Characters
This character is an epic hero who clearly demonstrates his abilities by facing off against three formidable foes.
Who is Beowulf?
Beowulf dies by this.
What is the dragon's bite/ venom/ poison?
By the very fact that Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon exist within the world of Beowulf, speaks to this theme.
What is good vs. evil?
Explanation: There is no way to have a hero's journey, or a hero like Beowulf, without the prescience of a villain or three.
Culturally speaking, Beowulf does this action upon entering Hrothgar's presence. This characteristic is also a common trait among epic heroes.
What is brag/ be a braggart?
The Roman Empire held the Celtic lands (what we refer to as Great Britain today) for many generations. The Celts benefited from this because the Romans gave them this.
What is protection/ safety from invaders?
This character only wants to stop the party that is disturbing his home life. He attacks Herot for 12 years straight. When he finally battles Beowulf, he ends up losing an arm.
Who is Grendel?
Beowulf ends up facing these three antagonist.
Who are Grendel, Grendel's mother, and the dragon?
During his introduction to Hrothgar, Beowulf says, "They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me rise from the darkness of war, Dripping with my enemies' blood.... Now Grendel and I are called Together, and I've come" (Raffel, 2000, pg. 25). This quote best demonstrates the main idea of this theme.
What is the Heroic Code?
Explanation: Beowulf has expressed that he has come to defend the people he should defend because it is the right thing to do.
The battles between the three antagonist best represents this part of the Hero's Journey.
What are trials?
Paganism was the primary religion for the people of Great Britain until this major religious entity took over.
What is Christianity?
This character is a king who, after taking the throne when his elder brother dies, builds a mead hall to commemorate his many successes. This action ultimate forces another character to attack because, hey, plot.
Who is Hrothgar?
Beowulf is a member of this group of people. When he hears of Hrothgar's trouble, he travels to help these people.
Who are the Geats and Danes? (Right order.)
Fifty years after Grendel's Mother, Beowulf has become king and has ruled Geatland in peace. A dragon's attack challenges this peace and as Beowulf goes to face it, he tells his men that he will fight until they see "who will survive This bloody battle, stand when the fighting Is done" (Raffel, 2000, pg. 42). This indicates that Beowulf has accepted this theme as a possible outcome.
What is death?
Explanation: Beowulf has come to terms with the fact that he will possibly not walk away from this battle. The full speech he gives addresses the fact that he knows the dragon is powerful and dangerous enough to warrant concern.
Beowulf immediately moves to help Hrothgar when he learns of his troubles. This action is this part of the hero's journey.
What is the call to action/ adventure?
Name the author of Beowulf.
Who is "Unknown"/ "Not Known"?
This character made a huge mistake. He killed a Wulfling Solider and nearly started a war because of it. Hrothgar helps him by paying off his debt. Beowulf returns many years later to help Hrothgar as a form of paying off this man's debt to him.
Who is Edgthetho/ Beowulf's Father?
Beowulf, the poem, can be classified in several different ways. Name two of them.
What is an epic poem, oral tradition piece, and song?
Of the thirteen men who went with Beowulf to the Dragon, Wiglaf, Beowulf's younger cousin, is the only one to remain by his side. Wiglaf is therefore the embodiment of this theme.
Explanation: The lesson of loyalty is to stand beside your friends, family, beliefs, and so on. Wiglaf is the only Geat of the thirteen that went with Beowulf to fight the dragon with him and thus prove his loyalty to his king, no matter the cost.
In the second battle against an antagonist, Beowulf lifts a Giant's specially made sword to slice down on the neck of said antagonist. This item best represents this part of the hero's journey.
What is the weapon/ talisman?
This language became the language of British Monarchy after the Norman Conquest. Parlez vous?
What is French?
This character was the only one to remain at Beowulf's side when he fought the final of his fierce foes. In doing so, he became king of the Geats after Beowulf's death.
Who is Wiglaf?
Scops (pronounced "shops") described all the battles in great detail in order to build this literary device.
What is imagery?
After Beowulf greets Hrothgar, Hrothgar then explains to the audience that he is there because, "I bought the end of Eddgetho's Quarrel, sent ancient treasures through the ocean's Furrows to the Wulfings" (Raffel, 2000, pg. 26). Hrothgar doing this best demonstrates this theme.
What is Ruler's Obligation?
Explanation: Hrothgar was made a king young at the death of his brother (mentioned in the same conversation) and immediately he had to deal with this event. Had he not, civil war would have destroyed the area and risked his own people's safety as the areas are all relatively close to one another.
Like many stories that follow the Hero's journey, Beowulf was told in this manner.
What is orally/ oral tradition?
It was thanks to these practices that, instead of dying out, English became mixed with Old Norse.
What are marriage practices?