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Beowulf

Total questions: 72

Worksheet time: 54mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Beowulf is historically important for what reason?

a)

It is about vikings

b)

its about an awesome wolf pack

c)

it is the first known piece of english literature

d)

Beowulf was a cool dude.

2.

Who is the author of Beowulf?

a)

Burton Raffel

b)

Anonymous

c)

Mary Shelley

d)

Alston Riffleton

3.

Beowulf was written in approximately what year?

a)

2020

b)

1800

c)

750 CE

d)

466 BC

4.

Beowulf is an example of an epic poem. What do epic poems celebrate?

a)

pagan holidays

b)

soccer games

c)

heroic deeds

d)

The Almighty

5.

Which one of these is not an element of an epic poem?

a)

the setting is vast in scope

b)

includes a great recipe for mead

c)

supernatural beings or events

d)

involves a hero of superhuman strength

6.

Which one of these is not a characteristic of an epic hero?

a)

exhibits bravery, courage, and loyalty

b)

born of noble birth

c)

performs superhuman deeds

d)

has clean fingernails

7.

Comitatus is:

a)

a medical diagnosis

b)

a power arrangement of fidelity between a king and his thanes

c)

a vegetable

d)

an ancient armor piece worn to signify relationship status

8.

A Wergild is:

a)

a witch curse cast on an entire tribe

b)

a form of religion

c)

money paid to victim’s tribe equal to that man’s price

d)

a metal brace work around a thane's arm signifying who they are and their rank

9.

Wyrd is:

a)

fate or destiny as determined by the gods

b)

a poem by Maya Angelou

c)

Beowulf’s mighty ship

d)

Hrothgar’s mead hall

10.

Before Christianity spread, people were pagans. Which one of these is not a pagan god or goddess?

a)

Beyonce

b)

Thor

c)

Odin

d)

Frida

11.

In Beowulf, it says:-”God, whose love Grendel could not know”- what does that mean?

a)

Grendel thought he was too cool for God

b)

Grendel was didn't know about God

c)

Grendel was raised to believe he was not worthy of God’s love

d)

Grendel did not have a soul

12.

The phrase “swampland, sliding silently” is an example of

a)

alliteration

b)

foreshadowing

c)

rhetoric

d)

kenning

13.

A kenning for a person who loves to read is:

a)

ankle biter

b)

rugrat

c)

bookworm

d)

heather stepper

14.

Herot is:

a)

Hrothgar's horse

b)

a literary device

c)

the mead hall

d)

Hrothgar's favorite son

15.

Who is “Higlac’s follower”?

a)

Hrothgar

b)

Beowulf

c)

Grendel

d)

Edgetho

16.

How is Beowulf’s strength illustrated by the author?

a)

He bends Grendel's claws back

b)

he lifts a giant over his head and slams him

c)

he carries a barrel of mead all by himself

d)

he kills a bull who was attacking Grendel

17.

T (true) or F (false) Beowulf is stronger than all the Danes and Geats

a)

True

b)

False

18.

When Grendel first encounters Beowulf, what emotion does he feel for the first time in his life?

a)

anger

b)

happiness

c)

apathy

d)

fear

19.

Beowulf battles Grendel

a)

by himself

b)

with help from the Danes

c)

in the thunderdome

d)

with a spear

20.

Beowulf’s men could not harm Grendel because

a)

They were not pure of heart and solid in spirit

b)

he was too big

c)

they felt sorry for him

d)

Grendel was enchanted so that no weapons could hurt him

21.

In the last segment of Beowulf, who is left in Herot to battle Grendel?

a)

Beowulf and his men

b)

Beowulf and specially selected of Dane warriors

c)

Hrothgar and his royal guard, Beowulf

d)

the avengers

22.

T

(true) or F (false) Beowulf mostly fights alone, with only occasional help from the other Geats

a)

true

b)

false

23.

. How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?

a)

He kills him with an enchanted sword

b)

he tears his arm off

c)

he meets him in his lair and wrestles him

d)

he bashes his head in with a rock

24.

What “trophy” did Beowulf keep after defeating Grendel?

a)

his fur pelt

b)

Grendel's arm

c)

Grendel's heart

d)

Grendel's head

25.

