Pagans & Christians
When Weapons Fail
Beowulf's Battles
Kings, Queens & Lines Between
Rhetorical Tactics
Movie Misinformation
100
The biblical figure and first murderer from whose cursed lineage Grendel and all monstrous outcasts descend.
Who is Cain?
100
The reason Beowulf chooses to fight Grendel in Heorot without armor, sword, or shield.
What is leaving the battle up to fate (wyrd, or to keep it fair).
100
Beowulf's young Geatish warrior, who stays with him to the last while fighting the Dragon.
Who is Wiglaf?
100
The Danish founding king whose lavish ship-burial opens Chapter I of the epic, serving as the model of a "Good King."
Who is Scyld Scefing?
100
A two-word metaphorical compound phrase in Old English poetry, such as whale-road for ocean or battle-sweat for blood.
What is a Kenning?
100
Grendel's Mother is played, somewhat ironically, by THIS famous actress. (bonus 100pts if you can name her real-life father).
Who is Angelina Jolie (Bonus: Jon Voight)?
200
The specific joyful performance inside Heorot that torments Grendel and drives him to launch his 12-year night raids
What is the Scop's song (or Creation song, singing in Heorot)
200
The ancestral iron sword lent by Unferth that fails to bite into Grendel’s Mother's hide in the Mere.
What is Hrunting?
200
Beowulf sinks for this long while swimming down to Grendel's Mother's underwater cavern.
What is a full day's length (one day)?
200
The Danish son of Scyld Scefing, whose namesake is carried on by the text's titular protagonist. (Often a source of confusion)
Who is Beowulf the Dane (or Beowulf I, NOT Beowulf the Geat)?
200
The legally binding 4-part formal boast delivered before battle establishing pedigree, past victories, an unarmed vow, and submission to fate.
What is a Gylp?
200
This classic and multi-award winning actor plays a somewhat important character in the movie, and someone of only mild importance in the book (2 answers: his name, and who he plays)
Who is John Malkovich, who plays Unferth?
300
The reason Grendel can slaughter warriors inside Heorot for 12 winters yet can never touch or approach Hrothgar's sacred throne.
What is God's protection?
300
The weapon Beowulf uses to decapitate Grendel's Mother after Hrunting fails.
What is the Giant’s Sword hanging on the cavern wall?
300
The catalyst event that awakens the dragon after 300 years of sleeping over the ancient stone barrow.
What is a runaway thrall (slave) stealing a gem-studded cup from the cliff-side barrow.
300
The term for royal women like Queen Wealhtheow or Hildeburg who were married off to rival tribes to forge political alliances and end feuds.
What is a Peace-Weaver?
300
The formal verbal duel or ritual exchange of insults that Unferth initiates against Beowulf regarding the swimming match with Breca.
What is Flyting?
300
In the movie, Beowulf's fight with Grendel's Mother results in his own seduction and betrayal of Comitatus towards Hrothgar. In the book, this battle results in ____________.
What is Beowulf's victory, the death of Grendel's Mother, and the decapitation of Grendel.
400
The Anglo-Saxon concept of predetermined, unchangeable fate that Beowulf acknowledges before every battle ("Fate goes ever as it must!").
What is Wyrd?
400
The visual transformation that happens to the Giant's Sword after decapitating Grendel's corpse, leaving Beowulf with only the golden hilt.
What is melting (like spring ice)?
400
The custom piece of gear Beowulf orders his smiths to forge specifically because traditional wooden shields burn to ashes in dragon fire.
What is an all-iron shield?
400
The legendary dragon-slayer from the bard's song after Grendel's defeat to whom young Beowulf is positively compared.
Who is Sigemund?
400
The structural literary device demonstrated by opening the poem with Scyld Scefing's ship-burial and closing it with Beowulf's headland barrow funeral.
What is Ring Composition?
400
Hrothgar is portrayed in the book/poem as a good and loyal King who honors his Thanes and visitors well. In the movie, Hrothgar is portrayed as _____________.
What is a lecherous, lustful drunkard who values gold more than life?
500
The religion of the author(s) of Beowulf, and yet not the religion of the figures in the story.
What is Christianity?
500
The reason Beowulf’s ancient sword Nægling snaps in two during the final battle with the dragon.
What is Beowulf's superhuman strength (he's just too strong!)?
500
The fatal injury the dragon inflicts on King Beowulf before Wiglaf delivers the striking blow to the beast's underbelly.
What is a poisonous/venomous bite to the neck?
500
The main reason Hrothgar already knows of Beowulf before his arrival to Denmark
What is Ecgtheow owing Hrothgar a debt which Beowulf would eventually pay (also acceptable: Hrothgar met Beowulf when he was just a baby through his dealings with Ecgtheow)
500
The terrifying prophecy uttered by the old Geatish woman as Beowulf's funeral pyre burns at Hronesness.
What is the impending end of the Geats now that their King is dead?
500
In the book/poem, the dragon Beowulf slays is...well, just a dragon. In the movie, this dragon is actually _____________.
The corrupted son of Beowulf and Grendel's Mother (why they did this I will never understand...Hollywood ruins everything kids!)