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WorksheetsBeowulf
Total questions: 25
Worksheet time: 25mins
What is a kenning?
a word that was created by Beowulf
a compound word or phrase that replaces a noun, usually with a more evocative phrase
a compound word or phrase that is used in the place of a verb to show more action
two words that mean the same thing
An example of a kenning for Beowulf is
Higlac's brave follower
a strong Geat warrior
he was loved by all
a brave hero
Alliteration is
every word in the sentence starting with the same letter
double letters in the middle of words
the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together
the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close together
Why were kennings and alliteration used in Anglo-Saxon poetry?
it made it easier to remember the stories since they were not in writing
they really liked the way the repetition of the letters sounded
it made the stories more exciting to change the names of the characters
it made the stories easier to tell because of the way they spoke
What was the final straw that led Grendel to attack and kill Hrothgar's men at Herot in the middle of the night while they slept?
He was upset that his mother had died.
He didn't like that his men were able to drink and sing at the mead hall.
He was angry and tired of hearing them sing of God creating the earth.
He was angry that he lived in a swamp.
What theme that is prevalent in Beowulf is exhibited in these lines:
The Almighty drove/Those demons out, and their exile was bitter,/Shut away from men; they split/Into a thousand forms of evil--spirits/And fiends, goblins, monsters, giants,/A brood forever opposing the Lord's/Will, and again and again defeated.
It is better to die a young hero, than grow old as a coward
Good always triumphs over evil
Giving respect is honorable
Valor will triumph
Who is Grendel a descendent of?
Aesop
Hrothgar
Moses
Cain
How long did Grendel rule over Herot?
12 days
15 years
12 years
12 months
"Mankind's enemy" is a kenning for whom?
Beowulf
Grendel
Hrothgar
Grendel's mom
Hrothgar and the councilmen of Herot were so despairing when Grendel was in power that they did what?
Advertised for someone to come and defeat Grendel.
Moved everyone in town to a new home.
Hired an army to try to kill him.
Strayed from God and made heathen vows.
These lines show that the Anglo-Saxons believed in what?
"None/Of the wise ones regretted his going, much/As he was loved by the Geats: the omens were good"
The Omen
Fate
Good luck
Pagan Gods
When Beowulf arrives to Herot, he announces himself to Hrothgar, letting him know that he is well prepared to defeat Grendel with no weapons; and if he does not win, what will happen?
Another hero will come and defeat Grendel instead.
They will return home and Grendel will continue to rule Herot.
Grendel will take their dead bodies to his home and eat them.
Grendel will bury their dead bodies in Herot.
The universal theme that "one good deed deserves another in return" is shown when:
Beowulf defeats Grendel because he heard of Hrothgar's troubles from across the sea.
Hrothgar throws a party to celebrate Beowulf coming to attack Grendel.
Beowulf comes to help Hrothgar defeat Grendel because of the generosity his father received before.
Beowulf comes to Hrothgar to defeat Grendel because he is a hero, and that's what heroes do.
What tone does Hrothgar have here, and what alliterative sounds suggest this?
"My tongue grows heavy,/And my heart, when I try to tell you what Grendel/Has brought us, the damage he's done, here/In this hall."
despair, shown with t's and h's
joyful, shown with g's
hopeful, shown with g's and h's
angry, shown with w's and b's
What did the Danes and the visiting Geats do before Beowulf and his men went to fight Grendel?
Took baths and put on their gear
Sharpened all of their tools
Learned of Grendel taking over Herot
Feasted to celebrate in Beowulf's honor
Pauses, or "caesuras" are used in these lines to convey what type of action by Grendel?
"Out from the marsh, from the foot of misty/Hills and bogs, bearing God's hatred,/Grendel came, hoping to kill/Anyone he could trap on this trip to high Herot.
Grendel is running to kill the people at Herot
Grendel is sneaking through the bogs to Herot
Grendel is riding a chariot to Herot
Grendel is walking quickly to Herot to kill the soldiers
These kennings, "shepherd of evil" and "guardian of crime" refer to whom?
Edgetho
Hergar
Hrothgar
Grendel
Whose terrible screams and horrible shrieks of pain and defeat made the Danes cower in their beds?
Grendel
Beowulf
Hrothgar
Edgetho
What happened when Beowulf's soldiers attempted to attack Grendel with their weapons?
They tore through his arm and ripped it off
They were able to stab him, but not mortally wound him
They remembered that they had not brought weapons at Beowulf's request
They were unable to even scratch his skin because he had bewitched them to all become blunted
What was waiting for Grendel once he died?
Even worse fiends than him
God would take him back
He could take his place with the devil
The afterlife
What did Beowulf hang high from the rafters as proof of his victory?
Grendel's torso, with broken bones and sinews.
The monster's arm, claw and shoulder.
Grendel's right leg, torn and broken.
The monster's head, to ward off future monsters.
Describe the lake where Grendel dragged his body to die.
What is the universal theme that is shown when the poem says that
"his miserable/End, as hell opened to receive him."
List three characteristics of a hero that Beowulf displays in the poem.
Summarize, in your own words, the story of Beowulf and Grendel.