Where were the Danes when Beowulf was battling Grendel?

a)

drinking mead in the Herot

b)

cowering in their beds

c)

meeting with Hrothgar

d)

battling other enemies

26.

Warriors fought for glory for:

a)

king

b)

ancestors

c)

tribe

d)

all of the above

27.

The phrase “And yet his time had come, his days were over, his death near” is an example of:

a)

kenning

b)

foreshadowing

c)

alliteration

d)

caesura

28.

How many years did Herot stand empty due to Grendel’s attacks?

a)

25

b)

12

c)

100

d)

34

29.

T (true) or F (false) Grendel was easy to negotiate with and strike a bargain.

a)

True

b)

False

30.

In both excerpts, after killing and eating numerous men, Grendel

a)

decided to never return

b)

asked for a dessert menu

c)

feels regret

d)

has no remorse and can't wait to go back

31.

In the Grendel excerpt, Grendel wanders into the outside world

a)

by himself

b)

with his mother

c)

on horseback

d)

straight to the Herot

32.

. In the Grendel excerpt, what attacks Grendel when he ventures into the outside world?

a)

a dragon

b)

a group of angry men

c)

a pack of wolves

d)

his father

33.

. When did Grendel see men for the first time?

a)

between the two trees

b)

in the Herot

c)

when his mother took him to Hrothgar's village

d)

children's picture books

34.

.Grendel is attacked by a group of men

a)

and he kills them all

b)

with pitchforks

c)

without provocation

d)

tights

35.

. In the Grendel excerpt, what do the men think Grendel is at first?

a)

a rock

b)

a bear

c)

a tree fungus/growth

d)

clown

36.

The first time Grendel encountered men, they

a)

threw an ax at Grendel

b)

fought and Grendel won

c)

had a danceoff

d)

quarrelled and beat Grendel

37.

. Who comes to Grendel’s rescue after he’s attacked by the group of men?

a)

his mother

b)

Beuwulf

c)

no one

d)

a giant

38.

Which of the following is an example of Grendel’s cruelty?

a)

"I eat and laugh"

b)

. “.....quick whispered plottings with invisible friends”

c)

"Mama Waaa "

d)

"I never eat humas with the proper seasoning"

39.

Which of the following quotes illustrates Grendel’s innocence?

a)

“burning with murderous lust”

b)

"Like a puppy nipping, playfully growling preparing for battle with wolves.”

c)

“I laugh, crumple over; I can’t help myself”

d)

“I got game. I’m an OG” (original ogre)

40.

. Who said the following quotes -

“The world resists me, and I resist the world” and

“I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist”

a)

Beowulf

b)

Grendel

c)

Wrothgar

d)

Kim Kardashian West

41.

What is “Cain” in line 21 alluding to?

a)

The first murder according to the Bible

b)

Scandinavian sugar farms

c)

Christianity's founder

d)

Hrothgar's eldest son who died tragically in a blood fued

42.

Mead is an alcohol made from ___________

a)

wheat

b)

potatoes

c)

honey

d)

barley

43.

Beowulf was asked to leave his men’s __________ at the door of the Herot.

a)

armor

b)

weapons

c)

servant

d)

horses

44.

What language is Beowulf written in?

a)

Latin

b)

Middle English

c)

Welsh

d)

Old English

45.
Anglo-Saxon travelling poets were called 
a)
Scops
b)
Bards
c)
Minstrels
d)
Jongleurs
46.
How many men did Beowulf bring?
a)
14
b)
12
c)
30
d)
24
47.

Why doesn't Beowulf use weapons against Grendel?

a)

He wants it to be a fair fight.

b)

This enhances Beowulf's hero status, and he wants to honor his king.

c)

Both A and B

d)

He is allergic to the metal used.

48.

What mistake/sacrifice did Beowulf make?

a)

He waits too long in attacking and observing Grendel and loses a man.

b)

He tries using a sword to kill Grendel

c)

He brags about successfully defeating Grendel.

d)

He lets Grendel nearly rip Beowulf's arm off.

