| Why does Hrothgar build a mighty hall? | to celebrate his successes in battle, it is called Heorot, like a throne room |
| What transpires in Heorot to make Grendel angry? | good times, he cannot enjoy himself because he is cursed as a descendant of Cain |
| What is Grendel’s lineage? | he is a descendant of Cain, is condemned as an outcast |
| Why has Grendel been exiled? | God outcasted him |
| What happens during Grendel’s first visit to Heorot? | he grabs and kills several men as they slept |
| How long does Grendel haunt Heorot? | for 12 years |
| Why doesn’t Grendel attack Hrothgar? | Hrothgar’s throne was as if it had a spell on it, Grendel, being cursed by God, could not approach |
| To what measures do Hrothgar and his nobles resort to rid themselves of Grendel? | they pray at shrines, gave offerings, made oaths |
| How does Beowulf react when he hears of the plight of the Danes? | he decides to journey to help Hrothgar and the Danes at Heorot, his own clansmen worried for him |
| How are Beowulf and his men received on Danish shore? | they are met by watchmen |
| Why does Beowulf describe himself by recounting his heritage? | he knows that his own father was a friend of Hrothgar’s, the guards will trust him more. He has gone to defeat Grendel and repay Hrothgar for helping his father |
| How does the watchman respond to Beowulf’s explanation of why they have come? | he believes Beowulf because they look Legit. He offers to lead them to Hrothgar and have one of his men watch over their boat |
| According to the herald, what distinguishes Beowulf’s visit from others? | Beowulf’s gang looks Legit |
| Who is Wulfgar? | he is Hrothgar’s herald and officer |
| According to Wulfgar, why has Beowulf come all this way? | to meet Hrothgar and to defeat Grendel |
| What does Beowulf boat when he meets Hrothgar? | of his awesome strength and victories in battle |
| What request does Beowulf make? | he asks that Hrothgar allows him to fight Grendel |
| If Beowulf dies in battle with Grendel, what are his instructions? | to send his armor back to his Lord Hygelac |
| How did Hrothgar become king? | he became king after his brother died |
| What is the purpose of the feast that Hrothgar hosts? | to celebrate that Beowulf has come to help him |
| Why does Unferth seem perplexed by Beowulf’s stories? | Unferth is son of Ecglaf. He questions Beowulf as he heard of Beowulf’s loss at a swimming contest. He is likely jealous. |
| How did Unferth describe the swimming match between Beowulf and Brecca? | claims that Beowulf is not so great because Brecca beat him and he only did it to prove himself, out of vanity |
| What is Beowulf’s response to Unferth’s story of the swimming match? | that Unferth doesn’t know the whole story. Beowulf claims he was captured by sea monsters, ends up slaying 9 monsters then finished the winner |
| What is Wealtheow like? | she is adorned in gold and offers the cup of mead to the men |
| What is Hrothgar’s declaration to Beowulf? | that Beowulf can have anything he wants if he wins over Grendel |
| What is Beowulf’s boast before going to bed? | that he is at least as good at fighting as Grendel |
| What do Beowulf’s men think of their chances against Grendel? | none of them expect to survive |
| How does Grendel respond when he comes to Heorot? | he is gleeful and greedy to kill when he sees all the men sleeping |
| What happens when Grendel reaches for Beowulf? | Beowulf isn’t actually asleep and grabs Grendel |
| What happens when Beowulf’s men attack Grendel? | they are unable to strike him, like a spell that didn’t allow for the use of weapons |
| What happens at the end of the fight between Beowulf and Grendel? | Beowulf has Grendel’s arm and raises it up |
| What are the reactions of Hrothgar’s people upon hearing the news of Grendel’s death? | people are in high spirits, gather from all over to praise Beowulf |
| What is the lake like that Grendel goes to? | it is swampy, full of blood from Grendel, churning` |
| Who is Siegmund? | he was a dragon slayer. they talk about him because his story is similar to that of what Beowulf has just accomplished |
| What does Hrothgar proclaim when he sees Grendel’s arm hanging from the ceiling? | He thanks God, and says that he thinks of Beowulf as a son |
| What is Unferth’s reaction to Grendel’s arm? | he is quiet, as he has been shown up by Beowulf |
| What gifts does Hrothgar give Beowulf? | a gold standard, an embroidered banner, breast mail, a helmet, a sword and horses |
| What gifts does Hrothgar give Beowulf’s men? | a treasure, money |
| How were the bodies of the dead disposed of in Anglo-Saxon times? | they were burned in a funeral pyre |
| Who are the sons of Hrothgar? | Hrethric and Hrothmund. they attend the feast so they can learn from Beowulf |
| What gifts does Wealtheow give Beowulf? | she gives him wrought gold, arm bangles, a mail shirt, rings, and she asks him to guide her sons |
| Why did the Danes sleep with their armor on? | so they would be ready at any moment to fight |
| How long had Grendel’s mother lived in the lake? | ever since Cain had killed his brother |
| Why does Grendel’s mother go to Heorot? | for revenge on the men who had killed her son |
