Beowulf
Chapter 1
Cornell Note Review
Let’s Check Your Work!

Directions –
These are my answers BUT that is not to say
that there are other possibilities.
 Take what I have and see how closely it
matches yours.
 If you are way off, change your answer and/or
add to your responses.
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What is the purpose of the
introduction on pg. 289?
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First 3 paragraphs are there to show the
reader what happens to a good king when
they die.
What does happen? How do the people
honor a good king?
 What can we infer about Hrothgar?
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Exposition
Setting: King Hrothgar’s kingdom (land of
the Danes), hall Heorot (Hall of the Hart)
 Initial Characters: Hrothgar, his warriors,
Grendel
 Background Info: Grendel watches the
Danes at night and despises them;
Grendel is a descendent of Cain,
condemned to live alone with his mother
and other monsters
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Kennings
Whale-road = the ocean/sea
 Storm-Geat = Warrior Geat that travels on
the ship to battle
 Ring-Dane = Viewed as a noble, once
fought for the king and because they were
such great warriors, they receive treasure
for their diligence and loyalty
 Spear-Dane = Warrior Danes (spear =
sword)
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Characters
Hrothgar – King of the Danes, noble king
who honors the men that serve him well,
round character
 Danes – Men of Hrothgar – fight
hopelessly against Grendel and cannot
win
 Grendel – great evil monster, descendent
of Cain, antagonist
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Characters con’t.
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Beowulf – Leader of the Storm-Geats, true
hero, “has the strength of 30 men in the grip of
his hand,” comes to help Hrothgar because he
can help and defeat Grendel, fight fair because it
is noble, if it is his time, it is his time, protagonist
Geats – Beowulf’s men
King Hygelac – King of the Geats
Ecgtheow – Beowulf’s father, remembered by
many
Wulfgar – Hrothgar’s herald that says Hrothgar
must speak to Beowulf– demonstrates the
importance of the war gear because he shows
instant respect for this stranger because of his
battle gear
POV
Third person omniscient
 Why might this be helpful to the reader?
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What is odd about how they
worship both the devil and God?
If you worship both, doesn’t that go
against God’s orders?
 Need to trust in one – not go to who you
THINK will help you in a situation.
 Because of this, bad things keep
happening to these people – the Danes.
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Symbolism
Wardrobe = respect
 War gear symbolizes the respect your
countryman have for you.
 Pg. 291 – Can you find the text evidence
to support this?
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Conflicts
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Internal:
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Grendel hates to hear
joy and music coming
from the Danes.
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How this conflict contributes
with the plot?
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Danes not relying on
God.
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It’s the reason he terrorizes
the Hall of Herot and kills
the people.
It is the reason Grendel is
able to terrorize them for
12 long winters.
Both conflicts help build the
rising actions and create
mood and suspense.
Conflicts

Internal:

Grendel hates to hear
joy and music coming
from the Danes.

How this conflict
contributes to the
character
development?

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Danes not relying on
God.
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Shows how evil Grendel
truly is
Showcases how disloyal
the Danes are
The Danes are the
counterpart of the Geats –
Geats are everything the
Danes are not.
Conflicts
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External:

Grendel is attacking
Hrothgar’s Great Hall
of Herot and kills 30 of
his men. Continues to
torment them for 12
long winters.
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How this conflict
contributes with the
plot?
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Builds the rising
actions
Creates a dark mood
Is the cause for why
Beowulf comes to
Hrothgar’s rescue
Conflicts

External:

Grendel is attacking
Hrothgar’s Great Hall
of Herot and kills 30 of
his men. Continues to
torment them for 12
long winters.

How this conflict
contributes to the
character
development?
 Grendel is evil and has
the upper-hand. Can’t
be stopped. An
opportunist.
 Danes are weak –
feebleminded.
Information Quest Connections

Share your thoughts with your shoulder
partner.
Extra: Allusion of Cain
Cain was Adam and Eve’s son that killed
his brother.
 He was banished to Hell.
 Grendel is said to be a descendent of Cain
= meaning symbolizes true evil as well.
 Grendel never had any chance at being
good!!!
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Summary – Which is best?
Epic Hero Qualities
Epic Hero Qualities
Any unanswered questions??
Take time to ask those around you if you
still have unanswered questions.
 You should have a comprehensive
summary of Chapter 1.
 This is to be placed in your Literature
section.
 Homework – Print off the Beowulf Cloze
Read activity and complete Ch. 1.
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