Beowulf - The Wrath of Grendel

What causes Grendel to “growl in pain?”

• It was a cry of mourning

• The loud music ringing in his ears from Hrothgar’s mead hall above his lair.

• It was a war cry

• He was just in a mood

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What do the stories told by the men reveal about Anglo-Saxon culture and religion?

• This reveals that the Anglo-Saxons valued the tradition of story-telling, particularly creation.. The use of the word “Almighty” and the description of the creation of the earth reads like a Christian narrative, which show the Anglo-Saxon’s growing beliefs in the principles or stories of Christianity.

• This reveals that the Anglo-Saxons valued the tradition of telling myths about creation. It also reveals the need of Anglo-Saxons to tell "fishermen stories" to make the men feel better about themselves.

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What effect does comparing Grendel to Cain have on the audience?

• The audience would be terrified for Grendel since Cain was a mythical character that ate his brother.

• The audience would have difficulty making the connection since Cain wasn't born yet.

• The audience would likely be familiar with the fact that Cain is – according to the Bible – the first person to ever have committed murder. They will recognize that Cain is an “evil” person, and that they compare Grendel to him.

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. Who are the only ones who survive Grendel’s attacks on Herot? Is anyone able to fight him off?

• The only men who are able to survive are those who flee from Herot. No one is able to fight him off.

• There are no survivors.

• Four of them flee before he found them.

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What does it mean when the narrator describes Grendel as having “hell-forged hands?” Why is this an effective use of words? How does the reader react to this description?

• The reader is going to think his hands are on fire. It is effective use of language because it gives a visual of what is going on. The reader is going to show some empathy for him for the first time.

• The reader is likely to have a stronger reaction to the “hell-forged” description, which will make Grendel seem more loathsome, establishing him as an antagonist for Beowulf. It helps to remove any bit of sympathy that the reader might have for Grendel.

• The reader is likely to have a strong understanding that his hands are in fact of the devil. This is effective because it shows this character in its truest form.

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The people of ____ are under attack from Grendel.

• Herot
• Geatland
• Higlac
• Germany

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What language is Beowulf written in?

• Old English

• Middle English

• Modern English

• Spanish

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Grendel gets angry because the men are ____________

• Singing loudly and praising God

• sleeping and won’t open the door

• Won’t give him any mead

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The name of the Mead Hall is

• Herot

• Hrunting

• Camelot

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What is Grendel’s lineage?

• Grendel was described as being “spawned in that slime” and “conceived of a pair of those monsters born of Cain.” 
• Grendel was described as evil and created from the souls of those who died in battle.
• Grendel was described as a descendant of Adam and Eve.
• Grendel was described as a serpent and more crafty than any of the wild animals.

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