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WorksheetsBeowulf & Anglo-Saxon Review
Total questions: 134
Worksheet time: 2hrs 36mins
Who is Hrothgar?
The King of the Geats
The King of the Danes
The monster
Beowulf's brother
What is a natural pause or break in the middle of a line of poetry?
caesura
kenning
alliteration
imagery
What is the repetition of consonant or vowel sounds at the beginning of words?
caesura
kenning
alliteration
imagery
Who is Beowulf?
King of the Danes
Prince of the Geats
A monster
A dragon
Hrothgar was famous for building Herot. What is Herot?
A ship
a fort
a mead hall
a castle
What was Hrothgar's big problem?
He needed a great place to drink mead.
He was afraid of Beowulf.
A dragon was killing his people.
A monster named Grendel was eating his people.
How did Beowulf kill Grendel?
He cut off his head with a sword.
He ripped off his arm.
He drowned him in a deep pond.
He burned him in a fire.
This is an example of what?
alliteration
tragic hero
kenning
caesura
Who was living in England before the Anglo Saxons?
Germans & Romans
Celts & Romans
Angles and Jutes
British
Pagan priests who were often the leaders of the Celts.
Anglo Saxon Warriors
Kings
Druids
Beowulf
What religion were the Romans who lived in England?
Pagan
No Religion
Romanists
Christians
What religion were Anglo Saxons?
Christian
Catholic
Pagan
Druid
Before Beowulf was written down, it was an ____________ that got passed along by the Anglo Saxons.
oral tale
awesome story
religious text
legend
Epic heroes are typically the main character in epic poems. They have these traits:
bravery, supernatural abilities
frustrated, flawed, evil
intelligence, cunning
loving, happy, heroic
Anglo-Saxon society was dominated by —
devotion to monastic principles and beliefs
A strict code of loyalty between leaders and their noblemen and soldiers.
industry and dedication to a strict work ethic
The old Anglo-Saxon religion expressed which of the following philosophies for soldiers?
advanced an optimistic, cheerful view of life on earth
Had much in common with Christianity.
primarily encouraged ethics and earthly virtues such as bravery
Anglo-Saxon poets/bards held an honored position in society primarily because they —
preserved heroic deeds of warriors so they lived on in the memories of their people
became great warriors for their lords
painstakingly copied old manuscripts
Provided entertainment in the mead halls
What is a metaphorical phrase or compound word used to name a person, place, thing, or event directly. (i.e. shepherd of evil)?
kenning
repetition
allusion
metaphor
Mead halls, in Anglo-saxon culture, were important because...
They were a place to come together with your brothers to drink and boast of heroism and enjoy the hospitality of their leader
They were a place of refuge that was safe from the battles and wars of opposing armies
They were a place of learning where monks could write down the oral records
They were a place of great wealth for only the most important citizens to gather
According to the narrative, Grendel
used to be Hrothgar's brother
was born from the descendants of Cain
has no heart
was once a great warrior
Grendel lives:
in an ancient hall
in the dark
at the bottom of a marshy lake
in a castle
On his very first night in Herot, Grendel kills __________men.
20
30
14
50
When Grendel goes to Herot the night that Beowulf is there, he kills _______________ before reaching Beowulf.
1 man
5 men
zero men
25 men
When Beowulf narrative contains references to god and redemption, it reveals:
how epic tales reflect the lives of ordinary people
dissatisfaction with the feudal system
the return of animism philosophies
Christian influence from the Anglo Saxon culture
The only warrior to help Beowulf is
Hrothgar
Unferth
Edgethow
Wiglaf
Beowulf uses a ____________ to fight the last battle
bow and arrow
sword and shield
his own hands
rocks
The dragon's den is full of
dead bodies
ammunition
rocks
jewels, gold, priceless treasures
When Beowulf dies, his friends build a
Tower at the edge of the sea
pyre
a statue of Beowulf
ship
Why did Grendel attack Herot?
The Danes attacked him first.
He did not agree with the war between the Geats and Danes.
The loud music disturbed him.
He was unprovoked and just decided to attack.
How long does Grendel rule Herot before Beowulf comes to Denmark?
14 years
10 years
30 years
12 years
Who was responsible for first writing down the story of Beowulf after 300 years of being told as part of the oral tradition?
A Christian monk in the year 1000
An Anglo Saxon warrior in the year 1400
A Danish king in the year 1100
An English singing poet in the year 800
How does Beowulf kill Grendel?
He stabs him in the heart.
He strangles him.
He rips his arm off with his bare hands.
He cuts his throat.
What trophy does Beowulf have after his victory with Grendel and what does he do with it?
His head; displays it on the roof of Herot
His heart; eats it at dinner
His eyeballs; places them on the king's throne
His arm; hangs it from the rafters of Herot
Grendel's and his mother's lair is described as "A lake that burns like a torch." This is an example of:
A kenning
Alliteration
A simile
An epic
What two things does Beowulf return to the shore with after killing Grendel's mother?
Grendel's head
gold treasure
the handle of the giants' sword
Grendel's mother's head
What does Beowulf do after killing Grendel and his mother in the Danish Kingdom?
