Beowulf (Part Two)
Co-op, teams of two or three
Name___________________________________ Name ______________________________________
Name __________________________________ Date _______________________________ Period _________
Along with your answers give the line numbers
1.
Explain what Beowulf must do just to get to the “battle-hall” where he can fight Grendel’s mother. How does
this passage reflect “heroic” characteristics?
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2.
Cite imagery in the epic that describes the location of Beowulf’s actual battle with Grendel’s mother [the
“battle-hall”].
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3.
Compare AND contrast Beowulf’s battle with Grendel’s mother to his original battle with Grendel. What was
similar? What was different? Explain which battle you think was more difficult and give reasons for your explanation.
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4.
What specific method does Beowulf use to defeat Grendel’s mother? How does he take his ‘final revenge’
against Grendel? What do you suppose is the reason for this ‘final revenge’?
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5.
As Beowulf’s battle with Grendel’s mother rages, his men wait with Hrothgar’s men on the shore of the lake.
Compare the actions of Beowulf’s men with those of the Danes AND explain what ‘warrior’ virtue his men display by
their actions.
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6.
What two ‘trophies’ does Beowulf bring up from the bottom of the lake?
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7.
Examine the description of the way Beowulf’s men carry Grendel’s head back to King Hrothgar’s court. How
does this description reveal one of Beowulf’s heroic characteristics?
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8.
Find 10 examples of alliteration and copy them here.
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9.
Find two examples of kennings from this section of The Epic of Beowulf. Copy them here along with their
translations. ______________________________________________________________________________________
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10.
Examine the excerpt on the handout that describes the description of the lair where Grendel and his mother
live. What purpose does this passage serve? Compare and contrast the different translations of this scene: Which most
stresses action? Which emphasizes poetic language? Which most successfully evokes a sense of dread? Which passage
has the most effective use of imagery?
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