Beowulf Review

How can you tell that Beowulf is a legendary hero?

a. He is the son of a great ruler who came to fight in England

b. He is a soldier who fought in battles long ago

c. He is larger than life and is remembered in tales from long ago

d. He believes in honor and loyalty

C

What does the poet mean in this line from Beowulf? The monster´s / Thoughts were as quick as his greed or his claws...

a. The monster´s thoughts are kind

b. The monster thinks very quickly

c. The monster has long claws

d. The monster is hungry

B

Why does Beowulf come to see Hrothgar?

a. He wants to help Hrothgar by killing Grendel

b. He has been sent into exile by the king of Geatland

c. He needs Hrothgar´s help against an enemy

d. He comes to seek shelter in Hrothgar´s hall

A

What weapon does Beowulf use to kill Grendel?

a. his sword

b. his hands

c. a dagger

d. a lance

B

Why does Wiglaf tell his comrades they should help Beowulf fight the dragon?

a. They had promised to help Beowulf when he needed them

b. Together they can win and get the dragonś gold

c. Beowulf is too old to fight anymore on his own

d. They can share Beowulfś fame if they kill the dragon

A

What does it mean when Beowulf gives Wiglaf his gold necklace?

a. Beowulf wants Wiglaf to kill his cowardly companions

b. Beowulf realizes Wiglaf is the strongest warrior

c. Beowulf is making Wiglaf ruler of Geatland

d. Beowulf is rewarding Wiglaf for saving his life

C

How do you know that Beowulf is an epic poem?

a. It is a poem about terrible monsters and dragons

b. It is a long poem that tells a story about a legendary hero

c. It tells about real events and real people of long ago

d. It was not written down at first but told by storytellers

B

What is the best paraphrase for the capitalized part of the quotation? Their courage / Was great but all wasted: they could hack at Grendel / From every side, TRYING TO OPEN / A PATH FOR HIS EVIL SOUL, but their points / Could not hurt him...

a. Opening a door so he could escape

b. Trying to save his soul

c. Stopping him from escaping

d. Attempting to kill him

D

Why does Beowulf want a tower built for him?

a. To remind people of his life and famous deeds

b. To warn people not to make war on Geatland

c. To serve as a landmark for sailors from afar

d. to protect the treasure that came from the dragon´s tower

A

Why does Beowulf sail with his chosen companions to Hrothgar´s kingdom?

a. To bring home treasures from that rich kingdom

b. To help Hrothgar by destroying a monster

c. To win glory by slaying a fire-breathing dragon

d. To take over Higlac´s throne

B

Which of the following lines from Beowulf contains an example of kenning?

a. Higlac is my cousin and my king; the days / Of my youth have been filled with glory

b. Their guide reined in his horse, pointing / To that hall built by Hrothgar for the best / and bravest of his men...

c. The high hall rang, its roof boards swayed, / And Danes shook with terror

d. ...I have come so far, / Oh shelterer of warriors and your people´s loved friend, That this one favor you should not refuse me...

D

From which fact can the reader infer that Beowulf is honorable?

a. Beowulf refuses to use weapons because Grendel uses none

b. Higlac is Beowulf´s cousin

c. Beowulf is the strongest of the Geats

d. Beowulf vows to ambush Grendel and destroy the monster

A

Which is the best paraphrase of the following passage from the poem? So the living sorrow of Healfdane´s son / Simmered bitter and fresh, and no wisdom / Or strength could break it: that agony hung / On king and people alike...

a. Hrothgar felt strong and unending sorrow that he had no power to overcome. It affected both him and his subjects

b. The king was in agony and out of his mind because of what his people had done to him

c. Grendel was furious at the Danes, and so he inflicted great pain on the king and his people

d. Hrothgar felt an endless sorrow he couldn´t get rid of

A

Why is it ironic that after his death the Geats build a tower to memorialize Beowulf?

a. Beowulf requested that the tower be built

b. The treasure is left in the tower

c. Beowulf´s body has been cremated

d. Most of the Geats had deserted him in battle

D

More dangerous than Grendel

Grendel´s mother

These sagas are based on real history

Old Norse

Dragons Represent this

Human greed

Causes the dragon to terrorize the people

A slave

Inspired Mythology´s ultimate monster

Dinosaurs

Grendel´s mother marks the death of this

Paganism

________is the king of the Geats--before Beowulf

Higlac

Beowulf sails from Geatland to___________to help Hrothgar

Denmark

After the battle with Grendelś mother, Beowulf leaves with the hilt of a sword and_______________

Grendel´s head

What weapon does Beowulf use to defeat Grendel´s mother? (Be specific)

A magical sword forged by giants that he found in her lair. It was too heavy for a normal person to hold, but Beowulf was able to use it.

