Background
Beowulf was most likely written by a....?
Christian Monk
Who is Grendel a descendant of? Why is that significant?
He is a descendant of Cain. Since Cain committed the first murder, it suggests that Grendel's evilness was inherited.
What is a Caesura?
An intentional pause in the middle of a line of poetry.
How does Beowulf plan to fight Grendel?
With his bare hands
The Anglo-Saxons originally came from where?
What would be Germany today.
Oral Tradition means....?
The tradition of passing stories down by word of mouth.
Why are the Danes unable to defeat Grendel on their own?
What is a Kenning?
A compound phrase that is used as a metaphor for a common noun.
Why does Beowulf allow Grendel to kill one of his men?
To observe how Grendel attacks and fight
How many years does Grendel terrorize Herot?
12
What is a scop?
A professional story teller. It was their job to remember all of the tribes stories and pass them down.
What motivates Grendel to attack the Danes?
He hears them singing about God and it aggravates him. He is so evil that even hearing about God is painful.
What is alliterative verse?
Poetry that's lines are connected using alliteration, not a rhyme scheme.
How is Beowulf's battle with Grendel's mother different from his battle with Grendel?
He is alone, he is not as strong as Grendel's mother, and he must use a weapon to defeat her.
Beowulf is written in what language?
Old English
What poetic devices did scops use?
Caesura, alliterative verse, & kennings
Why might Grendel's mother be a sympathetic character?
She is grieving for the loss of her son.
"Sea Stallion" is a.....
Kenning
What weapon does Beowulf use to defeat Grendel's mother? Why can only he use it?
A giant's sword. He is the only man strong enough to wield it.
The Geats
What are values of the anglo-Saxons that are evident in Beowulf?
Courage, Strength, Kinsmanship, & Loyalty
Where does Grendel's mother live? Why is that significant?
In the marshes. It is a dark and wild place which suggests that it is a source of evil, compared to the civilized and bright Herot which is a source of good.
What are the three reasons scops used poetic devices?
Entertain audience, aid memory, create sound effects
How does Beowulf finally defeat Grendel's mother?
He cuts off her head
How many lines is the unabridged Beowulf text?
3,182