?
What is the tone of these lines (889-895) and what diction and/or imagery supports your
assertion?
What did you learn as a result of your notes?