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Beowulf Test

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 37mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother?

a)

He wounds her with Unferth's sword.

b)

He wounds her with a magical sword he finds in her lair.

c)

He drowns her under the water.

d)

He pulls out one of her arms so that she bleeds to death.

2.

In Beowulf, why does Beowulf sail with his chosen companions to Hrothgar's kingdom?

a)

to bring home treasures from that rich kingdom

b)

to win glory by slaying a fire-breathing dragon

c)

to help Hrothgar by destroying a monster

d)

to take over the throne of Higlac

3.

In Beowulf, what is the main reason Wiglaf thinks that he and his companions should help Beowulf fight the dragon?

a)

Beowulf is too old and sick to fight.

b)

Doing so will increase Beowulf's chances of victory.

c)

By fighting, Beowulf's companions can claim shares in the monster's treasure.

d)

In the past, they had promised to repay Beowulf's kindness with their loyalty.

4.

Beowulf is the _____ of the story

a)

Failure

b)

Antihero

c)

Antagonist

d)

Epic Hero

5.

For how long does Beowulf rule the Geats?

a)

five months

b)

five years

c)

fifteen years

d)

fifty years

6.

From which fact in Beowulf can the reader infer that Beowulf is honorable?

a)

Beowulf refuses to use weapons because Grendel uses none.

b)

Beowulf vows to ambush Grendel and destroy the monster.

c)

Beowulf is the strongest of the Geats.

d)

Higlac is Beowulf's cousin.

7.

Why does Grendel's mother attack Herot?

a)

to save her son

b)

to claim its riches

c)

to feed her family

d)

to avenge her son

8.
Grendel's Mother is a far more dangerous opponent because...
a)
Her sword is more powerful than Beowulf's.
b)
She has multiple arms and can attack Beowulf from all sides.
c)
She cannot be harmed by any ordinary sword.
d)
Beowulf cannot look her in the eye or else he'll turn into stone.
9.

In Beowulf, how does Grendel die?

a)

Beowulf grips Grendel and chokes him to death.

b)

Hrothgar and Beowulf attack Grendel with iron spears.

c)

In one-to-one combat, Beowulf tears off Grendel's arm.

d)

The companions of Beowulf attack Grendel with their swords.

10.

If a certain place can correctly be described as a lair, which of the following must be true?

a)

It serves as a rest stop.

b)

It serves as a storage area.

c)

It serves as a living or hiding place.

d)

It serves as a place for storing weapons.

11.

Identify the literary element illustrated: "You're the last of all our far-flung family."

a)

alliteration

b)

allusion

c)

repitition

d)

foreshadowing

12.

What happens when Beowulf faces the fire-breathing dragon?

a)

The dragon kills Beowulf but survives.

b)

The dragon kills Wiglaf but Beowulf survives.

c)

None of the other Geats help Beowulf.

d)

Beowulf and the dragon kill each other.

13.

What does Beowulf hope his burial tower will do?

a)

protect the Geats from fire

b)

protect the Geats from dragons

c)

serve as a warning beacon to seafarers

d)

keep the treasure hidden forever

14.

Identify the literary element illustrated: So Hrothgar's men lived happy in his hall.

a)

foreshadowing

b)

allusion

c)

rhythm

d)

alliteration

15.

If an animal can correctly be described as writhing, which of the following must be true?

a)

It is chewing.

b)

It is enormous.

c)

It is squirming.

d)

It is multi-colored.

16.

What does this statement tell you about Grendel, the first monster described in the selection from Beowulf?

"The monster's / Thoughts were as quick as his greed or his claws..."

a)

He is hungry.

b)

He has sharp claws.

c)

He is not trustworthy.

d)

He has intelligence and cleverness.

17.

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

18.

While others fled, this character stayed with Beowulf when trying to slay the dragon.

a)

Unferth

b)

Brecca

c)

Hygelac

d)

Wiglaf

19.

Which statement shows one of the conventions of an epic poem?

a)

Higlac was the king of the Geats and Beowulf's uncle.

b)

In mist, invisibly following them from the edge of the marsh.

c)

...of ivory, iron, and wood...

d)

the Danes started in new terror, cowering in their beds

20.

Which of the following things would most likely be described as gruesome?

a)

an unusual rock formation

b)

an oddly shaped vegetable

c)

a horrible automobile accident

d)

a demanding physical challenge