Historical Context
The history of the English language begins in the 5th century A.D. with the invasion of the Anglos, the Saxons and this other Germanic tribe.
Who are the Jutes?
What is the 8th century?
Who are the Geats?
Grendel is a descendant of this Biblical figure, who commits the first murder in the Book of Genesis.
Who is Cain?
The spread of this belief system in the 5th century helped unite the various tribes throughout Britain.
What is Christianity?
Whale-road is an example of this Old English literary device, in which a compound noun phrase serves as a metaphor.
What is a kenning?
What is 12 years?
Grendel's mother resides in this mysterious setting.
What is a cave beneath a lake?
Tribes in the Anglo-Saxon period were ruled by this type of leader.
What is a warrior-king?
This Latin term meaning "in the middle of things" describes the plot structure of epic poems.
What is in medias res?
Beowulf hangs this in the rafters of Herot as a symbol of his victory over Grendel.
What is his arm?
The dragon lays waste to the Geats' land for this reason.
What is theft of a cup from his treasure?
This seafaring Scandinavian group invaded Britain in the 8th century, bringing an Old Norse influence to the English language.
Who are the Vikings?
"Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow" is an example of this figure of speech, in which a noun is described by a characteristic.
What is an epithet?
Beowulf commits this shocking action as a “final revenge against Grendel’s vicious / Attacks.”
What is decapitation?
According to Morrison, this is Grendel's mother's motive for murder.
What is revenge?
This appropriately named monarch became the first Norman king of England in the 11th century.
Who was William the Conqueror?
"The Seafarer" is an example of this type of poem, which lamentation for something or someone lost.
What is an elegy?
Beowulf instructs his men to build this topographical feature to stand as a memorial that will live on after his death.
What is a barrow?
In Morrison's interpretation, the melting of Beowulf's sword represents this ideal.
What is violence against violence?
Which of Hrothgar’s men challenges Beowulf upon his arrival to Herot?
Unferth