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Beowulf Test > Beowulf Test > Flashcards

Beowulf Test Flashcards

1
Q

What is the function of Herot?

A

It is the mead hall of the Danes

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2
Q

Why is Grendel appalled by the activities in going on in Herot?

A

The Danes are listening to songs about God

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3
Q

Who or what is Grendel? Why does he live isolated in the marshes?

A

A monster; he is exiled from men by God due to him being a descendent of Cain

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4
Q

What evidence of Christianity is there in this largely pagan poem?

A

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5
Q

How does the poem blend Christian and pagan myth?

A

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6
Q

How does the oral tradition help to attract Beowulf to the Danish shore?

A

Word of Grendel spread until it reached Geatland

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7
Q

What is a kenning, and what does it contribute to the overall effect of the poem?

A

A description that replaces a noun; kennings make the dialogue sound more elevated and therefore more epic

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8
Q

How does the Danes’ response to Grendel evince a clash of culture between pagan and Christian cultures?

A

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9
Q

Why don’t the graybeards protest against Beowulf helping out the Danes?

A

“The omens were good”

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10
Q

What motif is emphasized by the herald’s reaction to the arrival of the Geats?

A

Hospitality

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11
Q

What practice ingrained in the heroic code is illustrated by the term “giver of rings”?

A

Soldiers would receive valuable charms from the king or overlord for their bravery (another name for king is “ring-giver”)

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12
Q

The poet’s identifying Hrothgar as “the crown of the Scyldings” is an example of what figurative device?

A

Kenning

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13
Q

What is significant about (1) the request that Beowulf and his men leave their weapons and armor outside when they enter Herot and (2) their willingness to do so?

A

Hospitality (?)

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14
Q

What do we learn of Beowulf’s ancestry, heritage, and previous connection to Hrothgar’s court?

A

Beowulf’s father is Edgetho and his cousin is Higlac (who is the Geats’ king); is a Geat; Edgetho came to the Danes because he needed help ending a war

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15
Q

In what manner of combat does Beowulf boast that he will defeat Grendel?

A

Only using his hands (believes that if Grendel doesn’t need a weapon, neither does he)

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16
Q

What does Beowulf request should be done with his armor and weaponry in case he doesn’t succeed in his battle against Grendel? What piece does he specifically mention? Why is this one special?

A

Send it to Higlac; (?)

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17
Q

What previous services did Hrothgar provide to Beowulf’s father? How does this history alter the nature of Beowulf’s quest?

A

Hrothgar sent treasure to the Wulfings in order to end a war that Edgetho had started with them; this makes Beowulf’s quest more about repaying a debt to Hrothgar than it is about offering his own kindness

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18
Q

How did Hrothgar become king of the Danes?

A

His older brother Hergar died, and he was next in line to the throne

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19
Q

What do Unferth’s words expressing his doubt about Beowulf’s fight with the sea monsters reveal about Unferth’s character?

A

Unferth is jealous that he wasn’t chosen to kill Grendel (?)

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20
Q

Are we able to see Beowulf as excessively boastful? Why or why not?

A

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21
Q

How, finally, does Beowulf succeed in silencing Unferth, who had questioned Beowulf’s swimming feat and battle with the sea monsters?

A

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22
Q

What does Beowulf’s decision to fight without weapons reveal about his character?

A

He is honorable; he won’t fight with weapons because he knows that Grendel won’t use weapons either

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23
Q

What thought troubles Beowulf’s men as they fall asleep in the hall?

A

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24
Q

What does Grendel do to his victims?

A

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25
Q

Why does Beowulf let Grendel kill one of his men?

A

To get a feel for Grendel’s attack strategy and be more prepared to fight him

26
Q

How heroic is Grendel? How do you know?

A

Grendel is not very heroic because he waits to kill when his victims are unguarded; a hero would fight when neither he nor his opponent has any advantages

27
Q

What, apparently, is the source of Grendel’s invincibility?

A

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28
Q

How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?

A

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29
Q

Thematically, why is the way Beowulf fights Grendel significant?

A

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30
Q

What reminder of the oral tradition are we given at the end of this section?

A

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31
Q

What is significant about the fact that the avenger is Grendel’s mother and not his father or some male relative?

A

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32
Q

How fearsome a monster is Grendel’s mother? Why?

A

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33
Q

How do Grendel and his mother suggest a mixing of pagan and Christian traditions in the culture of the poem?

A

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34
Q

Who is “Ecglaf’s son,” who lends the famous sword, Hrunting, to Beowulf? Under what circumstances was this character first introduced to us?

A

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35
Q

Of what promise does Beowulf remind Hrothgar before he plunges into his Underworld adventure?

A

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36
Q

What supernatural elements are present in this episode that were not present in the fight against Grendel?

A

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37
Q

List some significant differences between Beowulf’s fight with Grendel and his fight with Grendel’s mother.

A

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38
Q

According to the Beowulf poet, what leads to Beowulf’s victory against Grendel’s mother?

A

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39
Q

What apparently supernatural aid does Beowulf receive in his battle in the underwater cave?

A

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40
Q

What is Beowulf’s first action upon defeating Grendel’s mother?

A

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41
Q

What is different between the way the Danes and the Geats react when Beowulf does not return immediately from his battle with Grendel’s mother? What do their different actions reveal about the two tribes?

A

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42
Q

Why doesn’t Beowulf take any treasure from the monster’s lair?

A

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43
Q

What does Beowulf take from the monster’s lair?

A

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44
Q

What does the poet suggest is going to happen between Beowulf and the dragon?

A

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45
Q

What is Beowulf’s mood as he goes into battle with the dragon?

A

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46
Q

Why does Beowulf apologize for carrying weapons against the dragon?

A

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47
Q

What is significant about the introduction of a new character, Wiglaf, at this point in the story? What does Wiglaf represent?

A

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48
Q

How is the dragon eventually defeated?

A

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49
Q

What is Beowulf’s request of Wiglaf once the dragon has been defeated?

A

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50
Q

Why does Beowulf react as he does to seeing the dragon’s treasure? What has treasure come to represent in this poem?

A

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51
Q

How does Beowulf reward Wiglaf for his loyalty and support? What is significant about the treasure he gives Wiglaf?

A

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52
Q

What is Wiglaf’s message to his kinsmen?

A

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53
Q

What is to happen to Beowulf’s treasure? The dragon’s treasure?

A

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54
Q

What is significant about the number of men riding around Beowulf’s tower, telling stories of his life?

A

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55
Q

Is Beowulf a “Christ figure”? Why or why not?

A

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Beowulf Test (1 decks)

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