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Beowulf Review

Total questions: 32

Worksheet time: 1hrs 23mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Who is Hrothgar?

a)

Danish thane who taunts Beowulf; later offers a sword

b)

King of the Geats who sends his men to help the Danes

c)

King of the Danes; builder of famous mead-hall

d)

Sea nymph-like monster, seeks vengeance on Danes

2.

Who is Beowulf?

a)

A heroic warrior who later becomes King of the Geats

b)

Only thane who stays with hero during the dragon battle

c)

Important Danish official; killed by Grendel’s mother

d)

Arrives from sea as a child. Founds royal Danish line

3.

Who is Grendel?

a)

A monster who bears the curse of the descendants of Cain

b)

Grand mead-hall named for stag to symbolize kinship

c)

Only thane who stays with hero during the dragon battle

d)

Danish thane who taunts Beowulf; later offers a sword

4.

“Swan-road” is an example of what?

a)

Alliteration

b)

Kenning

c)

Rhythm

d)

Caesura

5.

In the sentence “but the bold one found that the battle-flasher would bite no longer, nor harm her life,” battle-flasher is a kenning for _____.

a)

sword

b)

chain mail

c)

Grendel

d)

horse

6.

Beowulf is an ____ because it is a long, narrative poem about a hero.

a)

Epic

b)

Kenning

c)

Essay

d)

Limerick

7.

Epics began as oral poems retold over many generations.

a)

True

b)

False

8.

Who/what is Herot?

a)

King of the Danes

b)

King of the Geats

c)

A drinking hall

d)

A great sword

9.

Grendel is the grandson of...

a)

Hrothgar

b)

Beowulf

c)

the devil

d)

Cain

10.

Beowulf has the strength of ____ men in each hand.

a)

10

b)

30

c)

50

d)

100

11.

How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?

a)

Rips his arm off

b)

Chops his head off

c)

Cuts him open from the crotch to the chin

d)

Beats his head against the wall

12.

What language is Beowulf written in?

a)

Latin

b)

Middle English

c)

Welsh

d)

Old English

13.

What is the meaning of the word affliction as it appears in the following excerpts?


"And sometimes they sacrificed to the old stone gods...hoping for...the Devil's guidance in driving/Their affliction off." (lines 90-93)


"Bold and strong-minded, had driven affliction/Off, purged Herot clean." (lines 348-49)

a)

a desire, wish, or aspiration

b)

a problem or something that causes pain

c)

bravery, boldness, or fearlessness

d)

intense religious devotion

14.

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)

disgusting or repulsive

b)

appealing or attractive

c)

swift or quick

d)

delaying or putting off

15.

"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?

a)

admiring; praising

b)

disgusted; repulsed

c)

optimistic; hopeful

d)

fearful; apprehensive

16.

Select the group of words that accurately completes the following statement:


Grendel's lair is described as _____; in _____, Herot is described as _____.

a)

solid; contrast; impermanent

b)

heavenly; comparison; hellish

c)

peaceful; comparison; chaotic

d)

hellish; contrast; bright

17.

Which of the following is NOT a epic hero trait?

a)

Noble Birth

b)

Travels Over Great Distances

c)

National Heroism

d)

Meeting a Wise Mentor

18.

Why does Grendel initially attack Herot?

a)

Beowulf killed his mother

b)

He had not eaten for hundreds of years

c)

He hears and hates their music and singing

d)

Hrothgar stole his pogs

19.

Who are the group of people Beowulf wants to help?

a)

The Geats

b)

The Danes

c)

The Wexans

d)

The Visigoths

20.

During the Anglo Saxon period, bragging was considered

a)

Overly prideful and rude

b)

Unacceptable in society

c)

Acceptable and even encouraged( as long as you could back it up)

d)

Poetic and beautiful

21.

"Listening, the famous ring-giver sure," This is an example of a ...

a)

Variation

b)

Alliteration

c)

Kenning

22.

Good vs. Evil Christian and Pagan Influences Importance of wealth and treasure importance of sea and sailing fate These are all examples of

a)

Theme

b)

attitude

c)

tone

d)

All of the above

23.

What does this statement tell you about Grendel?

"The monster's / Thoughts were as quick as his greed or his claws" (lines 34-35).

a)

He is hungry.

b)

He has sharp claws.

c)

He is not trustworthy.

d)

He has intelligence and cleverness.

24.

"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...

a)

The Anglo-Saxon concept of wyrd

b)

Kennings that describe Grendel's mother

c)

Kennings that describe Grendel

d)

Biblical allusions that reiterate Grendel's evil nature

25.

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.

a)

It reveals key details about Beowulf's heritage.

b)

It shows that Grendel's mother's motives are somewhat justified.

c)

It explains why Grendel is evil and murderous.

d)

It highlights the contrast between Beowulf and King Hrothgar.

e)

It shows that loyalty (to leader, family, etc.) is an important value in Anglo-Saxon society.

26.

What do the stories told by the men reveal about Anglo-Saxon culture and religion?

a)

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.

b)

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.

27.

Where does Grendel live?

a)

deep in the swamp/marsh

b)

the jungle

c)

the ocean

d)

the city

28.

How many winters did Grendel terrorize Herot?

a)

150 years

b)

6 years

c)

30 years

d)

12 winters/years

29.

What is the name of the place Beowulf came from?

a)

The promise land

b)

Land of the Geats

c)

Land of the monarchs

d)

The Herotland

30.

What was the name of the Mead Hall?

a)

Herot

b)

Bungalow

c)

Mead Hall

d)

House of the Danes

31.

Which of the following is not a kenning?

a)

mead hall

b)

Lord's protector

c)

golden wing

d)

sea witch

32.

Which of the following is NOT a trait of an epic hero?

a)

comes from humble beginnings

b)

actions determine the fate of the nation

c)

superhuman abilities

d)

reflects societal ideals