Beowulf Exam Review

1. Beowulf Exam Review Beowulf marks the beginning of English literature

2. When does Grendel first go to Herot? Explain what the warriors are doing when he arrives. What does he do to them? What is Beowulf’s plan for fighting Grendel? Why does he choose this plan? What traits of Beowulf and Grendel raise the fight between them to an epic struggle between two great opposing forces in the world? Beowulf as a hero; upholding the values of his society

3. In what specific way does Beowulf demonstrate loyalty to his lord and king? In what specific ways does he demonstrate his valor? What characteristic typical of heroes in Anglo-Saxon epic poems applies to Beowulf? Beowulf as a hero; upholding the values of his society

4. At the beginning of the poem, Hrothgar’s warriors are happy, while Grendel is consumed by hatred. What causes these differences in attitude? Why is Grendel afraid of touching Hrothgar’s throne? Reread the tribute to Beowulf in the last eight lines of the poem. Identify pagan and Christian influences in the qualities for which the king is praised. Beowulf as a hero; Christian Elements

5. …So should all men Raise up words for their lords, warm With love, when their shield and protector leaves His body behind, send his soul On high. And so Beowulf’s followers Rode, mourning their beloved leader, Crying that no better king had ever Lived, no prince so mild, no man So open to his people, so deserving of praise. Beowulf as a hero; Christian Elements

6. "His famous king bloody, gasping / For breath. But Wiglaf sprinkled water / Over his lord, until the words / Deep in his breast broke through and were heard." Which characters in the poem represent evil? Beowulf as a hero; Christian Elements

7. A prominent Germanic pagan belief is that fame is the only thing that will survive a human being’s death. What evidence do you find in the poem of the importance placed on public esteem or reputation? How does Beowulf’s remark, “Fate will unwind as it must,” reflect the Anglo-Saxon’s attitude toward fate? "Then he saw, hanging on the wall, a heavy / Sword, hammered by giants, strong / And blessed with their magic, the best of all weapons." Beowulf as a hero; Pagan Elements

8. The poet writes, “So gold can easily / Triumph, defeat the strongest of men, / No matter how deep it is hidden.” Explain the symbolic significance of the dragon’s treasure. What is the theme of the story Beowulf? Compare and contrast the three battles described in the excerpts. How are all three battles different versions of the poet’s main conflict? Beowulf as a hero; themes

9. Define an epic hero. Larger than life, usually possesses super-human strength. Represents the national, cultural, or religious values of a society. Represents good in the struggle between good and evil. Beowulf as a hero

10. Define the three (3) poetic devices found in an Anglo-Saxon epic poem? kenning: a poetic, metaphorical renaming alliteration: repetition of initial consonant sounds caesura: a two-part line separated by a pause used to break the rhythm and produce emphasis Beowulf

11. What is the central theme of Beowulf? Where does the story of Beowulf take place? Which characters in the poem represent evil? Who is said to be the ancestor of Grendel? Why is Grendel afraid of touching Hrothgar’s throne? How does Grendel die at the hands of Beowulf? What type of evil did Grendel’s mother represent? What type of evil did the dragon represent? Which Anglo-Saxon belief is revealed in the line, “Fate will unwind as it must”? Why is Beowulf an epic hero? Question Review

12. What characteristics typical of heroes in Anglo Saxon epic poems applies to Beowulf? At the end of the battle, the poet attributes Grendel’s defeat to what? Summarize the theme of Beowulf. “Noble protector of all seamen,” “spear play,” and “shelterer of warriors” are all examples of what literary technique? What literary technique is easily seen in Old English and sometimes represented by a comma in modern English? What are the Danish warriors doing when Grendel first attacks Herot Hall? From what were the magnificent monsters of Beowulf derived? Question Review

13. Beowulf is not only a brave pagan warrior, but he is also a hero for ______. What does Grendel’s mother carry off from Herot Hall? What does Beowulf ask Hrothgar to do if he is killed in the battle against Grendel’s mother? How long did it take Beowulf to reach the bottom of the lake? What did Beowulf use to kill Grendel’s mother? How did Grendel’s mother die? What did Beowulf take from the monster’s lair? How many soldiers had Grendel eaten on this trip before Beowulf stepped up to stop him? Upon meeting with Beowulf’s hands, with fear in his heart, what did Grendel want to do? Question Review

14. Why were the weapons of Beowulf’s men of no use in fighting Grendel? How many men did it take to carry Grendel’s skull to the mead hall? Who was Beowulf’s faithful supporter in his battle with the dragon? Why is it ironic that after his death, the Geats build a tower to memorialize Beowulf? The line, “—The the sword melted, blood-soaked, dripping down like water, disappearing like ice…” contains an example of what poetic device? How does Beowulf finally kill Grendel’s mother? What is Beowulf’s final wish? What three battles does Beowulf fight? Question Review

15. What are the three battles in which Beowulf fights? What is a long narrative poem about a hero called? What are three literary techniques used in Anglo-Saxon poetry? Who wrote Beowulf? What are the values of a warrior society upheld by an epic hero? What is the theme of conflicts found in Beowulf? From what country did Beowulf come? What are the two meanings of the word “herot”? Why were Beowulf’s men’s weapons of no use to them in the battle with Grendel? What hung from the rafters of Herot Hall to prove Beowulf’s victory over Grendel? Question Review