beowulf study guide

Why does Beowulf come to Denmark?

To fulfill his duty as a hero and win fame/glory (to repay Hrothgar for past favors to his father).

How do the coast-guard and Hrothgar respond to him?

The coast-guard is initially suspicious but impressed; Hrothgar welcomes him and sees him as a hope sent by God.

What are Beowulf's major boasts?

He recounts his past feats, like the Breca swimming contest, and vows to fight Grendel without weapons.

Who is Unferth and what is his challenge to Beowulf?

A thane of Hrothgar's who challenges Beowulf's honor by bringing up the swimming contest with Breca and suggesting Beowulf lost.

What is Beowulf's response to Unferth?

He gives the true, detailed account of the Breca contest, clarifying that he killed sea monsters, and then calls out Unferth's own failures (killing his brothers).

Why does Beowulf refuse to use weapons against Grendel?

Because Grendel doesn't use them, and Beowulf wishes to fight a fair, honorable fight to win greater glory.

How does Grendel react to Beowulf's strength?

Grendel is terrified and realizes he has met a force stronger than any other man.

What is the symbolic importance of Grendel's arm?

It is a trophy of victory displayed in Heorot, symbolizing the triumph of good/order over evil/chaos.

What is Grendel's Mother's motive for attack?

She seeks vengeance for the death of her son, Grendel.

What does Grendel's Mother take and why?

She takes Aeschere, Hrothgar's closest advisor, and Grendel's arm (her son's trophy), symbolizing her act of counter-vengeance.

What is the significance of the mere setting?

It is a hellish, fiery, blood-filled underworld that represents the depth of evil and the world of the monstrous.

What is the role and fate of the giant's sword?

It is used to kill Grendel's Mother, but then it melts due to the mother's poisonous blood, leaving only the hilt.

What is the message of Hrothgar's Warning (The Sermon)?

It warns Beowulf about the dangers of pride and how power fades over time, urging him to choose eternal rewards over earthly glory.

How is Beowulf portrayed in the Dragon Episode?

He is shown as an old, wise king who must fight for his people, knowing he may not survive.

Why do the other warriors flee the Dragon fight?

They are overcome by fear and cowardice, violating the warrior code that demands loyalty to their lord.

What is Wiglaf's role and what does he represent in the final battle?

He remains loyal, embodying the true warrior code, and helps Beowulf defeat the dragon. He represents the future of the Geats.

What were Beowulf's death and last requests?

He requests a barrow (burial mound) built on the coast and asks Wiglaf to lead his people and distribute the dragon's treasure.

Why do the Geats fear invasion after Beowulf's death?

They have lost their greatest protector and their surrounding rival tribes (like the Swedes) will likely attack their vulnerable kingdom.

What is the significance of the funeral pyre and barrow?

They serve as a monument to Beowulf's greatness (fame/glory) and a beacon for sailors, fulfilling his final request for a lasting legacy.

What is the tone of the final lines?

Not hopeful. They are filled with sorrow, dread, and fear for the Geats' future, contrasting Beowulf's personal glory with the society's inevitable decline.

How does "Heroism & reputation" appear in Beowulf?

Heroism is achieved through action (deeds), and reputation (fame) is the only way to achieve immortality in this world.

How does "Fate, divine judgment" appear in Beowulf?

Fate (Wyrd) determines the outcome of battles, but Divine Judgment (God) sets the moral bounds and determines Grendel's evil nature.

What are the "blurred lines" in "Good vs. evil"?

While Grendel and his mother are clearly evil, human characters (like Unferth, the cowardly warriors) can waver between good and evil through their choices.

How does "Loyalty & the warrior code" function in the poem?

It requires a thane to be loyal to their lord, especially in battle (exemplified by Wiglaf), while the lord rewards them with treasure.

What is the significance of "Leadership & legacy"?

Leaders must be brave (Beowulf) and wise (Hrothgar). Legacy is achieved through fame and the hope for a worthy successor (Wiglaf).

What is the central theme of "The decline of societies after a great leader dies"?

Societies rely on the strength of their leader. Beowulf's death brings the immediate threat of invasion and the ultimate fall of the Geats' society.

What does "Exile / outsider status" refer to in the poem?

Characters like Grendel (exiled from God) or Beowulf arriving in Denmark as an outsider.

What defines "Heroic confidence" in Beowulf?

His boasts and his refusal to use weapons against Grendel.

What is the difference between "Loyalty vs cowardice"?

Wiglaf's faithfulness vs. the other warriors fleeing from the Dragon.

What signifies "Fear for the Geats' future"?

The threat of invasion after Beowulf's death and the lack of a strong successor.

What is an example of "Divine or supernatural intervention"?

The melting of the giant's sword and Beowulf's unexpected strength/endurance in certain battles.

Why does the Grendel fight define Beowulf?

It establishes him as a superhuman hero who relies on strength and fate, not weapons, fulfilling the heroic code.

What shift in tone does Hrothgar's warning show?

It moves the poem from simple heroic triumph to a meditation on pride, fate, and the decline of human power and glory.

What does the mere setting reveal about Beowulf's foes?

It shows Grendel and his mother are monsters banished by God and live in a hellish, unnatural, isolated environment.

Why does Wiglaf matter in the final battle?

He embodies the traditional warrior code of loyalty that the other Geats abandoned, securing Beowulf's legacy and becoming the hope for the Geats' future.