| Kenning | 2-3 words that work together to describe an object; ex: whale road (ocean) |
| Examples of Kennings | “Whale road” ; “bone house” ; “sleep of the sword” ; “battle sweat” |
| Homily | Advice within a poem – usually directed at the reader |
| How was Shield Sheafson buried? | At sea on a ship with his treasures – sent into the unknown |
| What does Hrothgar build? | Hall Heorot |
| What does Hall Heorot represent? | The Danes’ wealth, power, and civilization |
| What does Grendel symbolize | Evil, jealousy, pride |
| What does Grendel’s mother symbolize? | Evil, revenge |
| What does the dragon represent? | Evil, greed, all the things that will destroy a king/govt. |
| Who are Grendel and his mother descended from? | Cain |
| What is significant of the fact that Grendel and his mother are descended from Cain? | They are outcasts from civilization |
| Why does Beowulf sail to Denmark? | To fight and kill Grendel |
| What happened in the battle between Beowulf and Grendel? | Grendel wanted to get away, but Beowulf had his arm. They nearly destroyed the hall in their fight. Grendel’s arm was ripped off. |
| Where does Grendel go to die? | to the swamps, in a lake, and to his mother |
| who was Beowulf compared to after his battle with Grendel? | Sigemund (from Sigemund and the dragon) – and he was compared to Heremod (the bad king to whom he is constantly contrasted) |
| What was the trophy from Beowulf’s battle with Grendel? | Grendel’s arm |
| What is Hrunting? | A sword |
| Where did Hrunting come from? | Unferth |
| What does Hrunting do? | Nothing in battle – it cannot fight Grendel’s mother |
| Why does Grendel’s mother come to the hall? | To avenge her son’s death |
| What does Grendel’s mother do when she enters? | She takes her son’s arm, and also takes Aschere |
| Where does Grendel’s mother live? | In an underwater hall (in a lake with sea monsters) |
| What happens in the fight with Grendel’s mother? | She nearly kills him 3 times – he was saved by his chain mail. Beowulf also finds a jeweled sword that he kills here with. The sword melts from her blood |
| What is Hrothgar’s warning to Beowulf before he leaves? | 1. Don’t be like Heremod (and abuse your power); 2. Don’t be complacent with your power (show too much pride in your leadership); 3. Don’t be like me (he ruled for 50 years confident he had destroyed all evil, then BAM – Grendel) |
| What do Beowulf and Hrothgar have in common? | They were both good kings who ruled for 50 years, then BAM – monster |
| How does Beowulf become king of Geatland? | Hygelac dies in battle, then his son later dies in battle |
| How long does Beowulf rule Geatland? | 50 years |
| What upsets the dragon? | A thief steals his cup |
| Why is Beowulf happy as he dies? | His people will be rich from the dragon treasure |
| How does Beowulf plan to battle the dragon? | Alone |
| How does the dragon battle affect Beowulf? | 1. He doesn’t do well; 2. he gets bit in the neck; 3. he dies |
| How did Wiglaf rebuke the other thanes? | He called them cowards and said because of them, others would attack Geatland |
| What does Beowulf instruct Wiglaf to do? | 1. Bring him the treasure before he died, 2. Rule the Geats, 3. Build him a pyre and a barrow after his death |
| What is the message in the story of Ongentheow? | It tells how the Swedes have been harboring a grudge towards the Geats and will now attack since Beowulf is dead. |
| Describe Beowulf’s funeral | Biggest pyre ever, barrow took 10 days to build, people were mourning the loss of their king and their inevitable battles to come with the Franks, Frisians, and Swedes |
Beowulf – Unit Exam Study Guide
February 23, 2020