Beowulf Unit Test Flashcards
What is Beowulf in regards to literature
First masterpiece of English literature
What are things the Beowulf poet knew about?
The knowledge of the customs, traditions, and values of Anglo-Saxon society
About the Hebrew Scriptures
Latin literature
What does the story of Beowulf tell about
Two phases in Beowulf’s life,
His youth and his last days
Did the poet of Christianity make any explicit references to the New Testament
No
What is the Grettis Saga and how is Beowulf similar
Grettis Saga is Icelandic folklore
Both heroes kill monster by ripping off his claw
Both heroes swim to underwater cave to fight a monster
Both heroes friends think the hero is killed when the water turns red with blood
What is the evidence of Christianity in Beowulf
Beowulf thanks The Lord of All
He has 12 followers - paralleling that of Jesus and his 12 disciples
Grendel is the descendent of Cain
How many monsters does Beowulf fight
3
How long is Beowulf king for?
50 years
Who is the Denmark king?
Hrothgar
What is Heorot
The mead hall that Hrothgar built
Who is the Sweden king
Hygelac
What are the poetic elements of Beowulf
4 stresses per line
Kenning
Alliteration
How is the epic poem Beowulf structured
Fight
Celebration
Fight
Celebration etc
Who is Hrothgar’s queen
Wealtheow
Who is Hrothgar’s daughter and what happens to her
Freawaru
She is married off to the enemy to help heal old wounds and stop feud
What does Beowulf take upon leaving the underwater cave
Hilt of the sword hrunting
Grendel’s head
Who is hygelac’s queen
Hygd
What role do women have in Beowulf
The kind hostesses
Pawns for marriage to bring peace
What is Beowulf
Oldest English epic
How does Beowulf represent Anglo Saxon society
Fighting fair fight
Tremendous strength and courage
Kinship
Genealogy
Who was the first king in the story
Scyld
What happens to Beowulf when he dies
Burned on pyre
Surrounded with treasures
Buried with treasure
Another word for revenge
Wergild
What is the mood of Beowulf
Somber and dignified
Starts and ends with a funeral
- often laments the dead
What is ironic about Beowulf and Grendel
Beowulf has the strength of 30 men and Grendel snatched 30 men
What are some conveniences in Beowulf
The fact that a giant sword was available when Beowulf was fighting grendels mother
Beowulf’s strength
What is known as the best sword of all
Dazzle-The-Duel
Who is Unferth
Man who killed own kin
Gives Beowulf the sword Hrunting
