Beowulf's Final Battle and The Fury of the Northmen

Practice fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering the final battle, death, and funeral rites of Beowulf, along with the accompanying informational text on Viking culture and berserkers by Ellen Ashdown.

When Beowulf reached the barrow, his voice challenged the monster, causing the hoard-guard to recognize a __________ voice.

human

As Beowulf and the dragon confronted one another, "each antagonist struck __________ in the other."

terror

During the fight, Beowulf's glittering sword, which had been __________ before that day, failed when he struck the dragon's enamelled scales.

infallible

When Beowulf was furled in fire, his hand-picked troop of comrades broke ranks and ran for their lives to the safety of the __________.

wood

Wiglaf, who refused to abandon Beowulf, was the son of __________ and a well-regarded Shylfing warrior related to Aelfhere.

Weohstan

Before entering the fray to assist his king, Wiglaf brandished his __________-timbered shield and drew his sword.

yellow

Wiglaf reminded his comrades of the vows they made when mead was flowing in the hall to their lord and __________-giver.

ring

Wiglaf referred to Beowulf as "the __________ of our land, a man unequaled in the quest for glory."

shepherd

Rallying his companions, Wiglaf urged: "We must bond together, shield and helmet, __________-shirt and sword."

mail

Mortally wounded after slaying the dragon, Beowulf asked Wiglaf to enter the cave and bring out the monster's __________.

treasure

Beowulf ordered his troop to construct a barrow on a headland on the coast at __________ after his pyre had cooled.

Hronesness

Beowulf wished his coastal burial mound to be named __________ so crews under sail would remember him.

Beowulf's Barrow

Before dying, Beowulf gave Wiglaf his gilded helmet, warshirt, and the collar of __________ from his neck.

gold

Beowulf told Wiglaf that he was the last remaining member of the brave clan called the __________.

Waegmundings

After Beowulf's death, __________ warriors rode around the tomb, chanting dirges and mourning their king.

twelve

The chieftains' sons mourned Beowulf by chanting in dirges, which are __________ songs.

funeral

At the conclusion of the poem, the Geat people praised Beowulf as the man kindest to his people and keenest to win __________.

fame

When Viking raids began in England at the end of the eighth century, the church created a prayer asking God to deliver them from the fury of the __________.

Northmen

In Old Norse, a berserkr was defined as a "__________ Norse warrior" who fought with wild fearlessness.

frenzied

The term berserkr literally means either "bear shirt" or "__________ shirt."

bare

Some historical accounts suggest berserkers were religious followers of __________, the Norse god of death and war.

Odin

The Viking Age spanned the __________ through eleventh centuries across the European continent and Atlantic Ocean.

ninth

Due to overpopulation, Vikings sailed out from Sweden, Denmark, and __________ to find new land.

Norway

To the Scandinavians, the phrase "to go a-viking" meant "to fight as a warrior or __________."

pirate