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WorksheetsBeowulf : The Battle with Grendel
Total questions: 112
Worksheet time: 1hrs 13mins
Where does Grendel live?
deep in the swamp/marsh
the jungle
the ocean
the city
How many winters did Grendel terrorize Herot?
150 years
6 years
30 years
12 winters/years
What is the name of the place Beowulf came from?
The promise land
Land of the Geats
Land of the monarchs
The Herotland
How did Beowulf and his men get to Denmark?
By horse
By foot
By sailing
By swimming
What was the name of the Mead Hall?
Herot
Bungalow
Mead Hall
House of the Danes
Beowulf was known to have the strength of how many men?
200
10
30
50
What are sinews?
The tendons in the shoulder of Grendel
Muscles
Bones
Skin cells of Grendel
Why couldn't the men use their weapons against Grendel?
They think they were tough
The mother weakened their swords with a spell
They were dull
They didn't have any
Who is Grendel?
a monster that loves rejoicing and celebrations
a monster that is only after the King
a monster that attacks Herot (mead-hall)
a monster compelled to kill by Unferth
Who is Hrothgar?
The King of the Danes
The King of the Geats
The Prince of the Danes
The Prince of the Geats
Who is Beowulf?
The King of the Danes
The King of the Geats
The Prince of the Danes
The Prince of the Geats
Why is Grendel called "born of Cain"
he is a descendant of Cain the first murderer in the Bible
he killed his father Cain
Since the monster is related to Cain this makes him what?
The second murderer referenced in the Bible
A great warrior against God
Unwanted by God, a source of evil
What is the main reason Grendel attack Herot (the mead hall)?
the men tell stories of killing Grendel
the men abuse women
the men are having a party
the men sing about God
Why won't Grendel attack Hrothgar?
he is protected by God
he is protected by enchantments (spells)
he is the strongest of the Danes
he fought Grendel once before and hurt him greatly
When Beowulf arrives is he welcomed by the Danes?
Yes, they are hopeful he will kill Grendel
No, they don't believe he can kill Grendel
What three things does Beowulf Boast about? PICK THREE (3) ANSWERS.
Fought five great giants
Swam in the blackest of night
Killed a fleet of warriors alone
Hunted monsters out of the sea
Beowulf is an Epic Hero, what are three traits of Epic Heros? PICK THREE ANSWERS.
they sacrifice for society (people)
they always win the heart of a beautiful woman
they have supernatural abilities or strength
they are on a quest or journey
Who built Herot Hall?
Hrunting
Hrothgar
Higlac
Wiglaf
How long did Grendel attack Herot?
12 years
100 years
25 years
3 years
What language was Beowulf originally written in?
Old English
Middle English
Victorian English
Spanglish
What biblical character is Grendel compared to?
Satan
Cain
Pilate
King Herod
The events in epic poems reflect the culture and time in which they are written. Beowulf does this by--
Making use of long speeches to show the speaking style and diction of the time
Employing formal syntax to create a sense of how serious people were at the time
Telling a story celebrating a noble and courageous hero who is a product of his time
Using details that reflect historical events from a time preceding the action
The poem says that to rid themselves of Grendel, the people sometimes went to pagan shrines and made offerings to idols. What does this most reveal about the people there?
They are so weak that they decide to join the evil force that they could not beat.
They are angry at Grendel, so they plot against him with idols.
They are disgusted with the state of Heorot, so they need a quick fix.
They are so desperate for relief that they are willing to try whatever might help.
What typical element of epic poetry does the battle between Beowulf and Grendel best reflect?
The journey taken to get to the battle describes the culture at the time.
The battle portrays the universal theme of good versus evil.
The style of the fighting shows that the enemies fought with weapons of their era.
The conversational diction during the battle heightens a sense of immediacy.
What is the reason why the monster got irritated one night causing him to break in the hall and carried into his lair 30 sleeping warriors?
happiness of the people
boredom in his lair
thirst and hunger
his habit
Why did Beowulf help the king of the Danes and fight the monster?
Beowulf's father is a friend of the king.
The Danes are Beowulf's people.
Rewards are at stake to whoever will kill the monster.
The king's daughter requested Beowulf to do so.
What did Beowulf do with the monster's arm?
He burnt it.
He displayed it in the king's room.
He hung it on the roof for all in Herot to see.
He threw it outside the kingdom.
What type of literature is Beowulf?
short story
legend
epic
myth
To which category of literature does Beowulf belong?