49.
Choose the best alliteration definition:
a)
The repetition of vowel sounds in close proximity.
b)
The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of nearby words.
c)
The repetition of consonant sounds in unstressed syllables.
50.
Why do the Danes flee Herot at night?
a)
Grendel attacks at night
b)
Beowulf's men are planning to attack them
c)
King Hrothgar moves camp at night
d)
Grendel only attacks during the day
51.
Grendel lives
a)
in the marshy swampland
b)
in the desert
c)
in hell
d)
on a mountaintop
52.

Why does Grendel attack Herot?

a)

The singing and happiness makes him angry and jealous.

b)

He has a grudge against Hrothgar.

c)

His mother orders him to attack.

d)

He is hungry and needs some lunch.

53.
The Danish King
a)
Hrothgar
b)
Higlac
c)
Healfdane
d)
Beowulf
54.
Beowulf
a)
is the strongest and greatest of all Geats
b)
is the strongest and greatest of all men in the world
c)
is an orphan who somehow found his way to Herot
d)
is summoned by Hrothgar to save his people
55.
Why do the Danes flee Herot at night?
a)
Grendel attacks at night
b)
Beowulf's men are planning to attack them
c)
King Hrothgar moves camp at night
d)
Grendel only attacks during the day
56.
What does Beowulf ask of Hrothgar?
a)
Let Beowulf and his men fight alone
b)
To borrow a weapon
c)
To lend the help of his men
d)
To get as many men as possible to fight Grendel
57.
What advantage does Beowulf have in his fight with Grendel?
a)
his superior strength
b)
his sword
c)
his age
d)
the power of his army
58.
After Grendel's death, who are the people of Herot fearful of?
a)
Grendel's mother
b)
Grendel's father
c)
Beowulf
d)
a 3-headed dragon
59.

Why does Beowulf decide to visit Hrothgar?

a)

To create an alliance.

b)

To start war.

c)

To defeat a monster.

d)

To ask for protection.

60.

What was the monster's name?

a)

Hrothgar

b)

Geat

c)

Beowulf

d)

Grendel

61.

What was the first proof of the monster's defeat?

a)

Its severed head

b)

Its severed arm

c)

Its severed leg

d)

the bubbling pond

62.

Who sought revenge for the monster?

a)

Hrothgar

b)

Its brother

c)

Its mother

d)

Wiglaf

63.

What happened when the monster's blood touched the blade of Beowulf's sword?

a)

It caught fire

b)

It disappeared

c)

It snapped

d)

It started dissolving

64.

Which list of character traits best describe Beowulf?

a)

Cheat, Liar, Coward

b)

Honor, Quiet, Submissive

c)

Bravery, Honor, Strength

d)

Strength, Bravery, Arrogance

65.
Which of the following is an example of alliteration? 
a)
Sally sells seashells by the seashore. 
b)
My husband doesn't like to go fishing. 
c)
My English teacher loves me very much.  
d)
She was as lovely as a dead fish. 
66.
What is a kenning? 
a)
a place where dogs are kept 
b)
when several words start with the same letter 
c)
When a king can do whatever he wants 
d)
A short descriptive phrase used in place of a name 
67.
Which of the following is an example of a kenning? 
a)
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie. 
b)
Cool Pants! 
c)
Son of Cain 
d)
Howard's cowardice 
68.
Who passed down stories from generation to generation? 
a)
The youngest member of the village. 
b)
The king
c)
The scop
d)
The only person who could read and write. 
69.
Who first wrote down the story of Beowulf? 
a)
An ancient scop
b)
A Christian monk
c)
An Medieval scholar 
d)
King Hrothgar 
70.
Who are the two tribes in Beowulf? 
a)
Danes and Geats
b)
English and Irish 
c)
English and Danes 
d)
Jutes and Irish 
71.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an epic hero? 
a)
Courage 
b)
Noble Birth 
c)
Strength 
d)
Bad morals  
72.
The religion of the Anglo Saxons was ___, but they converted to ___. 
a)
Christian to Pagan 
b)
Pagan/polytheistic, Christian 
c)
Buddhism to Christian 
d)
Christian to polytheism