WorksheetsBeowulf Spring 2026
Total questions: 74
Worksheet time: 19hrs 30mins
Where does Grendel live?
deep in the swamp/marsh
in Denmark
the forest of Geatland
Finland
How many winters did Grendel terrorize Herot?
150 years
6 years
30 years
12 years
What is the name of the place Beowulf came from?
Denmark
Geatland
Finland
Scotland
Who was the King of the Danes?
Grendel
Beowulf
Wiglaf
Hrothgar
What was the name of the Mead Hall?
Herot
Hrunting
Hrothgar
Helfdane
Who stayed loyal to Beowulf after he was defeated and killed the dragon?
Wiglaf
Hrothgar
no one
Unfreth
What does Beowulf take when he defeats Grendel?
His head
His arm
His foot
His sinews
How long did Beowulf rule the Geats?
25 years
50 years
35 years
12 years
Whom does Beowulf ask permission to fight Grendel?
George VI
Hrothgar
Unferth
Wealtheow
Which is not a kenning?
ring giver
insurmountable feats
cave guard
breaker of chains
How are the Danes tortured for 12 years?
They are at war with the Geats.
Grendel’s mother is threatening them with revenge.
Grendel continues killing each night keeping them out of their hall.
Their food supply was running low.
Why does Hrothgar ask Beowulf to battle Grendel’s mother?
All his soldiers were just killed during her attack.
He is embarrassed that he allowed the men to return to the hall to sleep.
He has never expected his own men to be able to kill a monster.
She murdered someone Hrothgar cared about and carried off Grendel’s clawed arm, so he wanted to be sure she was destroyed.
What is so fantastical about Beowulf’s journey to her lair?
Beowulf is able to stay alive under water for what seems like hours.
Other sea monsters join them, attacking Beowulf.
Beowulf is able to find and use a giant’s sword against the monster.
Both A and B.
All of the above.
What did Beowulf do to Grendel’s body when he found it in his mother’s lair?
Gave it a proper burial.
Burned it to ensure it was gone for good.
Prayed over it, sending it to hell.
Cut off its head and brought it to Hrothgar as a trophy.
How many years later is it when Beowulf is faced with the deed of killing the dragon?
20
50
10
25
In what way does Beowulf’s sword fail him during the fight(with the Dragon)?
It has a spell on it so that it can’t hurt the dragon.
It breaks apart when he strikes the dragon's scales.
The dragon is able to melt the sword with its fiery breath.
Beowulf drops the sword and it stays out of his reach during the fight.
Why does Wiglaf fight the dragon along with Beowulf?
He didn’t want Beowulf to get all of the glory.
He lost a bet with the other men.
He respected Beowulf and knew his king needed help.
He had a magical sword that could pierce dragon scales.
What causes Beowulf’s death?
Grendel’s mother stabs him in the heart.
He is betrayed by Unferth.
He doesn’t die; he is taken up to the heavens to live forever.
Beowulf is wounded in the neck by the dragon's poison.
Why did Wiglaf berate the other warriors saying they were “branded with disgrace”?
They were trying to strike at the Dragon when Beowulf said not to.
He was proud of their actions because they waited in the woods as they were told.
He was disgusted that they did not come to the aid of their king when he was suffering.
He will most likely be their king so he needed to begin his reign with a lecture.
How was Beowulf honored by his men after his death?
They had a feast in his honor.
They forgave those who were responsible.
They divided his newest treasure among themselves.
They rode around his tower praising his heroism.
Hrunting is...
Beowulf's sword.
The Danes' mead-hall.
Grendel's home.
Wiglaf's wife.
Who wrote Beowulf?
William Shakespeare
Geoffrey Chaucer
Gawain Poet
Unknown
Which is an example of alliteration?
"whale road,"
"fastened those claws in his fists till they cracked, clutched Grendel closer" (284)
"A noble life short. No Geat could have stopped her;" (line 417)
"It's hot and it's monotonous."
What is an epic?
an adjective or phrase applied to a noun to accentuate a certain characteristic
a type of metaphor usually combining words
a poem that records and celebrates the heroic achievements of an individual
a pause in the middle of a line of poetry
What does caesura mean?
a type of metaphor usually combining words
an epic poem that comes from oral tradition
a pause in the middle of a line of poetry
a figure of speech in which part of something is used to designate a whole
What is a kenning?
a pause dividing each line, with each part having two accented syllables
a type of metaphor usually combining words
word choice and sentence structure
a long narrative poem
What is the meaning of lair?
a claw on a falcon or eagle
a metaphorical phrase that takes the place of a noun
having a bad reputation
the den or resting place of a wild animal
What is the meaning of affliction?
a claw like on an eagle or a falcon
a den or resting place of a wild animal
having a very bad reputation
a force that oppresses or causes suffering
What does the word talon mean?
having a very bad reputation
a claw like on a falcon or an eagle
a den or resting place of a wild animal
a force that oppresses or causes suffering
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
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.