English literature
American literature
English-American literature
Afro-Asian literature
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 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 is the meaning of infamous?
having a very bad reputation
the den or resting place of a wild animal
a force that oppresses or causes suffering
a claw like on an eagle or a falcon
What is one of the themes for this story?
Loneliness
Identity
Happiness
Sports
How does Grendel die?
Beowulf stabs him with a knife.
Beowulf rips Grendel's arm from his shoulder.
Beowulf's men surround Grendel and kill him.
Hrothgar kills Grendel with his sword.
Beowulf is the _____ of the story
Failure
Antihero
Antagonist
Epic Hero
Who is Hrothgar's queen?
Wealthow
Beowulf
Unferth
He never married
Which of the following is/are characteristics of an Epic Hero? (there is more than one answer).
Courage
Loyalty
Champion of Freedom
Dies in the end
Which of the following are characteristics of an Epic Poem? (there is more than one answer).
The hero does great deeds
The hero lives with his parents
The hero never marries
The setting is broad
What does Bewoulf do to Grendel's body when he sees it in the lair?
Pays his last respects
Cuts the head off
Gave it a proper burial
Prayed over it and then burned it
What is the name of Beowulf's uncle?
Heorot
Hygelac
Breca
Wiglaf
What is a the name of Hrothgar's mead-hall?
Heorot
Breca
Wiglaf
Heardred
An Anglo-Saxon poet is a
scop
bard
druid
wyrd
In what modern day country is Beowulf set?
France
Switzerland
England
Sweden
What is mead?
fermented flowers
fermented river water
fermented honey
fermented grapes
What does Beowulf use to defeat Grendel?
A magic sword
His bare hands
An axe
Fire
What does Beowulf hang as a trophy following the battle with Grendel?
Grendel's head
His sword
A dragon Tooth
Grendel's arm
Beowulf was known to have the strength of how many men?
100
10
30
50
These are the poets and minstrels during the Anglo-Saxon period.
Geats
Jutes
Danes
Scops
As epic hero, Beowulf possesses all of the following characteristics EXCEPT
Unusual circumstances of birth
Has a special weapon only he can wield
Must prove himself many times while on adventure
Receives an unhealable wound
Beowulf was originally written in
German
Old English
Modern English
Middle English
When fighting him, why does Beowulf's touch "hurt" Grendel?
The goodness in Beowulf burns Grendel's evil skin
Grendel has a sunburn
Beowulf uses a sharp sword
Beowulf squeezes Grendel's arm tightly
Letters of Anglo-Saxon alphabet
litotes
ealdorman
runes
characters
Instrument use in mead halls
harp
air guitar
lyre
trombone
An epic poem
features a epic hero
is a long narrative poem
features elevated language
conveys the values and culture of a society
all of the above
Beowulf is
a Geat
the nephew of a king
the strongest man of his tribe
all of the above
What is the conflict introduced in the beginning of Beowulf?
The Danes are suffering a famine.
The Geats have lost a war and their home.
Grendel was not loyal to the king and is exiled.
Grendel has attacked the men in Herot and eaten them.
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 not characteristic of epic heroes?
They are of divine or noble birth.
They are tasked with rescuing a princess.
They have superhuman strength.
They reflect the values of their culture.
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 characteristic does not reflect Grendel as the antagonist?
Selfless
Ultimate force of evil
Devourer of scores of people
Destroyer of places of joy
Which actions or deeds explain how Beowulf reflects a typical characteristic of a hero in an epic poem?
takes a long journey
confronts a monster
requests his mail-shirt to be sent back to his people if he is killed.
creates havoc.
mead is
beer with sugar
beer with honey
beer with lemon
beer with lime
Grendel is a monster that lives
in Heorot
in a small house
in the swamp
underground
The author writing that Grendel is a descendant of Cain tells the reader that Grendel is
from a big family
a great guy
evil
very strong
What does Heorot symbolize?
Hrothgar's heart
Hrothgar's fortune
a generous leader
Hrothgar's strength
Grendel attacked Heorot
while the men were sleeping/passed out
as the men were waking up
in the middle of the day
because he was hungry
What does Beowulf do to Grendel after defeating him and his mother?
He goes back and cuts his head off
He takes more of his body parts for trophies
He burns his body
He sends him back to Cain
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 qualities of an epic hero does Beowulf display so far?
He is a great warrior, but lacks the good qualities that are evident in a epic poem.
He is a great warrior, and has been known to show tremendous courage. It seems like he will be the force of good who comes to vanquish Grendel’s evils. He is an illustrious and renowned warrior who is famous for his superior strength and bravery.
He is known to brave, but lacks the courage to follow through with the war that raged.
