Beowulf

Question 1

WHAT YEARS ARE HISTORICALLY KNOWN AS THE DARK AGES?

Answer 1

5th century to the 15th century

Question 2

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

Answer 2

• applied to Europe

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

Question 3

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

Answer 3

• religion: Christianity
• government: feudalism
• economy: manorialism

Question 4

HOW DOES BEOWULF PORTRAY A PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY?

Answer 4

• Daughters not as important as sons

- Women’s names not mentioned unless necessary

Question 5

HROTHGAR

Answer 5

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

Question 6

WELTHOW

Answer 6

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

Question 7

BEOWULF

Answer 7

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

Question 8

GRENDEL

Answer 8

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

Question 9

GRENDEL’S MOTHER

Answer 9

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

Question 10

THE DANES

Answer 10

Hrothgar’s warriors

Question 11

THE GEATS

Answer 11

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

Question 12

SIEGMUND

Answer 12

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

Question 13

THE DRAGON

Answer 13

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

Question 14

WULFGAR

Answer 14

Hrothgar’s herald who is known for his wisdom

Question 15

WIGLAF

Answer 15

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

Question 16

EDGETHO

Answer 16

Beowulf’s father, a great warrior

Question 17

FINN

Answer 17

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

Question 18

HNAF

Answer 18

a Danish king who was killed by Finn

Question 19

HENGEST

Answer 19

a Danish warrior who killed Finn

Question 20

HIGLAC

Answer 20

king of the Geats, welcomed Bewoulf back

Question 21

HRUNTING

Answer 21

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

Question 22

SIMILARITIES OF GRECIAN HERO AND MEDIEVAL HERO

Answer 22

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

Question 23

INFLUENCE OF PRIDE ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

Answer 23

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

Question 24

INFLUENCE OF REWARD ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

Answer 24

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

Question 25

INFLUENCE OF FAME ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

Answer 25

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

Question 26

INFLUENCE OF PRAYERS ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

Answer 26

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

Question 27

INFLUENCE OF STORYTELLING ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

Answer 27

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

Question 28

INFLUENCE OF LEGACY ON CHARACTERS & SOCIETY

Answer 28

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

Question 29

BEOWULF VS. GRENDEL

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

BEOWULF VS. GRENDEL'S MOTHER

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

BEOWULF VS. THE DRAGON

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

SYMBOLISM OF THE DRAGON IN WESTERN CIVILIZATION

Answer 32

seen as evil and sin

Question 33

SYMBOLISM OF THE DRAGON IN EASTERN CIVILIZATION

Answer 33

seen as representing positive power