Beowulf study guide questions. Flashcards
Hrothgar
King of Denmark, his throne is in Herot, his kingdom was attacked by Grendel. Helfdanes son.
Beowulf
Son of Edgetho and is prince of the Geats. He is the main character, and kills Grendel and his mother. He rules Geatland for 50 years, and never used a weapon in battle until fighting the dragon.
Wiglaf
Son of Wexstan of Sweden, stays loyal when no one else does and does not abandon Beowulf when he fights the dragon, Heir of Beowulf
Unferth
Beowulf takes his sword, Hrunting, to use against Grendel mom.
Brecca
Beat Beowulf in a swimming race.
Grendel
Attacks the Danes, loses to Beowulf, decedent of Cain, mad from banishment. Loses to Beowulf, and gets his arm ripped off. Normal swords have no effect. Wouldn’t touch H-gars throne because it is protected by god.
Grendel’s Mother
She lives in the lake that burns like a torch. A normal sword could not hurt her. She gets killed by magical sword forged by giants.
wyrd
A belief system - dark view of fate.
Danish sentry
First one to meet Beowulf when he arrives. He was patrolling along the shore cliffs. He wants to know why they came so openly and who they are and who their dads are. He takes them to H-gar.
Higlac
Beowulf’s cousin and his king. King of the Geats.
Edgetho
Beowulf’s dad; leader of men.
Denmark
Home to the Danes. H-gar rules all of Denmark.
Geatland
Where Beowulf is from. Higlac is the ruler, and then Beowulf succeeds him and rules for 50 years.
Monster’s Lair
The lake that burns like a torch. Grendel & his mom’s home.
Herot
A famous mead hall. Home to H-gars throne. The place Grendel attacks. Sits abandoned for 12 years.
Comitatus
Loyalty agreement
Naegling
Beowulfs sword
Hrunting
Unferth’s sword
Wergild
man price
Witan
council of elders; chooses the next king
Christian
They believe in God. Words to describe God are He, Him, any and all references to bible, Hell.
Pagan
They believe in multiple gods. They also believe in things like fate. Magic, monsters, fantasy Literature, worshiped nature.
Caesura
A break in the lines of poetry.
Kenning
a compound word that represents a one word noun.
ex. battle-sweat = Blood
Mead Hall
Social political center of an Anglo-Saxon village.
Epic
long narrative poem that exstoles the virtues of a hero.
Hero
One who represents the best qualities and characteristics of the time from which they come.
Epic convention qualities.
Gore, vast setting, in media res, invocation & music, digression
When does the poem come to be?
5th or 6th century
When was the poem first written?
11th century
how long is the poem?
about 3000 lines
what is an Anglo-Saxon poet called.
Scop
how did the poem survive for hundreds of years before being written down?
Oral tradition
