Beowulf Literature Exam Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from the Beowulf exam text covering key characters, settings, literary terms, and cultural concepts.

Scyld Scefing (Shield Sheafson)

A famous Danish king and warrior who arrived from the sea as a child, founded the royal Danish line, and was set adrift at sea in a ship after his death.

Hrothgar

The King of the Danes and son of Halfdane whose mead hall, Heorot, comes under attack by Grendel.

Heorot

The mead hall in Denmark where King Hrothgar and his warriors celebrate before Grendel's attacks.

Grendel

A monster who attacks Heorot and bears the curse of the descendants of Cain.

Hygelac

The King of Geatland, as well as Beowulf's lord and uncle.

Beowulf

A Geatish warrior who travels from Geatland to fight Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a dragon, later becoming King of the Geats.

Unferth

A Danish warrior jealous of Beowulf's fame who taunts him about a swimming contest with Brecca, but later lends Beowulf his sword, Hrunting.

Grendel's Mother

A monster who seeks revenge for Grendel's death and is slain in her lair by Beowulf using a sword made by giants.

The Dragon

The final monster Beowulf fights, which inflicts a mortal wound on Beowulf in battle.

Wiglaf

A loyal young warrior who stays to assist Beowulf in fighting the dragon when all other thanes flee to the forest.

Brecca

A warrior who competed against Beowulf in a swimming contest.

Kenning

A metaphorical compound expression used in Old English poetry, such as 'swan-road' or 'heaven's candle' (the sun).

Hrunting

The borrowed sword loaned to Beowulf by Unferth to prepare for the battle with Grendel's mother.

Heaven's Candle

A kenning used in Beowulf to describe the sun.

Warrior Archetype

A heroic archetype characterized by using courage and physical strength to face difficult challenges and protect others.

Paganism

The religion that influenced Anglo-Saxon culture before the introduction of Christianity.

Cain

A figure from the Bible known for killing his brother, whose descendants carry a curse associated with evil creatures like Grendel.

Halfdane's Children

The four children of Halfdane: Hrothgar, Heorogar, Halgar, and Queen of Onella.