Beowulf

Geographies & Architecture

100

The grand mead-hall built by King Hrothgar that serves as the center of Danish Civilization?

What is Heorot?

200

The dark, misty swampland where Grendel lives, symbolizing isolation and hell.

What is the mere?

300

The ancestral homeland that Beowulf sails from to aid the Danes.

• What is Geatland?

400

• The length of time, measured in winters, that Heorot sat empty because of Grendel's raids. 

What is twelve winters?

500

• The structural material reinforcing Heorot's walls, praised by the poet for surviving the violent shaking of the battle. 

What is iron?

Who's Who?

100

• The terrifying monster who is a literal and symbolic descendant of the biblical murderer Cain.

 (Answer: Who is Grendel?)

200

• The legendary patriarch and first great Danish king whose ship-burial opens the epic poem. (Answer: Who is Scyld Scefing / Shield Sheafson?)

(Answer: Who is Scyld Scefing / Shield Sheafson?)

300

•  Beowulf’s childhood friend and rival in a grueling, week-long swimming match. 

(Answer: Who is Breca?)

400

•  Beowulf’s king and liege lord back home in Geatland.

 (Answer: Who is Hygelac?)

500

The father of Beowulf, for whom Hrothgar once paid a heavy blood-price to settle a feud. (

Answer: Who is Ecgtheow?

Verbal Feuds & Foes

100

• The jealous Danish warrior who taunts Beowulf during the welcoming feast. 

 (Answer: Who is Unferth?)

200

• The unforgivable cultural sin that Unferth committed against his own family members. 

(Answer: What is murdering his brothers?)

300

•  The exact number of sea-monsters Beowulf claims he had to slaughter during his ocean race. 

(Answer: What is nine?)

400

• The official position of the first Danish man Beowulf encounters, who demands to know the Geats' lineage before letting them pass. 

(Answer: What is the coast-guard?)

500

• The term used for the traditional Anglo-Saxon poetic practice of competitive, stylized insult-swapping (like the exchange between Beowulf and Unferth).

 (Answer: What is flyting?)

The Clashes

100

• The reason Beowulf chooses to fight Grendel completely barehanded. 

(Answer: What is to maintain an honorable, equal fight / please his lord Hygelac?)

200

• The magical defense mechanism Grendel possesses that renders human swords completely useless. 

(Answer: What is a spell/enchantment that blunts all forged iron blades?)

300

• The name of the unfortunate Geatish warrior who is instantly devoured by Grendel when the monster enters the hall. 

(Answer: Who is Hondscioh?)

400

• The fatal injury Beowulf inflicts on Grendel to win the combat. 

(Answer: What is tearing his arm/shoulder out of its socket?)

500

•  The location within Heorot where Beowulf hangs Grendel's severed arm as a victory trophy. 

(Answer: What are the rafters / under the roof?)

Cultural Codes

100

• The Anglo-Saxon word for fate, which dictates a warrior's ultimate destiny. 

(Answer: What is Wyrd?)

200

• The sacred code of absolute loyalty and teamwork between a Germanic king and his warriors. 

(Answer: What is comitatus?)

300

•  The legal "man-price" paid to an injured family to successfully halt a bloody generational feud. 

(Answer: What is wergild?)

400

• The specific thing inside Heorot that Grendel is strictly forbidden by God to touch. 

(Answer: What is Hrothgar's sacred throne?)

500

• The specific subject matter of the scop's song that originally pushes Grendel into a rage. 

(Answer: What is the creation of the earth/the Almighty's power?)