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.
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.
Which of the following is an example of a kenning?
bad king
compounded problem
Son of Cain
Howard's cowardice
Grendel cannot hurt Hrothgar because______________
Hrothgar has so many guards
his throne is protected by God
Hrothgar is Grendel's cousin, so he can't hurt family
The story of Beowulf was told over and over again for hundreds of years before it was finally written down on paper. This is called _____________________.
boring stories
the oral tradition
short stories
During the Anglo Saxon period, bragging was considered
Overly prideful and rude
Unacceptable in society
Acceptable and even encouraged( as long as you could back it up)
Poetic and beautiful
"But fate, that night, intended Grendel to gnaw the bones of his last human supper" is an example of __________________.
alliteration
foreshadowing
allusion
simile
Which of the following quotations from Beowulf does not contain alliteration?
“The hoard-guard
recognized / a human voice . . .”
“It was no easy thing / to have to give ground like that and go. . . .”
“Then he addressed
each dear companion. . . .”
“‘I remember that time when mead was flowing . . .’”
If you wanted to support the idea that Beowulf is an epic hero, you might best note that he —
displays intense pride
in his country
becomes more humble
over time
loves nature and abhors civilization
embodies the ideal of Anglo-Saxon society
Which of the following quotations from Beowulf contains a kenning?
“He was hunting
another / Dead monster . . .”
“And all at once the greedy she-wolf . . .”
“Grendel’s mother / Is
hidden in her terrible home . . .”
“At last he saw the
mud of the bottom.”
Which of the following statements about Wiglaf is true?
He believes in and
speaks about the inner goodness of all people.
His inexperience makes him unworthy to succeed to the throne.
He makes an eloquent
speech about the virtues of loyalty and bravery.
He tells Beowulf that the other warriors will desert Beowulf when he needs them most.
According to the poet, what provokes Gendel's wrath?
"He nursed a hard grievance.".
"It harrowed him
to hear the din of the loud banquet
every day in the hall."
He hated those in whom God had "quickened life"
quite simple, he is "evil."
In lines 170-188, the poet (or possibly the Christian transcribers) suggests the reasons the Danes are powerless against Grendel is due to their asking their pagan gods for help rather than the one true God of Christianity.
How is this belief significant?
Pagan gods only help those who help themselves. The Danes cannot help themselves.
Pagan gods need to be asked properly to help.
The poet believes that the Christian God will not help the pagans until they and all their clans convert.
The Christian commentary suggests that Paganism is useless, that Christianity is the one true faith, and that those who turn to pagan gods for help are heathens.
Beowulf seems comfortable with the idea that Grendel might eat him, even stating, "fate goes ever as fate must"(455). How does this sentiment fit in with the Anglo-Saxon mentality?
A warrior can always fight against his fate.
God takes care of his faithful.
Fate is immutable
God controls fate and punishes the wicked(i.e. Grendel)
Before turning in for the night, Beowulf makes one final boast:
"When it comes to fighting, I count myself
as dangerous any day as Grendel.
So it won't be a cutting edge I'll wield
to mow him down, easily as I might."
To pre-explain if he loses against Grendel
To look brave & noble by fighting on Grendel's terms
To calm his warriors by showing it will be an easy fight.
Beowulf knows that Grendel is impervious to weapons.
Beowulf begins in the middle of the action, this is known as _______
hero's quest
point of view
epic simile
in medias res
_________ means excessive pride or self-confidence
epic simile
Epic
hubris
point of view
Which story element demonstrates the influence of Christianity in Beowulf?
The warriors exchange weapons before commencing battle.
Beowulf seeks great treasures as prizes from battles in order to ensure his fame.
The monster Grendel and his mother are descendants of Cain.
A band of scops sing poems of praise in Beowulf's honor.
Which of the following is often used to elevate the language of an epic story?
Exaggeration and a serious tone
Settings that take place on distant planets
A war between two different civilizations
Personification and cliffhangers
Which story element demonstrates the influence of warrior culture in Beowulf?
Beowulf lives his whole life without having any children of his own.
Wiglaf inherits the throne because he proves his worth in honoring the values of loyalty and kinship.
The sword Hrunting fails to help Beowulf defeat Grendel's mother.
After Beowulf slays Grendel's mother, the hall lights up as bright as "heaven's candle."
