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WorksheetsBeowulf Test Review
Total questions: 56
Worksheet time: 56mins
1. Which of the following DOES NOT reflect the oral tradition of the epic Beowulf?
Before it was written down, the story of Beowulf was preserved for generations by word of mouth.
Beowulf reflects the cultural tradition of telling stories in the mead-halls.
When the Danes feasted, the King gave the best portion of meat to the bravest warrior.
Scops memorized and recited the poetic verses of Beowulf as a form of entertainment.
2. When do most scholars believe Beowulf was written?
8th century
11th century
9th century
14th century
The only thing that can destroy Herot is...
wind
fire
water
earth
What towered "high to reach heaven" and "strong to withstand the buffet of war?"
Herot
Grendel
Beowulf
The Catholic Church
Which of the following allusions does the poet make in reference to Grendel?
Reference to the Anglo-Saxons
Reference to History of the English Speaking People
Biblical story of Job
Biblical story of Cain
What does Grendel hate the sound of?
a warrior's battle cry
snoring
men's voices
the harp
What are Hrothgar and his warriors doing when Grendel first enters Herot?
sleeping
dancing
feasting
arguing
What does Grendel do with the men he takes from Herot?
He throws them off a cliff
He feeds them to sea serpents
He uses them as slaves
He takes them from the mead hall
Grendel caused problems for the Danes for...
a decade
20 years
one winter
12 years
Grendel couldn't harm Hrothgar's throne because...
It was protected by God
It was built by giants
It was guarded
He couldn't reach it
Which of the following passages contains a reference to the pagan religion of the past?
"A powerful monster; living down / In the darkness, growled in pain, impatient / As day after day the music rang / Loud in that hall.."
"...sailors / Have brought us stories of Herot, the best / Of all mead-halls, deserted and useless..."
"He was spawned in that slime, / Conceived by a pair of those monsters born / Of Cain,..."
"And sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods, / Made heathen vows, hoping for Hell's / Support,..."
When Hrothgar's warriors fight Grendel, "No one / waited for reparation from his plundering claws" (lines 72-73). In this context, the word reparation means...
writhing movements
mercy
reparation
loathsome torture
The phrase, "The beginning might not be the end," is an example of what literary device?
alliteration
hyperbole
metaphor
foreshadowing
In Beowulf, why does Beowulf sail with his chosen companions to Hrothgar's kingdom?
to bring home treasures from that rich kingdom
to help Hrothgar by destroying a monster and to gain fame for themselves
to win glory by slaying a fire-breathing dragon
to take over Higlac's throne
What does Beowulf do when he meets Hrothgar?
He boasts of his exploits.
He begs for assistance.
He gives the king a sword.
He greets the king humbly.
When Beowulf requests that he alone "May purge all evil from this hall," what does he mean by "purge"?
drive out and condemn
overcome and conquer
cleanse and purify
bury and forget
When used to describe Beowulf, the phrase "noble protector of all seamen" is an example of...
a caesura
a kenning
a foil
an alliteration
From which fact can the reader infer that the character Beowulf is honorable?
Beowulf refuses to use weapons because Grendel uses none.
Higlac is Beowulf's cousin.
Beowulf is the strongest of the Geats.
Beowulf vows to ambush Grendel and destroy the monster.
Beowulf's followers are unable to harm Grendel because...
they are sleeping soundly.
they lack sufficient courage.
Grendel proves too powerful.
Grendel has put a spell on their weapons.
Beowulf defeats Grendel with his...
sheild
sword
powerful grip
loyal followers
Referring to Grendel as "that shadow of death" is an example of a...
boast
kenning
simile
caesura
In Beowulf, Grendel dies after his...
arm is torn from its socket.
armor yields to Wayland's steel.
head is severed.
heart is pierced by Beowulf's sword.
Which phrase best restates the CAPITILIZED words in this quotation from Beowulf? "He who had come to them from across the sea, / Bold and strong-minded, HAD DRIVEN AFFLICTION / Off, PURGED HEROT CLEAN" (lines 399-401).
had killed Grendel in battle
had rid the land of pain and suffering
had forced the evil monster from the hall
had successfully repelled fate
"So the living sorrow of Healfdane's son / Simmered, bitter and fresh..." is an example of
hyperbole
allusion
metaphor
alliteration
The king of the Geats and Beowulf's uncle was
Higlac
Hrothgar
Grendel
Edgetho
This place was described as being the "best of all mead halls."
lair
Wulfgar
Herot
Camelot
This was a tribe that was involved in a feud with Beowulf's father.
