Key Terms
A _____ hero is a character in literature or mythology who is larger than life and possesses heroic qualities such as courage, strength, wisdom, and cunning.
Epic
The name of the monster Beowulf defeats.
Grendel
The stage of the Hero's Journey where the hero meets their friends and foes.
Tests, Allies, & Enemies
Who/what represents evil and jealousy?
Grendel
monsters and the supernatural
The savory flavors of steak and gravy flooded my taste buds.
Taste
Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of two or more words.
Alliteration
Where is Beowulf from?
Geatland (modern Sweden)
The stage of the Hero's Journey where the hero receives commendation for their efforts.
The Reward
What represents civilization and order?
The Mead Hall
Smoke from the campfire curled into the air, carrying the scent of burning pine and roasted marshmallows.
Smell
Kenning
The PRIMARY reason Beowulf fights monsters.
Glory / Honor / Fame / Pride
The FIRST stage of the Hero's Journey
The Ordinary World
What does treasure represent in the story?
Wealth and power (positive)
Greed and corruption (negative)
The large truck drove past her, tanky and rectangular.
Sight
A pause that occurs within a line of poetry, usually marked by some form of punctuation such as a period, comma, ellipsis, or dash.
Caesura
How did Beowulf defeat Grendel?
With bare hands/arms
Without weapons
What incident was Beowulf's Call to Adventure?
Grendel's repeated attacks on Heorot.
He went to help because his father owed Hrothgar a favor.
Beowulf’s proud recounting of past deeds, his oath to Hrothgar, and his choice to fight Grendel unarmed all illustrate this code that values honor, reputation, and courageous action.
The Heroic Code / reputation and honor
The cat's rough fur bristled when the smooth rubber ball bounced past it.
Touch
What is the Anglo-Saxon word for their idea of "fate"?
Wyrd
The name of the king Beowulf goes to help.
Hrothgar
What event in our reading would be considered the Supreme Ordeal?
Fighting and defeating Grendel
The poem mixes fate and warrior values with references to God, showing this conflict of beliefs.
Christianity vs. Paganism
A carpet of fallen leaves covered the path, crunching under each careful step.
Hearing