Beowulf says that he and Grendel have been “called together.” What pagan belief does this represent? Why?
Th pagans of the Anglo-Saxon culture believed in an "eye for an eye." Being "called together" means to meet fight until the death.
The pagans of the Anglo-Saxon culture believed that somewhere in the sea a spirit was calling them to come together.
The pagans of the Anglo-Saxon culture believed in the concept of “wyrd,” which is the idea that things are fated to occur. The fact that Beowulf thinks he was “called together” with Grendel indicates that he believes he is destined (or fated) to fight the creature.
How can you tell that Beowulf is a legendary hero?
He is the son of a Geat ruler who came to fight in England.
He is a soldier who fought in battles long ago.
He is larger than life and is remembered in tales from long ago.
He believes in honor and loyalty
Why doesn't Grendel attack King Hrothgar?
He is protected by the lord because Grendel is an outcast.
Hrothgar put a curse on the throne.
He had warriors protecting the throne.
He doesn't know where he is hiding.
In what way does King Hrothgar show his appreciation to Beowulf and the Geats?
He rewards them with ancient treasures.
He announces that Beowulf will become King.
He held a feast in their honor.
He reads a poem of "praise and thanks" in their honor.
What service did Hrothgar perform for Beowulf's father?
Ended Edgetho's feud by sending treasures to the Wulfings.
Ended Edgetho's feud by sending warriors to the Wulfings.
Ended Edgetho's feud by killing Grendel's mother.
Ended Edgetho's feud by killing the king of cobras.
From where does Beowulf sail to reach King Hrothgar?
Germany
Sweden
Norway
Poland
What advantage does Beowulf have in his fight with Grendel?
his superior strength
his sword
his age
the power of his army
What causes Grendel to wail loudly in the hall?
Beowulf has wounded him horribly
The hall is empty when he appears
Grendel wants to take Beowulf back to his cave as a captive
Grendel is scared of the Danes who fight alongside Beowulf
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)
How does Beowulf defeat Grendel, and what happens to Grendel?
Beheads him with a magic sword, and he dies immediately
Rips his arm off, and Grendel goes back to his lair and dies there
His thanes ambush Grendel when he enters the mead hall and kill him
Grendel is burned to death in his own fire
Beowulf is thought to be written by
Geoffrey Chaucer
William Shakespeare
Homer
An unknown, traveling Anglo-Saxon poet
Beowulf is the _____ of the story
Failure
Antihero
Antagonist
Epic Hero
As an epic hero, which of these traits does Beowulf display the least.
self-confidence
loyalty
bravery
humility
References to fate or the Divine Lord leading Beowulf to fight Grendel and leading to whatever the outcome may be, shows what?
Beowulf struggles with good vs. evil within himself.
Beowulf believes in and benefits from the supernatural or religion and hopes it works out well for him.
Beowulf is lost spiritually.
Beowulf knows he will win no matter what happens.
When Beowulf's men fight beside him, even though they think he will die, what does that reveal about the people who created and told this story?
That they just followed Beowulf because he was strong
They distrust Beowulf, but follow him out of habit
That loyalty is valued in their culture
They looked forward to the honor of death so they simply wanted to die
Which is not an aspect of an epic hero?
Warrior on a quest
Faces or gets support from the supernatural
Nobility
Represents everything the society is lacking
In what way does the story of Beowulf represent transitions in the world of those who created and told the story?
They stopped writing the story down as time went on
The people began to question their violent way of life
Their world went from calm and orderly to violent and wild
They went from illiterate and Pagan, to literate and Christian
"...Grendel's vicious attacks...coming to Herot...killing them...eating some on the spot...and running to his loathsome moor with another such sickening meal waiting in his pouch." Using context clues, which word could be replaced with "moor" in the above sentence?
vehicle
church
burial grounds
lair
Why does the author describe the swampy area where Grendel and his mother live and then explain that wild animals will not even step into the water? Choose all correct answers.
to foreshadow the great danger of this battle for Beowulf
to scare Beowulf so he will not fight
to use vivid imagery to set a spooky, threatening mood for this scene
to explain that a swampy area is not an ideal place to live
Beowulf is motivated to go to __________________________ by a desire to help the helpless.
Sweden
Denmark
France
Switzerland
an epic hero comes from a __________________ social status
low
middle
high
Where does the story of Beowulf take place?
England
Angle-land
Scandinavia
Germany
Beowulf was written during a period of history known as The Dark Ages.
True
False
What was the date of the Norman Conquest?
100 A.D.
349 B.C.
1492 A.D.
1066 A.D.
