Beowulf Flashcards

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1
Q

WHAT YEARS ARE HISTORICALLY KNOWN AS THE DARK AGES?

A

5th century to the 15th century

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2
Q

OVER WHAT LOCATIONS WAS THIS HISTORICAL TERM APPLIED? WHY WAS THIS TERM USED TO DESCRIBE THIS TIME PERIOD?

A
  • applied to Europe

- b/c of death, famine, corruption, a lack of knowledge, and the use of Gothic styles

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3
Q

WHAT WERE THE RELIGIOUS, GOVERNMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS IN PLACE DURING THIS TIME PERIOD?

A
  • religion: Christianity
  • government: feudalism
  • economy: manorialism
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4
Q

HOW DOES BEOWULF PORTRAY A PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY?

A
  • Daughters not as important as sons

- Women’s names not mentioned unless necessary

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5
Q

HROTHGAR

A

a Danish king who was wise but troubled by his past, seen as a father-figure to Beowulf

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6
Q

WELTHOW

A

Hrothgar’s wife who kept him feeling secure during troubled times

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7
Q

BEOWULF

A

the hero who fights Grendel, Grendel’s mother and the dragon to save the people from their destruction, the greatest warrior

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8
Q

GRENDEL

A

a monster who terrorizes Herot, seeking revenge for being set as an outcast

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9
Q

GRENDEL’S MOTHER

A

Grendel’s mother who seeks revenge for her son’s death

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10
Q

THE DANES

A

Hrothgar’s warriors

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11
Q

THE GEATS

A

Beowulf’s warriors who cowardly abandoned him during his fight with the dragon

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12
Q

SIEGMUND

A

dragon-slayer, whose story was told with connection to Beowulf’s encounter with the dragon

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13
Q

THE DRAGON

A

a dragon who guards treasure and is killed by Beowulf and Wiglaf

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14
Q

WULFGAR

A

Hrothgar’s herald who is known for his wisdom

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15
Q

WIGLAF

A

a Geat warrior who was the only warrior to accompany Beowulf in his fight against the dragon

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16
Q

EDGETHO

A

Beowulf’s father, a great warrior

17
Q

FINN

A

married to Hnaf’s sister, killed by Hengest, described in story

18
Q

HNAF

A

a Danish king who was killed by Finn

19
Q

HENGEST

A

a Danish warrior who killed Finn

20
Q

HIGLAC

A

king of the Geats, welcomed Bewoulf back

21
Q

HRUNTING

A

Unferth’s powerful ancient sword attemptedly used to kill Grendel’s mother

22
Q

SIMILARITIES OF GRECIAN HERO AND MEDIEVAL HERO

A
  • honored for bravery and strength
  • descended from someone of highest rank
  • battles determined their strength
23
Q

INFLUENCE OF PRIDE ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

A

a flaw for some characters, but pushed them to successfully complete tasks to protect it.
not viewed positively by society

24
Q

INFLUENCE OF REWARD ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

A

the main reason for many characters to complete tasks, a motivation for the characters

25
Q

INFLUENCE OF FAME ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

A

seen as a positive thing, people put on pedestal for achieving great things

26
Q

INFLUENCE OF PRAYERS ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

A

used in times of need, characters turned to higher powers to help them be successful

27
Q

INFLUENCE OF STORYTELLING ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

A

used as a way of comparison, characters often compared to other great and brave characters to show their greatness

28
Q

INFLUENCE OF LEGACY ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

A

proved how great a character was, showed as being successful and glorified

29
Q

BEOWULF VS. GRENDEL

A

Beowulf fought Grendel to help Hrothgar. This was in the beginning of his life, so he was still very strong. He defeats Grendel without the help of weapons. He tears off Grendel’s arm and hangs it as a trophy.

30
Q

BEOWULF VS. GRENDEL’S MOTHER

A

Grendel’s mother went to Herot and kills Hrothgar’s most noble warrior to seek revenge for her son’s death. Beowulf takes Hrunting with him to Grendel’s mother’s lair where the encounters her. Beowulf beheaded Grendel’s mother with a sword found in Grendel’s mother’s treasures.

31
Q

BEOWULF VS. THE DRAGON

A

After Beowulf has become king and he is an old man, he fights the dragon. When the dragon is disturbed, it causes great destruction. Beowulf and his warriors go to fight it, but Beowulf says he will fight alone. However, the dragon was more powerful than he was, and his men saw this, so they went into the woods. Wiglaf aids Beowulf in defeating the dragon, but Beowulf dies from his wounds.

32
Q

SYMBOLISM OF THE DRAGON IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION

A

seen as evil and sin

33
Q

SYMBOLISM OF THE DRAGON IN EASTERN CIVILIZATION

A

seen as representing positive power