Characters & Relationships
Who is King of the Danes?
Hrothgar
What is comitatus?
the sacred bond between a lord/king and his warriors
The great mead-hall built by Hrothgar
Why does Beowulf arrive in Denmark?
He has come to help the Danes defeat Grendel
What time of day does Grendel enter Heorot, and why is this important?
He enters at night, after the warriors have gone to sleep. This makes them an easy target for Grendel. Additionally, night-time is associated with the hour in which evil acts occur.
Who is Beowulf's father?
Ecgtheow
what is the wyrd?
Anglo-Saxon term for fate - the uncontrollable path of your own life
Why does Grendel hate the Danes and Heorot?
He hates the sounds of joy, music, and life coming from the great hall every night.
Why does Unferth challenge Beowulf's story about the swimming competition?
1. He's jealous of Beowulf's strength and reputation
2. He wants to draw Beowulf's reputation as questionable
What surprises Grendel when he grabs Beowulf?
Beowulf is stronger than anything or anyone he's faced before.
Who is Hygelac, and what is his relationship to Beowulf?
He's king of the Geats and Beowulf's lord
What does Shield Sheafson’s funeral reveal about Anglo-Saxon values?
Shield was laid to rest in a boat loaded with gold, treasure, and weapons. This is a representation of his success as a king (wealthy and generous) and as a fearsome warrior. Both of these aspects are tied to legacy and reputation in Anglo-Saxon culture.
For how long has Grendel terrorized Heorot before Beowulf arrives?
12 years
Why does Beowulf respond so strongly to Unferth?
By questioning his reputation, Unferth is directly attacking an essential piece of Anglo-Saxon life: someone's legacy and their deeds, which makes up their identity.
How does Beowulf defeat Grendel?
After much struggling and wrestling, Beowulf rips off Grendel's arm from the shoulder.
Why does Hrothgar already have a connection to Beowulf's family?
Hrothgar helped Ecgtheow resolve an old feud with the Wulfings by giving them treasure
Why is a warrior's boast more than simple bragging?
It publicly establishes past accomplishments and promises future action; reputation depends on fulfilling that promise.
Why is Grendel's descent from Cain significant?
It traces Grendel's heritage to the evil in the foundational Christian stories.
Why does Beowulf choose to fight Grendel without a weapon?
Grendel uses no weapons, so neither will Beowulf. This makes them equal in combat, and Beowulf will need to rely on his strength alone.
What happens to Grendel after the fight?
Grendel is fatally wounded and returns to his lair to die. "His days were numbered, and the end of his life was coming over him, he knew it for certain."
Explain why Beowulf introducing himself through his father and tribe matters in Anglo-Saxon culture.
Your identity is in large part who your father/ancestors are and their good deeds. By introducing himself as Ecgtheow's son, Beowulf can rely on his father's good reputation while establishing his own.
Give one warrior-culture idea and one Christian idea found in Part 1.
answers may vary
Possible warrior-culture ideas: relationship between Beowulf and Hrothgar (loyal warrior and generous king/lord)
Christian ideas: Grendel - descendent of Cain; God is credited for victory after Grendel's defeat; pagan gods are condemned
Why does an attack on Heorot threaten more than the people physically inside it?
Symbolically, Grendel hates Heorot because it represents the positive values of Anglo-Saxon society, and Grendel represents the opposite: a threat to those values.
What matters more to Beowulf than merely staying alive?
He wishes to fulfill an oath made in his boast. He'd rather die trying to fulfill his promise to the Danes than do anything that would harm his reputation
Why is Grendel’s severed arm displayed in Heorot?
It is a physical trophy of Beowulf's victory over Grendel and a fulfillment of his boast.