“Beowulf’s Last Battle”
“The Death of Beowulf”
&
“Mourning Beowulf” Review
1. Why does Beowulf want his
friends to stay “close by”?
1. Why does Beowulf want his
friends to stay “close by”?
One word… FAME!
If his friends are close to him
as he fights, they will be able
to relay his stories of glory to
others.
2. In lines 663-666, the dragon
is the aggressor. What does this
suggest about how the battle
might proceed?
2. In lines 663-666, the dragon is the
aggressor. What does this suggest
about how the battle might proceed?
“The monster came quickly…”
“Flames beat at the iron / Shield,
and for a time it held…”
Beowulf is on the DEFENSIVE.
3. What do lines 684-686 reveal
about early Anglo-Saxon attitudes
about life?
3. What do lines 684-686 reveal about
early Anglo-Saxon attitudes about life?
“Unwilling to leave this world…”
“A journey / into darkness that all men
must make, as death / Ends their few
brief hours on earth.”
Death is unknown, and Beowulf is
reluctant to leave Earth, where he has
known great fame and glory. Life is
good but short.
4. Lines 694-696. What do you
conclude about the poet’s attitude
toward the behavior of Beowulf’s
comrades other than Wiglaf?
4. Lines 694-696. What do you conclude
about the poet’s attitude toward the behavior
of Beowulf’s comrades other than Wiglaf?
“And only one of them remained, stood
there, miserable, remembering, as a good
man must, what kinship should mean”
(54).
The other men are not “good,” and they do
now know the meaning of true friendship
or devotion to one’s king. In the warrior
culture, such behavior is not looked upon
highly.
5. What heroic quality does
Wiglaf represent and champion
in his speech? (lines 699-735)
5. What heroic quality does Wiglaf represent
and champion in his speech? (lines 699-735)
-Dedication to his “mighty king”
Beowulf. “I’d rather burn myself
than see flames swirling around my
lord.” BRAVERY.
-Respect for what Beowulf has given
him and his family.
6. Lines 736-737 contain an example
of which of our literary elements?
6. Lines 736-737 contain an example
of which of our literary elements?
-FORESHADOWING
– “life would go,
soon.”
-ALLITERATION – “spoke, in spite of
the swollen livid wound”
7. Figurative Language – Consider the
remark that Beowulf has “unwound / his
string of days on earth” (lines 737-38).
What does it mean?
7.
Figurative Language – Consider the
remark that Beowulf has “unwound / his
string of days on earth” (lines 737-38).
What does it mean?
There are no more days to be
unwound. He is about to die
(foreshadowing).
8. Does Wiglaf himself qualify as
an epic hero?
This is your argument to make.
Think about his characteristics
and compare them to the “epic
hero” characteristics on page 29
of the textbook.
9. Describe the interior of
the dragon’s tower.
9. Describe the interior of the
dragon’s tower.
Look at page 57.
“Piles of gleaming gold, precious gems,
scattered on the floor, cups and bracelets,
rusty old helmets, beautifully made but
rotting with no hands to rub and polish
them.”
10. Clarify the meaning of
lines 801-803. To whom
does his refer in line 802?
To whom does his refer in
line 803?
10. Clarify the meaning of lines 801-803. To
whom does his refer in line 802? To whom
does his refer in line 803?
line 802: “his lord” = Beowulf
line 803: “his breast broke through” =
Beowulf’s voice breaks, and he is able
to speak his final words
11. Do you agree or disagree that
Beowulf “sold his life well”? (line 809)
What do you think?
12. What do Beowulf’s gifts to Wiglaf
suggest about Wiglaf’s future?
Wiglaf is rewarded with Beowulf’s
golden necklace, gold-covered
helmet, rings, mail shirt. He must,
therefore, continue Beowulf’s legacy
as a brave and devoted king.
12. What consequence will the
warriors’ cowardice have for the
rest of the Geat tribe according
to Wiglaf?
12. What consequence will the
warriors’ cowardice have for
the rest of the Geat tribe
according to Wiglaf?
Page 59 – “death would be
better…than the kind of life
you can lead, branded with
disgrace.”