At a Glance
Around what year is the only surviving Beowulf manuscript dated?
Around AD 1000
What language family does Beowulf belong to?
Germanic
What type of epic is Beowulf?
An oral folk epic
Name one Anglo-Saxon heroic virtue.
Fortitude, prudence, loyalty, or generosity
What is a kenning?
A descriptive compound phrase
Who is the hero of the epic?
Beowulf
What monster attacks Heorot?
Grendel
What is the name of Hrothgar’s mead-hall?
Heorot
Why does Beowulf travel to Denmark?
To help Hrothgar defeat Grendel
What weapon does Beowulf refuse to use against Grendel?
A sword
What theme emphasizes loyalty between lord and warrior?
Comitatus
During what years was Beowulf likely composed?
Between about 600–1000
Where did Beowulf originate?
Anglo-Saxon England
What kind of hero do epics celebrate?
A national or legendary hero
What bonds a lord and his warriors?
Generosity and loyalty
What is a stock epithet?
A repeated descriptive phrase
Who is the Danish king terrorized by Grendel?
Hrothgar
Where does Grendel live?
A dark underwater lair
What country does Beowulf come from?
Geatland
How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?
By tearing off his arm
What fails Beowulf in the fight with Grendel’s mother?
His sword
What theme explores the power of fate?
Wyrd
Who first labeled the Beowulf manuscript with his name?
Laurence Nowell
Why is the author of Beowulf unknown?
It was originally oral and later recorded by a scribe
How are epic heroes usually described?
Larger than life
What is the comitatus?
A warrior band loyal to a lord
What does in medias res mean?
Beginning in the middle of the action
Who is seeking revenge for Grendel's death?
Grendel’s mother
What final enemy does Beowulf face?
The dragon
Where does Beowulf battle Grendel’s mother?
An underwater cave
What happens after Grendel is killed?
Grendel’s mother attacks
What saves Beowulf underwater?
A giant’s sword
What theme warns against excessive pride?
Pride / hubris
Which collector owned the Beowulf manuscript?
Sir Robert Cotton
What role might the poet have held?
Christian scholar, monk, or court poet
What supernatural elements appear in epics?
Monsters, dragons, fate
What value is shown through gift-giving?
Generosity
What is an epic simile?
An extended comparison
Who becomes king of the Geats after Beowulf?
Wiglaf
Why does the dragon attack the Geats?
Its treasure is stolen
Where does the dragon guard its treasure?
A barrow
How long does Beowulf rule as king?
50 years
What does treasure symbolize?
Honor, loyalty, and reward
What theme in Beowulf reflects Christian values?
Good vs. evil
In what year was the manuscript given to England?
1702
Which two belief systems influence the poem?
Germanic paganism and Christianity
What major action drives epic plots?
A journey or battle
Why does Beowulf focus on actions rather than thoughts?
It comes from an oral tradition
What verse style is used in Beowulf?
Alliterative verse
Which warrior remains loyal to Beowulf during the dragon fight?
Wiglaf
Which enemy represents pure evil and isolation?
Grendel
Where does Beowulf rule as king?
Geatland
How does Beowulf die?
From wounds after fighting the dragon
What object symbolizes kingship at the end?
The dragon’s treasure
What theme is shown by Beowulf’s willingness to sacrifice himself?
Heroism