Characters
Who is Beowulf?
A great, son of Edgetheow and nephew of Hygelac, the hero.
Define epic.
A long poem from oral tradition.
Where did Beowulf come from?
The land of the geats
How long does Grendel attack Heorot?
12 winters
How did Beowulf defeat Grendel's mother
Who is Edgetheow?
Beowulf's father
Define alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds
How did Beowulf hear about Grendel?
Poets traveling through mead halls telling Grendel's story.
Why did Beowulf allow Grendel kill one of the Geats?
to see how Grendel attack
Why did Beowulf fight Grendel with no weapons?
all man-made weapons could not harm Grendel
Who is Brecca?
Beowulf's best friend
Define wyrd
old English word for fate
Why does Grendel's mom begin to attack Herot?
She is upset that Beowulf killed her son
How does Beowulf kill Grendel?
He rips of his arm
What happens to Beowulf's warriors during the fight with the dragon?
Everyone but Wiglaf left him. Wiglaf stays to help Beowulf defeat the dragon.
Who is Hrothgar?
Lord of the Danes; great grandson of Scyld Scefing
Define scop
old English term for poet; usually sang the poem
What does Beowulf want to present to Hrothgar?
Grendel's head
What does Grendel's mother take?
Grendel's claw
How does Beowulf kill the dragon?
He kills it with a dagger.
Who are the Heathobards?
A tribe living by the Danes and often at war with them.
Define Caesura
A pause in a line of poetry
How does Beowulf die?
The dragon bit him, his bite had poison in it.
What does Hrothgar ask of Beowulf?
to kill Grendel's mother
How does Beowulf realize he is losing the battle with the dragon?
His shield begins to melt.