Beowulf: "The Last Battle"

Who is the king of Geatland in this section of Beowulf?

• Higlac

• Wiglaf

• Hrothgar

• Beowulf

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How many years does Beowulf rule Geatland?

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Who/what is menacing Beowulf's kingdom?

• Grendel's ghost

• Hrothgar and the Danes

• A dragon

• A monster

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Beowulf used no weapons when fighting Grendel, but he says he feels "no shame, with shield and sword / And armor, against this monster, when he comes to me" (635-636).

Why does Beowulf allow himself to bring weapons and armor to fight the dragon?

• Beowulf is much older and more cautious now.

• Grendel was impervious to weapons. but the dragon is not

• The dragon breathes fire and is poisonous.

• Beowulf is more wealthy now that he is king and can afford better weapons.

Answer explanation

Beowulf says, "I'd use no sword, no weapon, if this beast / Could be killed without it, crushed to death / Like Grendel, gripped in my nads and torn / Limb from limb. But his breath will be burning / Hot, poison will pour from his tongue" (630-634).

Beowulf allows himself to use weapons because the dragon is fire-breathing and poisonous.

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What is Beowulf boasting about here?

“No one else could do / What I mean to, here, no man but me / Could hope to defeat this monster. No one / Could try. And this dragon’s treasure, his gold / And everything hidden in that tower, will be mine” (644-649).

• His fear of the dragon and the dragon's treasure

• His ability to defeat the monster and claim the dragon's treasure
• His lack of confidence in defeating the monster and claiming the dragon's treasure
• His inability to defeat the monster and claim the dragon's treasure

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After Beowulf challenges the dragon to fight, the dragon answers.

What happens to Beowulf's shield?

• It cracks.

• It melts.

• It falls.

• It vanishes.

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After Beowulf challenges the dragon to fight, the dragon answers.

What happens to Beowulf's sword?

• It cracks.

• It melts.

• It falls.

• It vanishes.

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What can we infer from the following lines of Beowulf?

"And for the first time in his life that famous prince / Fought with fate against him, with glory / Denied him . . . And the Geats' ring-giver did not boast of glorious / Victories in other wars: his weapon / Had failed him, deserted him, now when he needed it / Most, that excellent sword. Edgetho's / Famous son stared at death" (685-687 & 695-699).

• Beowulf feels hopeful.

• Beowulf feels hopeless.

• Beowulf feels afraid.

• Beowulf feels resolute.

Answer explanation

"And for the first time in his life that famous prince / Fought with fate against him, with glory / Denied him. He knew it, but he raised his sword / And struck at the dragon's scaly hide . . . And the Geats' ring-giver did not boast of glorious / Victories in other wars: his weapon / Had failed him, deserted him, now when he needed it / Most, that excellent sword. Edgetho's / Famous son stared at death" (685-699).

Beowulf feels hopeless because fate is against him and his weapons have failed and deserted him. The reader is even told that he "stared at death," also connoting feelings of hopelessness.

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Which of the following kennings does NOT refer to Beowulf?

• "Edgetho's famous son" (698-699)

• "the Geats' lord and leader" (661-662)

• "the Geats' great prince" (677-678)

• "his rebel nephew" (730)

Answer explanation

The kenning "his rebel nephew" (730) actually refers to Onela's nephew, not Beowulf.

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How do the Geats react to Beowulf's battle with the dragon?

"None of his comrades / Came to him, helped him, his brave and noble / Followers; they ran for their lives, fled / Deep in a wood" (708-711).

• They rally and fight with him.

• They sneak into the tower to attack the dragon from behind.

• They only stand by and watch.

• They flee.

Answer explanation

"None of his comrades / Came to him, helped him, his brave and noble / Followers; they ran for their lives, fled / Deep in a wood" (708-711).

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