Sails back home to Geatland where he eventually becomes king and rules for 50 years
Becomes king of Denmark and rules there for 50 years
Sails back home to Geatland where he retires from fighting, marries a beautiful woman, and has many children
When Beowulf is an old king, he fights a dragon terrorizing his kingdom. How is this battle different?
He does not use any weapons.
Fate or "wyrd" is against him for the first time.
He rides into battle on horseback.
He does not want to fight but feels forced to.
What has always been Beowulf's main motivation to fight in battle?
To protect his people and be the best king he can be
To gain treasure and spoil his best warriors
To attract the prettiest girls who want to marry him
To gain lof, which means "fame after death" in Old English
Who provides "lof" or "fame after death" for warriors in the Anglo Saxon culture?
The scops (singing poets)
The kings
The other warriors
The monks
How does Beowulf kill the Dragon in his final battle?
Stabbing it with his sword
With the help of a solider named Wiglaf
Throwing it off of a cliff
All of Beowulf's men help stab the dragon
What are Beowulf's 2 dying wishes?
For Wiglaf to be king
Give all of the dragon's treasure to his people
Build him a tower on the sea called "Beowulf's tower"
Wiglaf should return to Denmark
Where did Beowulf face Grendel?
Heorot, in the mead hall
In the sea, where Beowulf had fought many monsters
In Hrothgar's summer cabin
In the swamp near Grendel's home
Which three groups invaded England in
Vikings, Normans and French
Angles, Saxons and Jutes
Angles, Danes and Jutes
Danes, Geats and Vikings
An Anglo-Saxon King/leader would
pay his followers little
expect riches for himself
be generous to his followers
make his followers castles
Anglo-Saxon poetry was
written down on scrolls
sung
put on cave walls
played on guitars
The original inhabitants of England were
Angles
Celts
Romans
Danes
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)
"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
"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
"the fire-spitting terror" (line 790)
"the gray-bearded lord of the Geats" (line 792)
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.
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)
"That mighty protector of men/Meant to hold the monster till its life/Leaped out..."
Considering the above example, which of the following best describes the tone that the poet takes when describing Beowulf in his battles?
admiring; praising
disgusted; repulsed
optimistic; hopeful
fearful; apprehensive
At the beginning of the poem (lines 19-23), there is a Biblical allusion to Cain, who killed his brother Abel.
Select the two reasons why this allusion is significant.
It reveals key details about Grendel's heritage.
It shows that Grendel's mother's motives are somewhat justified.
It explains why Grendel and his mother are evil.
It highlights the contrast between Beowulf and King Hrothgar.
It shows that loyalty is an important value in Anglo-Saxon society.
Select the group of words that accurately completes the following statement:
Grendel's lair is described as _____; in _____, Herot is described as _____.
solid; contrast; impermanent
heavenly; comparison; hellish
peaceful; comparison; chaotic
hellish; contrast; bright
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.
Which describes Hrothgar?
“And only one of them / Remained, stood there, miserable, remembering, / As a good man must, what kinship should mean.”
“That mighty protector of men / Meant to hold the monster till its life / Leaped out”
“protector of the Danes”
“You murdered you brothers, / Your own close kin.”
“the mighty water witch”
Which describes Beowulf, the character?
“You murdered you brothers, / Your own close kin.”
“He was spawned in that slime, / Conceived by a pair of those monsters born / Of Cain,”
“protector of the Danes”
“That mighty protector of men / Meant to hold the monster till its life / Leaped out”
“And only one of them / Remained, stood there, miserable, remembering, / As a good man must, what kinship should mean.”
Which describes Unferth?
“That mighty protector of men / Meant to hold the monster till its life / Leaped out”
“the mighty water witch”
“You murdered you brothers, / Your own close kin.”
“protector of the Danes”
“He was spawned in that slime, / Conceived by a pair of those monsters born / Of Cain,”
Which describes a kenning?
a metaphorical renaming of a common item
the repetition of initial consonant sounds
a pause within a line of poetry
Which describes Wiglaf?
“protector of the Danes”
“He was spawned in that slime, / Conceived by a pair of those monsters born / Of Cain,”
“That mighty protector of men / Meant to hold the monster till its life / Leaped out”
“And only one of them / Remained, stood there, miserable, remembering, / As a good man must, what kinship should mean.”
“the mighty water witch”
Which describes Grendel's mother?
“the mighty water witch”
“protector of the Danes”
“He was spawned in that slime, / Conceived by a pair of those monsters born / Of Cain,”
“You murdered you brothers, / Your own close kin.”
“That mighty protector of men / Meant to hold the monster till its life / Leaped out”
What is a natural pause or break in the middle of a line of poetry?
caesura
kenning
alliteration
imagery
What is the repetition of consonant or vowel sounds at the beginning of words?
caesura
kenning
alliteration
imagery
Who is Beowulf?
King of the Danes
Prince of the Geats
A monster
A dragon
What was Hrothgar's big problem?
He needed a great place to drink mead.
He was afraid of Beowulf.
A dragon was killing his people.
A monster named Grendel was eating his people.
Who was living in England before the Anglo Saxons?