Norseman
Geats
Wulfings
Saxons
This word means cries of grief, such as those expressed by Hrothgar.
laments
solace
sinews
reprisals
He was the hero of this epic poem and prince of the Geats.
Grendel
Beowulf
Edgetho
Higlac
He was the Danish soldier who challenged Beowulf to put his words into actions.
Beowulf
Hrothgar
Wulfgar
Hathlaf
This was the powerful monster who terrorized the Danes and their mead hall.
Edgetho
Herot
Higlac
Grendel
He was a young Wulfing warrior who was killed by Beowulf's father.
Higlac
Hathlaf
Wulfgar
Herot
He was the king of the Danes and the builder of the wonderful mead hall.
Hrothgar
Higlac
Beowulf
Wiglaf
He was the father of the hero Beowulf.
Edgetho
Hrothgar
Wulfgar
Higlac
This is the number of alliterative lines contained in Beowulf.
3,128
3,500
4,828
2,876
Although Beowulf is the focus of the poem, his character would not be possible without the presence of.,.
his strength
the monsters
Herot
Wiglaf and the other Geat warriors
What does Beowulf ask of Hrothgar if he dies in battle against Grendel's mother?
give his King gold
pass his sword to Wiglaf
send Unferth to kill her
be King and his men
Grendel's mother mourns the death of her son by...
fleeing to the ocean to live among the whales
attacking Hrothgar's men in their mead hall just as her son did
becoming Christian
building a castle in the darkest forest where she can bury her son
What is the name of Hrothgar's best friend who is abducted and killed?
Higlaf
Wulfgar
Beowulf
Aeschere
What is Hrunting?
a mead hall
a helmet
a sword
a lake
Besides Grendel's head, what does Beowulf bring Hrothgar from the monster's lair?
gold
giant's sword hilt
a sword
Grendel's mother's tail
Who is the queen of the Danes?
Wealthow
Hygd
Modthryth
Guinevere
How long does Beowulf reign as king of the Geats?
100 years
25 years
40 years
50 years
Beowulf battles the fire-breathing dragon
immediately after his battle with Grendel's mother.
wearing enchanted armor that completely protects him from harm.
when he is older and is the respected king of the Geats.
at the request of Hrothgar.
Beowulf has to fight the dragon because...
he accidentally disturbed its rest.
a thief stole a silver cup from it.
he wants one last fight.
one one else volunteers.
How did the dragon's treasure get in the barrow?
The dragon hauled it there with his teeth.
Higlac had it buried there after he died.
The boat containing the body of Shield Sheafson landed there.
It was buried there by the last survivor of a forgotten race.
Wiglaf thinks he and his comrades should help Beowulf fight the dragon because...
in the past they had promised to repay Beowulf's kindness with their lives.
it will increase Beowulf's chance of victory.
then Beowulf's comrades can claim the dragon's treasure.
Beowulf is too old and sick to fight.
When the dying Beowulf gives Wiglaf his gold necklace, he signifies that...
Beowulf had captured the monster's treasures.
Beowulf is passing on the rulership of Geatland to Wiglaf.
Beowulf wants Wiglaf to kill his comrades.
Beowulf recognizes Wiglaf's superior strength in battle.
49. Which of the following BEST supports the idea that Beowulf is an epic hero?
He displays intense pride in his country.
He becomes more human over time.
He embodies the ideals of Anglo-Saxon society.
He loves nature and abhors civilization.
50. Which of the following is NOT a theme in Beowulf?
revenge
love
reputation
hospitality
A motif is a recurring word, phrase, image, object, idea, or action in a work of literature. Which of the following are motifs used in Beowulf?
oral tradition
monsters
mead hall
all of the above
What Danish soldier gave Beowulf the sword with which to kill Grendel's mother?
Hrothgar
Wulfgar
Unferth
Healfdane
Which option is the Anglo-Saxon word for fate?
wergild
kismet
animism
wyrd
Which of the following phrases contains an example of a caesura?
"...Hidden evil before hidden evil..."
"...Burns like a torch. No one knows its bottom..."
"...And golden cups and the glorious banner..."
"...And struck at the dragon's scaly hide..."
A long, narrative poem that celebrates heroic deeds and legendary events is called a(n)...
epic
haiku
sonnet
elegy
The skilled storytellers who recited poems and other tales in the mead hall were called...
bards
orators
folklorists
scops
