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Beowulf Part One Review

Total questions: 36

Worksheet time: 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Beowulf journeys to the land of the Danes because--

a)

he wants to retrace his beloved uncle's footsteps

b)

he has heard of Grendel's attacks and he knows he can help

c)

he wants to overthrow Hrothgar and make himself king

d)

Hrothgar wrote to him and begged for help

2.

The phrase "Infamous killer" is an example of--

a)

caesura

b)

alliteration

c)

metaphor

d)

kenning

3.

Who is Grendel?

a)

a monster who loves rejoicing and celebrations

b)

a monster who is only after the King

c)

a monster who attacks Herot (mead-hall)

d)

a monster compelled to kill by Unferth

4.

Grendel descended from ___.

a)

Cain

b)

Abel

c)

Abraham

d)

Moses

5.

How many years does Grendel terrorize the Danes?

a)

4

b)

12

c)

30

d)

100

6.

Who is the strongest Geatish warrior?

a)

Beowulf

b)

Grendel

c)

Hrothgar

d)

Higlac

7.

How many men did Beowulf bring with him to Denmark?

a)

100

b)

14

c)

40

d)

39

8.

Who is Hrothgar?

a)

King of Geatland

b)

King of Sweden

c)

King of Norway

d)

King of Demark

9.

Beowulf is thought to be written by

a)

Geoffrey Chaucer

b)

William Shakespeare

c)

Homer

d)

An unknown, traveling Anglo-Saxon poet

10.
Grendel caused problems for the Danes for
a)
a decade
b)
20 years
c)
one winter
d)
12 years
11.

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.

12.

How does Beowulf defeat Grendel, and what happens to Grendel?

a)

Beheads him with a magic sword, and he dies immediately

b)

Rips his arm off, and Grendel goes back to his lair and dies there

c)

His thanes ambush Grendel when he enters the mead hall and kill him

d)

Grendel is burned to death in his own fire

13.

"...Up from his swampland, sliding silently" is an example of which poetic device?

a)

allusion

b)

metaphor

c)

alliteration

d)

simile

14.
Which is an example of a kenning for Grendel? 
a)
Higlac's follower
b)
Mightiest of warriors
c)
Mankind's enemy
d)
Strongest of the Geats
15.
The story is set in which country? 
a)
Geatland
b)
Sweden
c)
Norway
d)
Denmark
16.
Who is Hrothgar?
a)
King of Geatland
b)
King of Sweden
c)
King of Norway
d)
King of Demark
17.
What is Herot?
a)
The mead hall
b)
Beowulf's ship
c)
Hrothgar's home
d)
Grendel's lair
18.
Who is Higlac? 
a)
King of Denmark
b)
King of Sweden
c)
King of Geatland
d)
King of England
19.
Beowulf was written in which language? 
a)
Middle English
b)
Modern English
c)
Swedish
d)
Old English
20.

Why was Grendel angry about King Hrothgar's men celebrating in the mead hall? Check ALL correct answers

a)

He was not invited to celebrate

b)

He was cursed as a descendant of Cain and therefore an outcast

c)

The men were too loud when celebrating in the mead hall

d)

He had a long standing feud with King Hrothgar and wanted revenge

21.

"But fate, that night, intended Grendel to gnaw the broken bones of his last human supper." This is an example of which literary term?

a)

hyperbole

b)

metaphor

c)

foreshadowing

d)

irony

22.

"...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?

a)

vehicle

b)

church

c)

burial grounds

d)

lair

23.

2. What is the meaning of the word loathsome as it appears in the following excerpt?


"...and running to his loathsome moor [land]/With another such sickening meal waiting/In his pouch." (lines 538-40)

a)

a desire, wish, or aspiration

b)

bravery, boldness, or fearlessness

c)

a problem or something that causes pain

d)

intense religious devotion

24.

How many men did Grendel kill the FIRST time he attacked the Mead hall?

a)

150

b)

100

c)

50

d)

30

25.

"Then old and young rejoiced...mounted their hard-hooved horses, high-spirited stallions and rode them slowly toward Herot again..." This excerpt uses which literary device?

a)

onomatopoeia

b)

simile

c)

alliteration

d)

irony

26.

"that shepherd of evil," "the greedy she-wolf," and "mighty protector of men" are examples of which literary device?

a)

theme

b)

epic

c)

alliteration

d)

kenning

27.
Which character acts in contrast (opposite) from Beowulf?
a)
King Hrothgar
b)
Queen Wealhtheow
c)
Scyld
d)
Unferth
28.

What seems to be Beowulf’s main reason for coming to help the Danes?

a)

desire for power

b)

desire for treasure

c)

desire for fame and glory

d)

desire for revenge

29.

The major themes of Beowulf include 

a)

Man vs. Man

b)

Good vs. Evil

c)

Man vs. Technology

d)

Love vs. Hate

30.

“Whale’s Home” is an example of a(n) 

a)

Epithet

b)

Alliteration

c)

Kenning

d)

Caesura

31.

The Beowulf text contains many motifs or recurring themes or images including boasts.  Which of the following example is considered a boast? 

a)

"My hands

alone shall fight for me, struggle for life

against the monster"

b)

"Heard how Grendel filled nights with horror"

c)

"My tongue grows heavy,

And my heart"

d)

"So mankind's enemy continued his crimes"

32.

The break in the middle of the lines of Old English poetry is called

a)

Epithet

b)

Allusion

c)

Caesura

d)

Imagery

33.

Another word for a "poet" in Anglo-Saxon culture is

a)

Warrior

b)

Scop

c)

Living thing

d)

Maiden

34.

Which of the following does NOT contain alliteration?

a)

from a friendless foundling, a feeble

b)

whereby God punished the grievous guilt

c)

to the shore of ocean; a ring-prowed boat

d)

of his blood was begotten an evil brood

35.

What type of literature is Beowulf?

a)

Sensory Poem

b)

Lyrical Poem

c)

Epic Poem

d)

Ancient Poem

36.

When he arrives at Herot Hall Beowulf boasts about his many battles. Why?

a)

No one ever did it and the fact that he did was thought to be shameful.

b)

This style of storytelling was part of earning the Dane's respect.

c)

This was part of Anglo-Saxon Culture even if Beowulf can't prove it.

d)

This was an eloquent way for Beowulf to seduce women.