The Old English word for fate or destiny, which the Anglo-Saxons believed governed our lives.
What is wyrd?
100
Beowulf's lifting of a giant sword and swimming underwater for hours at a time are examples of these.
What are superhuman abilities?
100
Grendel is descended from this biblical murderer.
Who is Cain?
100
Beowulf pledges to face Grendel without these.
What are armor, weapons, and shield?
100
This is what Grendel's Mother takes after her attack.
What is Grendel's arm and Hrothgar's best friend?
200
All warriors are bound by blood vengeance to avenge the death of a king or fellow warrior, unless the offending party pays this.
What is a wergild?
200
Grendel, Grendel's Mother, and the dragon Beowulf eventually battles at the end are all examples of these.
What are supernatural creatures?
200
This brings Grendel to visit havoc on Hrothgar's people.
What is laughter and music?
200
Hrothgar reveals that he once did this favor for Edgetho, Beowulf's father.
What is paying his blood debt/wergild?
200
This is what saves Beowulf's life in battle.
What is his mail shirt?
300
These techniques often act together. One is a pause in the middle of a line of poetry, and the other is when a sentence runs over two or more lines of poetry.
What is caesura and enjambment?
300
Beowulf takes place in Denmark and Geatland (modern-day Sweden). The multiple settings of epics reveal this.
What is scope?
300
Grendel may attack Hrothgar's people, but he may not touch the throne because of this.
What is God's protection?
300
"Protector of the Danes" refers to this person.
Who is King Hrothgar?
300
Beowulf uses this to kill Grendel's Mother.
What is a giant-forged sword?
400
A poetic synonym or compound word that renames a noun. An example is "whale-road."
What is a kenning?
400
Beowulf reflects characteristics like bravery, honor, and generosity by sharing his wealth with his kingdom. Epics tend to reflect these about their cultures.
What are values or ideals?
400
During their battle, Grendel reacts to Beowulf with this.
What is fear?
400
This is the author of Beowulf, who most critics agree was an early Christian.
Who is we have no idea who wrote it?
400
This melts after it is used to behead Grendel.
What is the giant-forged sword?
500
An adjectival phrase linked with someone or something that describes its qualities. An example is Homer's "wine-dark sea."
What is a stock epithet?
500
Hrothgar needs young warriors to help defend his kingdom. Beowulf's actions will determine this.
What is the fate of a nation or people?
500
Grendel cannot be harmed by weapons because of this.
What is the magic spell he cast to blunt all weapons?
500
This person's role is to preserve the stories, history, and traditions of the culture.