Anglo-Saxon Background
How were books reproduced during this time period?
They were copied by hand.
Who is Grendel a descendant of?
Grendel is a descendant of Cain. (Biblical allusion)
Where does Grendel's Mother live?
Grendel's Mother lives in a cave underneath the lake.
Who is Wiglaf?
A Swedish soldier in Beowulf's service.
What is a scop?
A scop is a professional poet.
Why would Christianity appeal to early Anglo-Saxons?
Christianity provided a source of hope for people since their lives were bleak and grim.
How many years has Grendel been terrorizing Herot and the Danes before Beowulf arrives?
Grendel has been terrorizing the Danes for 12 years.
What does Beowulf use to kill Grendel's Mother?
Beowulf uses a magical sword forged by giant's to kill Grendel's Mother.
What does Beowulf take with him into battle against the dragon?
Beowulf takes a sword, shield, and armor into battle.
Who is the speaker in "The Seafarer"?
The seafarer is the speaker of "The Seafarer".
What was the early religion of invading seafarers?
Why does Beowulf say he will not use weapons when fighting Grendel?
Beowulf wants it to be a fair fight since Grendel does not use weapons. Beowulf also wants to impress Hrothgar.
What does Beowulf take from Grendel's Mother's lair after he kills her? (2 things)
Beowulf takes Grendel's head and the hilt of the magical sword.
Who becomes king after Beowulf?
Wiglaf becomes king after Beowulf dies.
At the beginning of "The Seafarer", how does the speaker make life at sea seem?
The description of the sailor's life makes it sound miserable.
What language was Beowulf originally performed in?
Beowulf was originally performed in Old English.
How does Beowulf kill Grendel?
Beowulf tears Grendel's arm off.
How does Grendel's Mother get revenge for the death of Grendel?
Grendel's Mother gets revenge by killing Hrothgar's closest friend and stealing Grendel's arm from the mead hall.
What did they do for Beowulf after he died?
They built a funeral pyre for Beowulf, burned him, and built a tower in his honor.
How does the speaker of "The Seafarer" think people should act?
The speaker believes that people should respect God, live modestly, and control their pride.
Who is the author of Beowulf?
The author is unknown.
Why do the swords of Beowulf's men not harm Grendel?
Grendel bewitched the swords so they could not harm him.
What are Beowulf's men doing while he fights Grendel's Mother and what do they think?
Beowulf's men stand around the lake waiting for Beowulf. They think that Beowulf has been defeated because of the bloody water.
After Beowulf's weapons fail him during his fight against the dragon, what do his men do?
After Beowulf's weapons fail him, his men flee.
What is the main message of "The Seafarer"?
The speaker's main message is that people should live their lives right so that they can honor God and rejoice in Heaven.