British Literature Beowulf Study Guide

British Literature

Beowulf Study Guide

w At the end of each section, students are responsible
to know the answers to questions from each section.

w There will be short daily quizzes based on the study
guides at the conclusion of each section.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Read “Grendel” p.33-35.

1. Who were Grendel’s earliest ancestors? (Lines 19-29)
2. What is meant by “the beginning might not be the end”? (49)
3. In what way has hate triumphed? (58)
4. Explain the meaning of “His misery leaped/ the seas” (64-5)
5. What does the phrase “hell-forged hands” suggest about Grendel? (64)
6. What does Grendel’s inability to know God’s love suggest about him? (84)
7. What people does Grendel attack for 12 years?
8. What is Grendel’s attitude toward these people?
9. What universal idea does Grendel stand for?
10. Identify one example of figurative language.
11. Provide one example of alliteration.

Thursday, November 16, 2006
Read “Beowulf” p. 36-39.

1. Why does Beowulf decide to sail to Denmark?
2. Based on lines 110-111, 115-116, and 127-130, make inferences about the characteristics of

an epic hero.
3. Figurative Language – What does the poet mean by “light and life fleeing together” in line 148?
4. Beowulf insists on fighting Grendel without weapons. Why do you think this is so important to

him? (lines 172-4)
5. What service did Hrothgar perform for Beowulf’s father? (191-206)
6. Summarize the events leading up to Edgetho’s departure for the land of the Danes. (192-224)
7. Describe what is meant by the line: “My tongue grows heavy / And my heart…” (207-8)
8. Describe what is meant by the line: “Let us toast our victories” (224)
9. Identify two examples of alliteration.
10. Provide one example of hyperbole. What kind of effect does the use of hyperbole have

on epic poetry?

Friday, November 17, 2006
*Current Event Friday*

Monday, November 20, 2006
Read “The Battle with Grendel” p. 40-44.

1. In what direction is Grendel moving from the marsh toward Herot? What might this movement
from one location to another symbolize?

2. In line 265, when Grendel “bolted him down” what did he do to the man?
3. Why was his trip to Herot a “miserable journey” for Grendel?
4. Contrast the behavior of the Danes and Beowulf’s band and offer a theory explaining the

difference.
5. How is the outcome of this battle different from Grendel’s other battles?
6. How is Grendel’s behavior different after he encounters Beowulf?
7. What seems to motivate Beowulf to fight Grendel?
8. Identify two kennings.
9. An epic hero displays larger-than-life qualities. In lines 270-285 what epic quality does Beowulf

display?
10. Identify one example of alliteration.
11. Figurative language – In lines 321-22, why might the author use the words “to open / a

path for his evil soul” instead of just saying “to kill”?
12. Who are the “still worse fiends” in line 330?
13. Imagery - In lines 359-368, identify and analyze vivid sensory images that help the reader to
experience what Grendel’s death was like. Indicate to which of the five senses they appeal.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006 ~ Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Read “Grendel’s Mother” and “The Battle with Grendel’s Mother” p. 45-51.

1. In lines 400-405, what point is the poet making about females?
2. Why do you think the Beowulf Poet has Grendel’s mother seize Hrothgar’s closest friend?
3. In lines 475-492, what motivates Beowulf?
4. Summarize the action in lines 489-525.
5. If Grendel’s mother was on MTV “Cribs,” how would she describe her home?
6. What conclusion do the warriors come to as they watch the surface of the lake?
7. Why does the sword dissolve after Beowulf decapitates Grendel?
8. In lines 450-453, what characteristics of an epic hero does Beowulf display?
9. Visualize lines 589-605. Give two examples of Beowulf’s great strength.
10. Identify one example of alliteration.
11. Identify four kennings and include who they describe.
12. Identify three instances of supernatural powers at work.
15. Epithet – Identify two examples. Cite who/what they describe.

THANKSGIVING BREAK
Students should complete pages 52-60, along with the questions, on their own over Thanksgiving

Break.

Read “Beowulf’s Last Battle”, “The Death of Beowulf”, and “Mourning Beowulf” p. 52-60.

1. Why does Beowulf want his friends to stay “close by”?
2. In lines 663-666, the dragon is the aggressor. What does this suggest about how the battle

might proceed?
3. What do lines 684-686 reveal about early Anglo-Saxon attitudes about life?
4. Lines 694-696. What do you conclude about the poet’s attitude toward the behavior of

Beowulf’s comrades other than Wiglaf?
5. What heroic quality does Wiglaf represent and champion in his speech? (lines 699-735)
6. Lines 736-737 contain an example of which of our literary elements?
7. Figurative Language – Consider the remark that Beowulf has “unwound / his string of days on

earth” (lines 737-38). What does it mean?
8. Does Wiglaf himself qualify as an epic hero?
9. Describe the interior of the dragon’s tower.
10. Clarify the meaning of lines 801-803. To whom does his refer in line 802? To whom

does his refer in line 803?
11. Do you agree or disagree that Beowulf “sold his life well”? (line 809)
12. What do Beowulf’s gifts to Wiglaf suggest about Wiglaf’s future?
13. What consequence will the warriors’ cowardice have for the rest of the Geat tribe

according to Wiglaf?

Monday, November 27, 2006 ~ Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Review of the Anglo-Saxon Period and Beowulf

BIG IDEAS...otherwise known as things you have to know!

Beowulf as epic hero: Does he fit the part? How and why? What aspects of his character represent the
beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons? Find examples that prove the bullet points on page 29.

Imprint of the Christian monk who wrote the poem down...Where do you see his influence?

Literary analysis: can you find numerous examples of ALLITERATION, KENNINGS,
FORESHADOWING? Where, what are they, and how are they used?

Compare/Contrast: How does this poem compare to other epics? How does Beowulf compare to
other epic heroes, or to an American hero?

Personalization: Whom do you like in the poem and why? Whom do you hate and why?
What is your kenning (What would you call yourself)? What would you name your weapon?