1.
What is Herot?
2.
What does Grendel hear each day in Herot that fuels his hatred of men?
3.
Describe the events which create the mood in Herot before and after
Grendel begins his attacks. Use quotes from the story to support your answer.
4.
Describe, using wording from the poem, Grendel’s attacks on Herot.
5.
In line 45, who is the “mighty prince mourning”? What literary device is this an example of?
6.
What provided safety for Hrothgar’s warriors?
7.
What are the “hell-forged hands” described in line 64?
8.
“His misery leaped the seas” is an example of what literary device?
9.
Lines 70-75 describe what pagan act?
10.
Write the kenning that appears between lines 70-76.

11.
In lines 117-119, the “wise ones” give Beowulf their blessing to go help
King Hrothgar because the omens are good. What are omens? Would this be considered a Pagan or Christian belief?
12.
Who is joining Beowulf on his quest to help Hrothgar?
13.
Think historically…Why would the author have the watchman act so suspiciously towards Beowulf and his warriors when the land?
14.
Why would the watchman ask for Beowulf’s name and his father’s name?
15.
What does Beowulf say is his purpose in coming to Denmark?
16.
Describe Herot as Beowulf sees it upon his arrival.
17.
Dow did Beowulf hear about Grendel’s attacks on Herot?
18.
Describe the motif of “light” and “dark” as they are used so far in
Beowulf. Think about what each means to the Geats.
19.
What Pagan belief determined the death of the ocean-dwelling monsters that Beowulf killed?
20.
Why does Beowulf decide to fight Grendel without a weapon?
21.
According to Beowulf, what will determine the outcome of his war with
Grendel?

22.
What was unusual about what Grendel finds as he enters Herot on this night?
23.
Line 253, “…his heart laughed” is an example of what literary element?
24.
What line between 270-280 foreshadows Grendel’s death?
25.
I those same lines, what Pagan element is mentioned?
26.
What two kennings are used to describe Grendel at bottom of page 51?
27.
Who is Higlac’s follower?
28.
Why were men’s swords useless against Grendel?
29.
What wound did Beowulf inflict upon Grendel?
30.
What did Beowulf do with the body part? Why?
31.
Why would Grendel’s mom retrieve Grendel’s body part? (Think of what it symbolized to the warriors.)
32.
In line 454, why would Grendel’s mother be called a “she-wolf”?
33.
How long had Grendel’s mom ruled the waters she lived in?
34.
What two things save Beowulf’s life during the fight with Grendel’s mom?
35.
Between lines 515-520 what feat shows us that Beowulf has extraordinary strength?
36.
What does Beowulf remove from Grendel?
37.
What is VERY curious about the battle between Grendel and Beowulf?
(Think supernatural and setting of the battle.)
38.
What element of Anglo-Saxon culture is evident in the fact that
Beowulf’s men never leave the lake side?
39.
Beowulf has the strength of more than 4 men. Prove it with evidence from the reading.