Germans & Romans
Celts & Romans
Angles and Jutes
British
Pagan priests who were often the leaders of the Celts.
Anglo Saxon Warriors
Kings
Druids
Beowulf
According to the narrative, Grendel
used to be Hrothgar's brother
was born from the descendants of Cain
has no heart
was once a great warrior
Beowulf comes from
England
Denmark
Geatland
Norway
When Beowulf narrative contains references to god and redemption, it reveals:
how epic tales reflect the lives of ordinary people
dissatisfaction with the feudal system
the return of animism philosophies
Christian influence from the Anglo Saxon culture
How does the fight in the lake contrast with the fight with Grendel?
Beowulf uses weapons in the lake and the opponent doesn't show fear
Beowulf uses weapons in the lake and the opponent shows fear
Beowulf doesn't use weapons because they are all useless against both monsters
Beowulf doesn't use weapons, but the opponent does
What saves Beowulf's life from Grendel's mother's near-fatal attack?
his bare skin
his chain mail shirt
Hrunting
his warriors
What two literary devices are used in these lines: "That famous prince fought with fate against him."
kenning and analogy
kenning and simile
alliteration and foreshadowing
alliteration and caesura
What do most of Beowulf's warriors do when they see that he is losing the battle with the dragon?
fall to their knees and pray
cry into their Scandinavian beards
run away
rush in to help
Who is Wiglaf?
Beowulf's son
the dragon's child
the dragon
a close kinsman of Beowulf
What does Wiglaf represent?
the savior of the story
the antagonist of the story
the bond of comitatus
the representation of biological brothers
Beowulf asks Wiglaf to be the next leader because Wiglaf
defeats the dragon alone
asks to be the Geats' next leader
stands with Beowulf to fight the dragon
shows more strength than Beowulf when Beowulf turns into a coward
What does Wiglaf's fighting the dragon tell you about the importance of honor in the Anglo-Saxon period?
a warrior protects his king even at the risk of his own life
courage is knowing when an enemy's threat is too great
a king's greatness is measured by how much his people love him
fighting to the death is the only way to be immortalized
Which is a universal theme in the epic Beowulf?
evil always wins
kingdoms survive and prosper through warfare
a good leader is brave and fearless
real dragons and monsters await everyone
Why did Beowulf lose his swimming match with Breca?
He didn't take off his armor and it weighed him down.
He boasted that he could beat Breca even if he swam "single-handedly", so he only used one of his arms.
Breca cheated by leaving his armor and weapons on the shore.
He was distracted by some sea monsters that needed a good killing.
What mistake does Beowulf make?
He waits too long in attacking and observing Grendel and loses a man.
He tries using a sword to kill Grendel
He brags about successfully defeating Grendel.
He lets Grendel nearly rip Beowulf's arm off.
Why does Beowulf NOT use weapons in his fight with Grendel?
A spell saves Grendel from death by weapon.
Because Grendel doesn't use weapons- it's honorable.
He trusts his warriors to help him if he needs it.
He is allergic to the metal used.
Why does Grendel terrorize Hrothgar's men at Herot?
He avenged the death of his mother who was killed by Aeschere.
He believed Hrothgar was his father and had ignored him.
He wanted to be a loyal thane to Hrothgar, but they wouldn't let him.
He was jealous because he was cursed, but they were blessed.
The Catholic monks explained the existence of the monster Grendel by putting him into Biblical context. How did they do this?
They called him the spawn of Satan.
They claimed that Grendel hated Christians.
They said that Grendel was the descendant of Cain.
They said that Grendel was a sinner who had been cursed to become a monster.
The Anglo-Saxon period is generally considered to date from
55 BC to 43 AD
1 AD to 449 AD
449 AD to 1066 AD
1066 AD to 1789 AD
All of the following are traits of an epic poem EXCEPT
superhuman deeds
the promotion of a culture's values and ideals
fabulous adventures
simple, straightforward language
Which of the following refers to the sun?
sky candle
giver of gold
whale road
battle sweat
"Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before" is an example of
kenning
caesura
alliteration
metaphor
Which of the following is NOT a kenning?
sky candle
battle dew
whale road
shiny sword
Each of the following applies to Beowulf except:
Oral tradition
Old English
Warrior ideals
Religious conflict
Which of the following quotations from Beowulf contains alliteration?
“Murderous flames, spreading them everywhere.”
“But war could have followed.”
“The ancient blade broke, bit . . ., drew blood”
“The monster came quickly toward him.”
What is one key purpose of the caesura that appears in most lines of Anglo-Saxon verse?
It elevates the heroic language.
It provides the speaker with a place to pause.
It adds a sense of mourning or sadness.
It provides the speaker with directions regarding tone of voice.
Who challenges Beowulf's strength and reputation?
Unferth
Hygelac
Hrothgar
Birnam
Why does Beowulf NOT use weapons in his fight with Grendel?
A spell saves Grendel from death by weapon.
Because Grendel doesn't use weapons- it's honorable.
He trusts his warriors to help him if he needs it.
He is allergic to the metal used.
The watchman spots Beowulf and his crew and are at first
worried about why they are there with weapons
excited to see them
not concerned at all
runs to tell the others