| Whom does Grendel’s mother snatch? | Aeschere, Hrothgar’s right-hand man |
| Who had witnessed the Grendel and his mother before the attacks? | the people who lived out in the upland country |
| Where did Grendel and his mother live? | a dark lake, with trees and rocks and a cliffside |
| According to Beowulf, what is the only thing that survives death? | glory |
| What do Hrothgar’s men discover on their search for Grendel’s mother? | Aeschere’s head |
| What was the lake like? | infested with reptiles, sea-dragons, a cliff |
| What equipment does Beowulf take with him to fight Grendel’s mother? | he wears chain mail, a helmet, and wields Hrunting, the sword Unferth gave him |
| What is the significance of Hrunting? | it was given to Beowulf by Unferth, had never failed anyone in battle |
| How effective were Beowulf’s weapons against Grendel’s mother? | he couldn’t use his weapons, they didn’t work on her |
| How does Beowulf eventually slay Grendel’s mother? | Beowulf uses a giant’s sword in her lair and cuts her head off |
| What does Beowulf do to Grendel’s body? | he cuts his head off and puts it on a spear |
| What is happening at the surface while Beowulf fights underwater? | the men see blood in the water and believe Beowulf is probably dead |
| What happens to Hrunting? | the blade melts leaving only the hilt, from Grendel’s mother’s blood |
| What does Beowulf take with him as a trophy? | The head of Grendel on a spear and the hilt of the sword |
| To what does Beowulf tribute his victory over Grendel’s mother? | God |
| What is Hrothgar’s reaction to what is written on the hilt of the sword? | there are engravings of the story of Noah’s Ark. it is like ridding Hrothgar;s kingdom of evil |
| What has Hrothgar to say about the role of pride in a leader? | he warns Beowulf of what can happen if he gives way to pride |
| What gift does Beowulf give Unferth before he leaves to go home? | the hilt of Hrunting |
| What does Beowulf vow to the Danes before leaving? | that if they ever need anything, he will come help |
| What are Hrothgar’s final words to Beowulf? | he cries as he realizes he will never see Beowulf again |
| What was hygelac’s queen like? | Hygd is young, thoughtful, and polite. |
| How does Beowulf relate the story of Hrothgar to Hygelac? | thoroughly, he also talks about Hrothgar’s daughters which had not been previously mentioned |
| Why might Ingeld be angry to see Beowulf wearing his ancestral armor and weapons at the wedding? | it would be the armor from the Heathobards that the Geats had killed |
| Why is the chapter devoted to retelling the stories? | to recap what has happened and boast |
| How does Hygelac reward Beowulf? | he gives him gold, a sword, land, and makes him next-in-line for the throne |
| How does Hygelac die and who is king next? | Hygelac dies in battle with the Shylfings. Beowulf becomes king |
| What happens 50 years into Beowulf’s reign? | a slave steals a goblet and the dragon awakens |
| Why did the slave steal from the dragon? | in an attempt to buy his way out of slavery |
| How did the dragon’s lair come to have so much treasure? | someone had buried all the riches from a now-extinct race there, the dragon just stumbled upon them |
| Why does Beowulf think the dragon was awakened? | Beowulf thinks that the dragon is angered because of some failure of his own |
| Why does Beowulf recount his glory days before fighting the dragon? | because he knows he will die, wants to relive those memories |
| Why does Beowulf announce he will fight the dragon alone? | he believes it is his fate to face the dragon and die alone, it is not their fight |
| What do Beowulf’s men do as Beowulf fights? | Most run away, only one remains to go in and help Beowulf fight, Wiglaf |
| Who is Wiglaf? | one of Beowulf’s men, son of Weohstan |
| What prior battle experience does Wiglaf have? | none |
| How effective is Beowulf’s sword, Naegling? | the sword broke, didn’t help him |
| What is Beowulf’s dying wish? | he wants Wiglaf to bring him some treasure form the dragon’s stash to see what he died for |
| How does Beowulf react to the treasure? | he thanks God for letting him see it before he died |
| What are Beowulf’s funeral instructions? | he wants a barrow and a funeral pyre that will be sent out to sea |
| How do Beowulf’s men behave after the fight? | they were ashamed, they watch Wiglaf try to keep Beowulf alive |
| What does Wiglaf tell beowulf’s men? | that they are cowards, they broke comitatus, no longer welcome in the mead hall |
| According to the messenger, what might Beowulf’s kingdom now expect? | attacks from foreigners because their king has fallen |
| Why does Wiglaf decree that all treasure be burned? | it wasn’t worth Beowulf dying for |
| What role does fate play in Beowulf’s death according to Wiglaf? | that Beowulf had carried out his destiny, fate was cruel |
| What do the Geats do with the dragon’s body? | they throw the body over the cliff |
| What is Beowulf’s funeral pyre like? | 4-square, with helmets, shields, armor, with Beowulf laid in the middle |
| What is the role of the 12 horsemen around Beowulf’s monument? | to protect it, recounting stories of Beowulf’s accomplishments |
Beowulf questions
February 25, 2020