| What is the central theme of Beowulf? | 1. Ancestral Heritage2. Individual Reputation |
| Why is the concern of family lineage so predominate? | kinship bonds (helps establish Character and Identity) |
| What helps develop a good identity? | good reputation |
| Who is the legendary originator of the Danish royal line; what is so important about his background? | 1. Shield Sheafson2. was an orphan–thus forcing him to turn to violent actions that eventually developed |
| What’s the most important concept in Beowulf’s culture? | Their memory will continue on after death |
| Beowulf focuses on the Germanic heroic code, which is: | 1. values strength, courage, and loyalty in Warriors 2.hospitality, generosity, and political skill in Kings 3. ceremoniousness in Women 4. good reputation in all People. |
| Where does most tension spark from? | divided loyalties |
| What divided loyalty sparks the war between the Danes and Frisians? | Danish Hildeburh marries the Frisian king. Hildeburh’s brother (Danish) and her Frisian son are killed –Hildeburh is left doubly grieved. |
| What does warrior culture dictate? | better to retaliate than to mourn |
| What do Hrothgar’s speech as king and, later, Beowulf’s speech as a king have in common? | emphasis the value of creating stability in a precarious and chaotic world. |
| Represents a “safe-haven” for warriors returning from battle; traditions are preserved, loyalty was rewarded | Mead-Hall(Hrothgar’s great hall of Heorot in Denmark)(Hygelac’s hall in Geatland) |
| What does the Golden-Torque symbolize? | necklace that Wealhtheow gives Beowulf = symbol of bond of loyalty between her people and Beowulf—and, by extension, the Geats. |
| What is the meaning behind the Golden-Torque? | Hygelac died in battle wearing it |
| What does the The Banquet symbolize? | The restoration of order/harmony among the Danish people |
| What does the rebuilding of the Mead-hall symbolize? (along with speeches and rewards given) | the rebirthing of the community |
| Who composed Beowulf? | unknown Anglo-Saxon poet (around 700 a.d) |
| From what were Old English elements were developed for Beowulf; what elements | Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian peoples had invaded the island of Britain; many Germanic languages that helped develop Setting and Characters |
| action of the poem takes place around | 500 A.D. |
| True/False: Beowulf thus came to be told by a Christian poet. | TRUE |
| The plot revolves around | Scandinavian culture |
| True/False: The narrator’s culture was somewhat different from his ancestors based on intervention | True |
| In the Scandinavian culture what was the roles of kings and people | Warrior Culture; Strong kings demand bravery and loyalty from their warriors– they repay with treasures won in war |
| What is the setting of Beowulf? | Scandinavia |
| True/False: first hundred years of Beowulf’s prominence, interest in the poem was primarily historical | True(the text was viewed as a source of information about the Anglo-Saxon era) |
| T/F: Beowulf was not widely read until the 1800s and not widely regarded as an important artwork until the 1900s | True |
| T/F: Beowulf has had little direct impact on the development of English poetry. | True |
| T/F: Beowulf is often referred to as the first important work of literature in English | True(even though it was written in Old English) |
| Scop | Poet |
| the verse form of Alliteration is important in Beowulf because | It would help Scops remember the many thousands of lines they were required to know by heart. |
| Which words are stressed: “Lade ne letton. Leoht eastan com” | Lade, letton, leoht, and eastan are the 4 stressed words |
| The most common rhetorical device used in Beowulf is | Kenning |
| Kenning is a | short metaphorical description of a thing used in place of the thing’s name |
| Example of Kenning | 1. ship might be called a “sea-rider” 2. king a “ring-giver” |
| In Beowulf’s youth he demonstrates | best values of the heroic culture(in old age he proves a wise/effective ruler) |
| When is the time of Beowulf’s transition from warrior to king? | period following Hygelac’s death |
| What is the Genre? | Alliterative verse; elegy( resembles heroic epic, though smaller in scope than most classical epics ) |
| What is the Language? | Anglo-Saxon (also called Old English) |
| What is the Setting? | Denmark & Geatland (a region in what is now southern Sweden) |
| What is the Mead-Hall called? | Heorot Hall |
| Who did Grendel’s mother kill? | Aeschere |
| What helps Beowulf form into a king? | King Hrothgar’s praises and advice about being a good king |
| What does the poem open with? What’s the significance? | 1. funeral of Shield Sheafson; 2. foreshadows Beowulf’s funeral at the poem’s end |
| What does story of Sigemund told by the scop foreshadow? | Beowulf’s fight with the Dragon |
| story of King Heremod forshadows | Beowulf’s eventual ascendancy to kingship |
| What is the relationship between Hrothgar and Beowulf? | Hrothgar knew Beowulf’s father |
| Who is the father of Shield Sheafson? | Sheafson is an orphan. |
| How does Hrothgar know of Beowulf? | Hrothgar was friends with Beowulf’s father. |
| About how long is the dragon? | 50 feet |
| How long does Beowulf reign as king of the Geats? | 50 years |
| What, according to Beowulf, is better than mourning a death? | Avenging a death |
| Who helps Beowulf against the dragon? | Wiglaf |
| Who taunts Beowulf in Heorot? | Unferth |
| Who is Modthryth? | A wicked queen of legend |
| From whom is Grendel descended? | Cain |
| Who is queen of the Geats? | Hygd |
| Whom does Grendel’s mother abduct and decapitate? | Aeschere |
| How many Geats does Grendel kill? | 1 |
| What is Hrunting? | a sword |
| Where do the Geats place Beowulf’s Barrow? | On a cliff overlooking the sea |
| Who is Beowulf’s father? | Ecgtheow |
| What is wyrd? | The Anglo-Saxon concept of “fate” |
| Where do Grendel and his mother live? | a lake |
| What is a scop? | a poet |
| Who guides Beowulf to the dragon’s barrow? | the thief |
| Who gives Hygd three horses? | Beowulf |
| Which character is descended from Shield Sheafson? | Hrothgar |
| What is the name of Hrothgar’s wife? | Wealhtheow |
| How did the dragon’s treasure get in the barrow? | It was buried there by the last survivor of a forgotten race. |
| What is Hygelac wearing when he dies? | Wealhtheow’s torque |
| From about when does the only existing Beowulf manuscript date? | 1000 a.d. |
Beowulf
February 24, 2020