Beowulf

1. Beowulf

2. 10 What is an epic? • Songlike poem that explores the speaker’s feelings • Brief story that teaches a moral about life • Story that focuses on a single incident • Long narrative poem that describes the deeds of heroes

3. 10 What is an archetype? • The main character of a story • Loyal and strong by nature • A character type that recurs in literature from many cultures and time periods • The villain of a story

4. 10 Ancient epics were passed down …. • By the king • Orally • In written form • Through schools

5. 10 Why does Beowulf kill Grendel? • Keep Herot from being destroyed • To get the treasure in Grendel’s lair • Save Hrothgar and the Danes from the monster • To win the heart of a princess

6. 10 Why does Beowulf fight Grendel with only his bare hands? • His hands were made of magic • Grendel was magically protected by weapons • Beowulf wants to prove his bravery • Beowulf wants to prove that the Geats are better than the Danes

7. 10 How does Beowulf die? • He is killed as he and Wiglaf fight the dragon • He is killed by his own army • Grendel’s mother slays him • The dragon kills him as Beowulf goes out unarmed to fight the monster

8. 10 What saves Beowulf’s life when he is battling Grendel’s mother? • helmet • woven mail shirt • sword • shield

9. 10 How does Beowulf kill Grendel? • Cut off his arm • Cut off his head • Stabbed his heart • Cut off his leg

10. 10 What two things does Beowulf bring back after defeating Grendel’s mother? • The arms of Grendel and Grendel’s mother • The legs of Grendel and Grendel’s mother • A hidden treasure • The heads of Grendel and Grendel’s mother

11. 10 Which of the following is one of Beowulf’s final wishes? • To be buried with the treasure • He wants the Thanes to build him a borrow • To be buried with the dragon • To have the dragon’s head mounted

12. 10 In John Gardner’s Grendel how is the raid on Hrothgar’s hall different? • In Grendel the monster does not eat humans • The novel Grendel shows the action from the monster’s point of view • In Beowulf each victim is individually described • Beowulf shows the action from Beowulf’s point of view

13. 10 An epic usually has all of the following elements except … • Gods and goddesses • Formal, elevated language • A comic tone • A mixture of myth, legend, and history

14. 10 Which of the following is the reason why the dragon attacked the Geats? • He was hungry • He wanted to take over Geatland • He wanted to kill Beowulf • A thief stole the dragon’s jeweled cup

15. 10 Why does Beowulf want the barrow built for him? • To remind people to his greatness • To remind Wiglaf of his duties • To serve as a monument to King Hrothgar • Sign of the new Christian faith

16. 10 Why does Grendel’s mother attack Herot? • She is hungry • She wants to take over the hall • She wants to kill Hrothgar • To avenge Grendel’s death

17. 10 Why does Unferth bring up Beowulf’s swimming match with Brecca? • He wants to show Beowulf’s strength • He is proud of Beowulf • He is jealous of Beowulf • He wants everyone to know Beowulf’s loyalty

18. 10 What is Welthow’s role in Herot? • She is the queen • She is Beowulf’s wife • She is Grendel’s wife • She is Beowulf’s sister

19. 10 To what does Beowulf attribute his victory in defeating Grendel and Grendel’s mother? • Hrothgar • Welthow • Himself • God

20. 10 How does Beowulf respond to Hrothgar’s request to defeat Grendel’s mother? • He is ready and confident • He is scared and unsure • He doesn’t want to do it • He leaves and never returns

21. 10 Which of the following is true about Wiglaf? • He abandons Beowulf • He helps Beowulf defeat the dragon • He tells Beowulf that the troops will desert him • He is unworthy to succeed to the throne

22. 10 Which of the following quotations from Beowulf contains a kenning? • “And all at once the greedy she-wolf ..” • “At last he saw the mud of the bottom.” • “He was hunting another/Dead mother…” • “Grendel’s mother/Is hidden in her terrible home..”