Beowulf Background
The type of literary work
What is an epic poem?
The reason Grendel attack the mead hall for the first time
He is annoyed because of the loud music in the hall
Grendel's mother's act of revenge
What is she attacks Herot, kills Hrothgar's closet friend, and takes back Grendel's arm?
The number of years that Beowulf rules Geatland
What is 50?
The King of the Danish Kingdom
Who is Hrothgar?
Name of author and time period when Beowulf was composed
Author is an unknown Anglo Saxon bard
Composed between 700-750 AD (8th century)
The number of men Grendel kills in his first attack
What is 30?
The name of Beowulf's sword that does not work against Grendel's mother
What is Hrunting?
The reason why Beowulf fights with a sword and shield
What is he is old and the dragon breathes fire?
The name of the Danish mead-hall
What is Herot?
Person who wrote down the story and year when story was written down
Who is a Christian monk in the year 1000 AD?
The number of years that Grendel rules Herot
What is 12 years?
The thing that saves Beowulf from Grendel's mother's dagger
What is his mail shirt?
How Beowulf kills the dragon
What is with the help of Wiglaf?
Beowulf's uncle
Who is Hyeglac?
Setting of the story of Beowulf (time and place)
What is Denmark in the 500s (6th century)?
The reason that Grendel can not kill Hrothgar
What is the king was thought to be appointed by God and the divine representative?
The weapon Beowulf uses to kill Grendel's mother and HOW he kills her
What is a magical sword made by giants and stabbing her in the neck?
1) rings 2) necklace 3) helmet 4) mail shirt
Shows the oath of loyalty between king and warrior. Wiglaf helped and saved Beowulf and Beowulf is returning the favor with generosity
Beowulf's home land/country
What is Geatland?
Reason why we read Beowulf to begin British Literature
What is it is the earliest work we have written in Old English?
What is he tears off Grendel's arm with his own hands and Grendel does not use any weapons?
Two things Beowulf brings back from Grendel's mother lair
Beowulf's two dying wishes
What is 1) Wiglaf to be king and 2) Geats to build a tower on the shore and call it Beowulf's tower?
Definitions of kenning, alliteration, and assonance
Kenning- poetic renaming of a noun (creative nickname)
Alliteration- repetition of beginning consonant sounds in several words
Assonance- repetition of vowel sounds in several words