Beowulf Context

The high hall rang, its roof boards swayed, And Danes shook with terror.

• lament

• cower

• relish

• purge

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What is the meaning of the word affliction as it appears in the following excerpts?"And sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods...hoping for...the Devil's guidance in driving/Their affliction off." (lines 90-93)"Bold and strong-minded, had driven affliction/Off, purged Herot clean." (lines 348-49)

• a desire, wish, or aspiration

• a problem or something that causes pain

• bravery, boldness, or fearlessness

• intense religious devotion

Tags

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 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)

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

"fire-spitting terror" (line 790)

"the gray-bearded lord of the Geats" (line 792)

The above lines are examples of...

• Biblical allusions that demonstrate the importance of loyalty in Anglo-Saxon society

• Kennings that refer to the dragon and Beowulf

• Alliteration that emphasizes Beowulf's bravery

• Kennings that refer to Grendel's mother and Beowulf

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

How does the poet's word choice in the above excerpts impact the mood of this scene?

• It creates a cheerful mood by emphasizing how many treasures Beowulf has gained as a result of defeating the dragon.

• It creates a frightening mood by highlighting how much more powerful the dragon is in comparison to Beowulf's earlier enemies.

• It creates a sad mood by emphasizing how weak and helpless Beowulf has become even though he is still willing to fight.

• It creates a comical mood by illustrating how ridiculous it is for Beowulf, now an old man, to fight the dragon.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

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)

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which of the following best describes Wiglaf's attitude towards the other soldiers who abandon Beowulf before his battle with the dragon?

• He believes the other soldiers are justified in their actions.

• He thinks their actions are disgraceful and unforgivable.

• While he disagrees with their actions, he does not pass judgment on them.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What is the meaning of the word loathsome as it appears in the following excerpt?

"...and running to his loathsome moor [land]/With another such sickening meal waiting/In his pouch." (lines 538-40)

• disgusting or repulsive

• appealing or attractive

• swift or quick

• delaying or putting off

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

In that same excerpt, which of the following words is a context clue for loathsome?

"...and running to his loathsome moor [land]/With another such sickening meal waiting/In his pouch." (lines 538-40)

• meal

• running

• sickening

• waiting

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

"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

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9