Characters & Actions
Who comes "out from the marsh, from the foot of misty hills and and bogs” at the start of the passage?
Grendel
How are Grendel’s eyes described when he enters Herot?
Gleaming/burning with a gruesome light
What role does fate play in this passage?
It is fated that Grendel will meet his death in this battle.
What literary device is used in “his heart laughed” to describe Grendel’s joy at finding the warriors asleep?
Personification
What does Beowulf hang in Herot as proof of his victory?
Grendel’s arm, claw, and shoulder
What does Grendel intend to do when he sees the sleeping warriors?
Kill them and feast on their bodies
What happens to Herot’s structure during the fight?
The hall trembles, benches rattle, but the building holds firm
Why can Beowulf’s men not harm Grendel with their swords?
Grendel has bewitched all weapons so they cannot pierce his skin.
What epic trait is shown when Beowulf defeats Grendel without a sword?
Superhuman strength / heroism
How do the Danes react after Grendel flees, mortally wounded?
They laugh and rejoice, praising Beowulf.
Who does Grendel attempt to attack after killing one Geat, only to be seized instead?
Beowulf
What sound terrifies the Danes during the fight?
Grendel’s screams of pain and defeat.
What does Beowulf’s remembered “final boast” show about his character?
He is honorable and determined to fulfill his promise, fueling the conflict.
The description of Herot as “wonderfully built to withstand the blows” emphasizes what about Hrothgar’s hall?
Its strength, craftsmanship, and symbolic resilience.
How is Beowulf described at the end of the passage?
A bold and strong-minded prince of the Geats who ended the Danes’ suffering.
How does Beowulf stop Grendel from fleeing back to the marsh?
He remembers his boast and holds onto Grendel’s claws until they crack.
How is Grendel’s final wound described?
The sinews in his shoulder snap; muscle and bone split and broke.
What does the narrator mean when describing Grendel as “Almighty’s enemy” and “hell’s captive”?
Grendel represents evil opposed to God, reinforcing the moral conflict.
What narrative technique is used when the poet reminds us that Grendel’s defeat is part of God’s plan?
Foreshadowing / invocation of fate and divine will
What does Beowulf’s victory over Grendel symbolize for Hrothgar’s people?
The end of grief and terror, restoration of peace in Herot.
What does Grendel do to the first Geat he seizes?
Rips him apart, drinks his blood, and devours him piece by piece.
How does the poet describe the sounds of the battle inside Herot?
The roof boards swayed, benches rattled, and the hall trembled with the struggle.
What realization does Grendel have during the fight with Beowulf?
He has never met a man stronger than Beowulf, and his strength is deserting him.
The phrase “shepherd of evil, guardian of crime” is an example of what literary device?
Kenning
What larger cultural value of the Anglo-Saxons is reflected in Beowulf’s triumph?
The heroic code—loyalty, bravery, and strength in service of the community