Beowulf Review

Which of the following lines does NOT demonstrate Beowulf's characteristics as an epic hero?

• "'I've never known fear, as a youth I fought/In endless battles.'" (lines 608-9)

• "...the strongest of the Geats—greater/And stronger than anyone anywhere in this world—" (lines 110-11)

• "...he knows of your noble birth/And that having come to him from over the open/Sea you have come bravely..." (lines 128-30)

• "I have heard,/Too, that the monster's scorn of men/Is so great that he needs no weapons and fears none." (lines 166-68)

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"shepherd of evil, guardian of crime" (line 273)

"the afflictor/Of men, tormentor of their days" (lines 331-32)

The above excerpts are examples of...

• The Anglo-Saxon concept of wyrd

• Kennings that describe Grendel's mother

• Kennings that describe Grendel

• Biblical allusions that reiterate Grendel's evil nature

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Which of the following best demonstrates the Anglo-Saxon concept of wyrd and how it shapes the events of the poem?

• "And then he who'd endured dozens of desperate/Battles, who'd stood boldly while swords and shields/Clashed, the best of kings..." (lines 637-39)

• "Her visit ended their good fortune, reversed/The bright vane of their luck." (lines 399-400)

• "They wrestled, she ripped/And tore and clawed at him, bit holes in his helmet,/And that too failed him..." (lines 481-83)

• "But fate, that night, intended/Grendel to gnaw the broken bones/Of his last human supper." (lines 258-59)

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Select the group of words that accurately completes the following statement:

Grendel's lair is described as _____; in _____, Herot is described as _____.

• solid; contrast; impermanent

• heavenly; comparison; hellish

• peaceful; comparison; chaotic

• hellish; contrast; bright

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Beowulf slays Grendel in order to

• Save Hrothgar and the Danes from the monster

• Prevent Grendel from invading the land of the Geats

• Keep Herot from being destroyed

• Carry off the treasure in Grendel’s lair

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Beowulf chose to battle Grendel with his bare hands because

• That’s how the Geats traditionally did battle

• He knew that Grendel could not be harmed by any weapon

• Beowulf wishes to prove his superiority over the Danes

• Beowulf chooses to fight fairly; Grendel will not have a weapon, so neither will Beowulf

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Beowulf dies when

• The dragon kills him as he goes out unarmed to fight the monster

• He is surrounded by a crowd of helpful warriors and is the last to fall

• Beowulf and his followers fight over the treasure and are killed after he has killed the dragon

• The poison from the dragon’s teeth kills him after he and Wiglaf fought the dragon, unaided by the soldiers

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What do the Danes do to avoid Grendel after the attacks start?

• Hide beneath their beds

• Rest during the day

• Sleep far from Herot

• Sail to new lands

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Grendel shows fear when

• He is held fast in Beowulf’s grip

• Beowulf first approaches him

• Beowulf’s men attack him

• He runs back to his den

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What is the cause of Grendel’s death?

• His head is severed

• Beowulf’s sword melts his blood

• His arm is torn from its socket

• His heart is pierced by Beowulf’s sword

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