It takes_______men to carry Grendel´s head

4

__________is the name of the mead hall Hrothgar builds for his people

Herot

______________is Helfdane´s Son

Hrothgar

In Beowulf´s last battle, all of his men fail to help except for__________

Wiglaf

During the last battle, Beowulf fights_________________

A dragon

Who is the author of Beowulf?

Anonymous

Hrothgar was king of the___________

Danes

What often dictates the fate of an entire race or nation?

The hero´s actions

Who does the writer invoke before he tells the tale?

Muses

What does in media res mean?

In the midst of all

Describe the setting of an epic

It is a grand open space that is often very secluded and far away from the hero´s home. It is vast in time and bleak in outlook.

What does the invocation do?

It helps the author to recount the story accurately

Who is a symbol of great national importance that assumes the great virtues of the people?

The epic hero

Who must the hero battle?

The antagonist

What part of the antagonist does the hero exploit?

The Achilles heel

How do the gods take an interest in the actions of the hero?

They decide whether or not they like the hero, and either help him accomplish his goal, or do everything they can do to stop him. Divine intervention

Why does the hero appeal to the gods?

In order to gain their favor and assistance

Besides fighting evil antagonists, where else does the hero prove himself?

Great battles

What demonstrates the epic character´s high status?

They deliver long monologues

What road trip does the hero undertake?

A quest to fight the antagonist and earn glory

What does the hero receive after he accomplishes his goals?

Treasures, high position, inheritance

What two requests does Beowulf make before he dies?

Beowulf requests that he be buried at the top of a hill (to be named Beowulf´s Tower) that will serve to guide sailors. He also asks Wiglaf to bring him some of the dragon´s treasure so he can see what they were fighting for.

What is significant about the language in an epic?

It is elevated above the style used in everyday conversation to emphasize its importance

Why is an epic an important part of the country´s heritage?

It preserves their values and history

What annoys Grendel and leads to his attacks?

He is not included in the festivities of Herot

What is an epic?

A long story about an epic hero and his quest to defeat his nemesis (the antagonist)

List the three reasons that Beowulf´s name tells us that he is no mere human

Beo means bear

Wulf means wolf

Beowulf does not start with the same letter as his father´s name (Edgetho)

What are two magical qualities that Beowulf possesses?

He has superhuman strength

He can hold his breath underwater for hours

Herot stood empty for___________years

12

Grendel did not touch King Hrothgar´s throne because it was protected by_________

God

Who is mankind´s enemy?

Grendel

Grendel´s mother´s name is________

Unknown

Once Beowulf becomes king,________years pass before a beast menaces his kingdom

50

What does Beowulf mean when he tells Wiglaf that he is, ¨The last of all our far-flung family¨?

Beowulf means that he has no children, and therefore no heir. This statement also suggests that he is the last of the great warriors.

Grendel's mother descended from__________

Cain

___________________________is more dangerous than Grendel because she is full of the___________of a _____________mother

Grendel´s Mother

Rage

Bereaved

Beowulf´s__________again proves useless as it won´t________

Sword

Penetrate the skin of Grendel and his mother

The death of Grendel´s mother marks the death of__________and the rising of___________

Paganism

Christianity

There was a real life rivalry between the______and the_____

Geats

Swedes

_________sagas are thought to be based on____________

Norse

History

Dragons represent_______________

Human greed

____________wakes the dragon and causes him to terrorize the people

An escaped slave

Within a Christian tradition dragons represent a manifestation of_______

Satan

__________possibly inspired mythology´s ultimate monster

Dinosaurs

Beowulf´s death represents_________________

That all men and their work shall die