Beowulf

Which line from Beowulf makes the most use of alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words?

• telling with mastery of man's beginnings (line 6)

• because the Almighty made him anathema (line 25)

• blundering back with the butchered corpses (line 40)

• Grendel's powers of destruction were plain (line 42)

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CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which lines from Beowulf help develop the theme that a hero should win glory through acts of bravery?

• "Greetings to Hrothgar. I am Hygelac's kinsman,/one of his hall-troop. (lines 142-143)

• ...sailors brought stories of the plight you suffer/in this legendary hall...(lines 146-147)

• So every elder and experienced councilman/among my people supported my resolve...(lines 150-151)

• Now I mean to be a match for Grendel, settle the outcome in a single combat. (lines 160-161)

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Epic poems reflect the culture and time in which they are written. Beowulf does this mainly by---

• using formal syntax to show the seriousness of Anglo-Saxon culture

• including long speeches that refer to events from Anglo-Saxon history

• telling a story about a hero who embodies the ideals of the Anglo-Saxons

• including details about the crafts and technology developed by the Anglo-Saxons

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Reread lines 35-38 from Beowulf for a specific feature of Old English poetry. The author substitutes the name Grendel with the kenning God-cursed brute in order to__

...and human sorrow. Suddenly then/ the God-cursed brute was creating havoc:/ greedy and grim, he grabbed thirty men/from their resting places and rushed to his lair.

• emphasize the depth of Grendel's evil

• describe the havoc Grendel creates in detail

• show that Grendel presents no real challenge

• stress the excess of Grendel's greed

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Read line 79 from Beowulf

So Grendel waged his lonely war,

In what specific way is this line an example of a rhythmic pattern often found in Old English poetry?

• It consists of four metrical feet that each have one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed syllable

• It has two consecutive stressed syllables followed by a series of alternating stressed and unstressed syllables

• It contains four unstressed syllables

• It contains four stressed syllables

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Reread lines 85-93. What does this description suggest about Grendel's impact on the Danes?

These were hard times, heart-breaking/ for the prince of the Shieldings; powerful counsellors,/ the highest in the land, would lend advice,/plotting how best the bold defenders/ might resist and beat off sudden attacks./Sometimes at pagan shrines they vowed/ offerings to idols, swore oaths/ that the killer of souls might come to their aid/ and save the people. That was their way,...

• They have lost hope of ever defeating Grendel

• They are driven by the desire for revenge against Grendel

• They are divided over how to respond to Grendel's attacks

• They are so desperate that they are seeking supernatural help

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Read lines 109-118. What theme can be inferred from this characterization of Beowulf?

When he heard about Grendel, Hygelac's thane/was on home ground, over in Geatland./ There was no one else like him alive./ In his day, he was the mightiest man on earth,/ high-born and powerful. He ordered a boat/ that would ply the waves. He announced his plan:/ to sail the swan's road and search out that king,/ the famous prince who needed defenders./ Nobody tried to keep him form going,/ no elder denied him, dear as he was to them.

• A hero should seek to help others

• a leader should be physically strong

• the bravest people are usually of noble birth

• a wise person should seek advice before acting

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Read lines 215-218. Which two words best match the definition of whetted as it is used in these lines?

Time and again, when the goblets passed/ and seasoned fighters got flushed with beer/they would pledge themselves to protect Herot/ and wait for Grendel with whetted swords.

• moistened
• sharpened
• soaked
• honed

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CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which description of Grendel from the poem best supports the universal theme that Beowulf's battle with him is a contest between good and evil?

• It harrowed him/ to hear the din of the loud banquet...

• Malignant by nature, he never showed remorse.

• If Grendel wins, it will be a gruesome day...

• He had conjured the harm from the cutting edge/ of every weapon.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Mark the lines that use kennings

• Grendel was the name of this grim demon

• When he heard about Grendel, Hygelac's thane/ was on home ground

• With his own hands he had killed Heatholaf

• The dread of the land was desperate to escape

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9