beowulf test

Question 1

Wiglaf

Answer 1

last of the waegmundings, son of Weohstan, only warrior to come to Beowulf’s aid in the battle with the dragon, brings treasure to Beowulf when he’s dying

Question 2

Wealhtheow

Answer 2

queen of Danes, wife of Hrothgar

Question 3

Shield Sheafson

Answer 3

scourge of many tribes, storytellers would tell legends about him, Hrothgar’s great great grandfather

Question 4

Hygelac

Answer 4

king of the Geats before Beowulf, Beowulfs uncle

Question 5

Hrunting

Answer 5

Unferth’s sword that he gave to Beowulf to fight Grendels mother

Question 6

Hrothgar

Answer 6

king of the danes, commonly called “son of half dane”

Question 7

Heorot

Answer 7

the mead hall, land of the danes

Question 8

Grendel

Answer 8

descendent of Cain, monster who terrorized Heorot for 12 years

Question 9

Beowulf

Answer 9

Hygelac’s thane, superhero of this book who defeats Grendel, Grendels mother, and the dragon

Question 10

Hygd

Answer 10

wife of Hygelac

Question 11

Unferth

Answer 11

a dane who was jealous of Beowulf, mocked him for losing swim race against Brecca, gains respect for Beowulf after he kills Grendel

Question 12

Wergild

Answer 12

the death price, paying damages to a group for the loss of a warrior (to stem violence)

Question 13

Kenning

Answer 13

compound word in place of another, metaphor, usually hyphened

Question 14

Epithet

Answer 14

another way to call someone (ex. Hrothgar, son of Halfdane)

Question 15

Comitatus

Answer 15

showing respect, bond of loyalty between king and thanes, thanes and one another, thanes to the king

Question 16

Formal Boast

Answer 16

simply a way for the thanes/warriors to prove they are up to task

Question 17

Scop

Answer 17

storyteller/narrator

Question 18

Christian Elements/Pagan Elements

Answer 18

worshipping to stone gods, fate

Question 19

Simile

Answer 19

comparison of two things using like or as

Question 20

Metaphor

Answer 20

comparison of two things without using like or as

Question 21

Personification

Answer 21

giving non human things human like characteristics

Question 22

alliteration

Answer 22

repetition of consonant sounds

Question 23

caesura

Answer 23

space between words in the middle of each line, break, only on old english side

Question 24

what do caesura and alliteration do?

Answer 24

they are both structurally significant, and create rhythm to help storyteller to remember

Question 25

Why do you think Hrothgar does not inform Beowulf of their sightings of a second monster (Grendel’s mother) before Beowulf fights Grendel?

Answer 25

Hrothar does not inform Beowulf of their sightings of a second monster before Beowulf fights Grendel because he thinks that it is irrelevant.

Question 26

How does Hrothgar urge Beowulf to take action against Grendel’s mother? Observe the words he uses

Answer 26

Hrothgar believed that Beowulf was the only man who could be capable of dealing with Grendel’s mother.

Question 27

What does Grendel’s mother’s desire for revenge reveal about Anglo-Saxon culture?

Answer 27

Grendel’s mother’s desire for revenge reveals that the Anglo Saxon culture takes revenge more seriously than life

Question 28

Why do you think Grendel’s mother would kill Hrothgar’s closest friend for vengeance instead of Beowulf?

Answer 28

I think that Grendel’s mother killed Hrothgar’s closest friend instead of Beowulf because she wanted to fight Beowulf herself.

Question 29

Why doesn’t this sword prove useful
against Grendel’s mother?

Answer 29

The sword doesn’t prove useful against Grendel’s mother because it wasn’t made for battling supernatural beings.

Question 30

How is Beowulf able to kill Grendel’s mother? What is ironic about this victory?

Answer 30

Beowulf finds a sword in her lair and uses it to behead her. This is ironic because Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother with her own sword.

Question 31

What does he bring back to give to Hrothgar? Why?

Answer 31

He brings back Grendel’s head and the hilt of the giant sword to prove to Hrothgar that Grendel is gone for good.

Question 32

How does the dragon terrorize the Geats? Why does the dragon attack the Geats?

Answer 32

The dragon terrorize the geats by burning the villages and Beowulf’s house because a man had buried the treasure and the dragon was guarding it, the slave manages to find his way to the treasure and steals a goblet. The slave goes back to his master and the master takes a bunch of men and they raid the treasure making the dragon mad.

Question 33

List and explain evidence that suggests Beowulf’s decision to fight the dragon is, perhaps, foolish.

Answer 33

Beowulf’s decision to fight the dragon is foolish because he has too much pride and wants to fight the dragon himself, he is much older now meaning he’s not as strong anymore, he has a sense that he’s going to die but he still decided to fight

Question 34

Why does Beowulf feel that he must justify his use of armor during the battle with the dragon? What might Beowulf’s sword and shield symbolize?

Answer 34

He justifies his armor against the dragon because he usually never uses armour in his battles and the dragon was also going to be too hot. The shield and sword symbolize his older age and a sign of his declining health because he always relied on his own strength and protection but now he cant fight without weapons

Question 35

Describe Beowulf’s fight with the dragon. Where does he begin to lose the battle? What does the poet blame for Beowulf’s turn of fortune?

Answer 35

Beowulf tries to attack with his sword but the sword doesn’t work. Beowulf tries to use his sword to attack the dragon but the dragon’s skin is too thick/hard and breaks. Wiglaf comes in and tries to help. He stabs the dragon in the dragon’s belly, weakening the dragon flames and Beowulf uses his dagger to finally stab the dragon, killing him. The poet blames beowulf’s turn of fortune on his pride

Question 36

What does he want his last sight to be as he dies? Why? What does this suggest about Anglo-Saxon culture?

Answer 36

Beowulf wants his last sight as he dies to be the treasure he bought (sacrificed) with his life for his people. He tells Wiglaf to get the treasure. This suggests (about Anglo Saxon culture) that they are very unselfish and the king was to provide for his people, and even to Beowulf’s death he does that.

Question 37

What are Beowulf’s final wishes? Why can he “leave his life happy”?

Answer 37

Beowulf’s final wish is to have this monument (serving as a memorial for him) containing these pillars overlooking the cliff by the water so people in the future could pass by and see it and everyone can tell the story of his accomplishments. He can leave his life happy knowing that he’s done everything for his people, protecting and fighting for others. He has glory for his name, family name, and people. Dragon will also no longer harm his people. He left life with a good reputation.

Question 38

Summarize what Wiglaf says to the soldiers who fled when the dragon attacked.

Answer 38

Wiglaf tells the soldiers who fled when the dragon attacked that they are cowards and the armour they are standing in was given by Beowulf and when Beowulf needed them they were too much of a coward to help. Their cowardness not only prevented Beowulf from living but also he says that when other countries find out they might try to harm them because what is there to lose?

Question 39

List five details about Beowulf’s funeral.

Answer 39

They created a barrow with a wall around it

Beowulf is buried with his treasure

12 horsemen go around in circles singing songs about Beowulf’s greatness

They created a fire

A great woman predicts what is to come in the future

Question 40

How is Beowulf described in the last lines of the poem?

Answer 40

Beowulf is described in the last lines of the poem as the most gracious and the most fair minded the kindest to his people and keenest to win fame

Question 41

What is the theme of the epic poem

Answer 41

The theme of the epic poem is the way Beowulf lived his life and how others should perform/live. The only flaw he had was too much pride and how he never allowed anyone to help him in battle. A great leader never goes unknown and the actions never go unknown