Beowulf Test – Flashcards
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Describe Herot
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A big party hall that is Danish, happy place
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Describe Grendel's lair. How does this compare to Herot?
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Swampy, marshy, hell on earth, dark; it is the opposite of Herot
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*What is the significance of Grendel being descended from Cain?
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Cain is the explanation of why there is evil. His descendants are all evil. He killed Grendel. *teaching moment: once you do something that is "evil", you can never get rid of it and it will look badly on you and the people that are with you
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Why does Grendel attack Herot?
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Because he is happy and Grendel hates happiness
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What had Herot symbolized before the coming of Grendel? After?
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Before: joy & happiness After: fear
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Why is Hrothgar's lieutenant concerned about the arrival of Beowulf and his men?
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He doesn't know the purpose and why they are there
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How does the lieutenant recognize Beowulf as a hero?
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Weapons, appearance, confidence
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Why does Unferth bring up Beowulf's swimming match with Brecca? How does Beowulf respond?
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To undermine Beowulf because he is jealous that somebody is better than him; you are drunk and that he is still the best because he did it when he was young and foolish.. Also responds with the fact the Unferth hasn't done anything and has murdered his brothers
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What is Welthow's role in Herot? What does the narrator praise her for?
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She is the Queen and serves mead; praises her for being noble and knowing what's right
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What is the significance of Hrothgar's speech in lines 655-661?
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That he's never given anyone so much power and trust. If Beowulf can fight him, he will be honored with treasure
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What are Beowulf's thoughts as he waits for Grendel's arrival?
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Excited and anger, felt like he was going to kill someone, a lot of fate and "God", a lot of confidence ****Beowulf was going to fight Grendel with no weapons
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Why does Beowulf wait, allowing Grendel to kill one of the Geats, before he attacks Grendel?
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So that the Grendel could be bait and then he knew he wouldn't flee from fear
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Describe the battle between Beowulf and Grendel in Part II.
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Very loud, destroyed much of Herot, Beowulf rips Grendel's arm off and then Grendel ran away
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Why can't the other warriors come to Beowulf's aid?
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Grendel put a spell on their weapons so they can't pierce Grendel's skin
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How does Beowulf wound Grendel?
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By ripping his arm off
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* What purpose does the comparison between Beowulf and Siegmund serve? The comparison between Beowulf and Hermod?
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Siegmund has the same characteristics as Beowuld; Hermod was the opposite of Beowulf, he was too vanity *teaching moment: Beowulf could become one of these characters
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How does Beowulf respond to Hrothgar's praise?
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He's humble about it, but he killed because God's will was against him
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How does Hrothgar reward Beowulf in Part 15?
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With a sword, armor, 8 horses, golden saddle
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What does Hrothgar's generosity say about his character?
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He follows through, man of his word, generous, grateful, noble
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Summarize the story of Finn told in Parts 16 & 17
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Finn attacked the Danes and killed the King Hnaf (another son of Hengest). Finn made a truce with Hengest, so Finn couldn't return home and stayed there for a few years. In the end, Hengest kills Finn.
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Why is the story of Finn included just before Unferth appears?
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Because Unferth is a trader
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Describe the scene at Herot as everyone goes to bed
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Beer-drinking people, sleepless, ready for battle, weapons near by, shields on the edge of their pillow, other armor in the hall, and "something is going to happen"
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Why does Grendel's mother attack Herot? What does she take with her?
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She was seeking revenge; she took Grendel's arm and Hrothgar's best friend (Esher)
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Who was Esher?
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Hrothgar's best friend
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What does Hrothgar ask Beowulf to do in line 1377-1379?
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Kill Grendel's mother
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How does Beowulf respond?
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He agrees to kill her in the day (Grendel's mother)
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Describe the lake
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Bloody and bubbling, crawling with snakes, sea beasts on the rocks, Asher's bloody head
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What does Unferth give Beowulf? Why?
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A special sword (Hrunting) because he's too afraid to use it and it's magical. No one has ever lost with this sword
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* Describe the battle between Beowulf and Grendel's mother
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It kept going back and forth (changing powers), goes down to her wall and she can't defeat him because of his mails shirt and he can't defeat her because it's in HER hall *test question
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How does Beowuld defeat her?
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He hit her in the neck and cut through, broke bones, and he took the sword from her wall and used it
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What does Beowulf do before he sums back to land? What do Hrothgar and the other warriors think has happened?
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He cuts Grendel's head off and takes it with him; they thought he had died
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To what does Beowulf attribute his victory? Why?
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God, because of the sword he was able to lift
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What two things does Beowulf present to Hrothgar?
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The hilt (handle) of the sword and Grendel's head
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What does Hrothgar warn Beowulf about in his speech?
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"Be not proud", warns him to keep his pride in check
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Describe Beowulf's departure
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Unferth gives him a sword. He says, if you are ever in trouble, I will always help you and you are always welcome in my land. Hrothgar cries
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* Compare and contrast Higd and Thrith
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Higd: wise, noble, kind, good, Queen of the Geats Thrith: BITCH, liar, deceitful, the abuse of power.. She changes when she gets married and becomes a good person *teaching moment
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What social roles do women appear to have in the world of Beowulf? What does Beowulf think about this?
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Served men for peace and diplomacy; he thinks it works for a short time, but not a permanent solution
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What gifts dos Beowulf give Higlac? Higd?
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Higlac: banner, helmet, armor, sword Higd: necklace, horses
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How is Beowulf rewarded by Higlac?
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With land and a sword
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Describe Beowulf's position in the end of Part 31
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50 years have passed, he is now king of the Geats, and a dragon is angry
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*Why is the dragon angry?
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Because someone stole from him - a slave stole from the dragon so that he could go back to his master to be forgiven *test question
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Describe how Beowulf becomes King of the Geats
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Higlac has one son but his son died so Beowulf becomes king
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*Describe what happened to this who held the dragons treasure
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They all died, found a place in the cliff to hide them *test question: why is the dragon angry? How does he get all the treasure in the first place?
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How does the dragon react when it notices its cup has been stolen?
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He is furious and put everything on fire
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What even is foreshadowed in lines 2341-2345?
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Beowulf's death
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Why doesn't Beowulf fear the dragon?
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He has been through worse
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*Why does Beowulf feel like he is going to lose the battle?
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Because of his old age *test question
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Why does Beowulf refuse the crown offered him by Higlac's widow? When does Beowulf become king?
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Higlac's son is still alive; once Higlac's son dies
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What does Beowulf's boast in lines 2511-2515 say about his character? Recall Hrothgar's speech. How well has Belwulf followed Hrothgar's advice?
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No one can do better than me, courageous, confident; somewhat well but still took confident
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Why does Beowulf want to fight the dragon alone?
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So no one else dies
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When does Beowulf realize he's losing the battle with the dragon? What does he do?
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When the shield melts and his sword breaks; he is going to have to accept help
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What do Beowulf's followers do when they realize he is losing? What does Wiglaf do?
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Run away; Wiglaf stays
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How is the dragon killed?
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He slit the danger down the front of the dragon
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What request does Beowulf make at the end of Part 37?
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He wants his jewels, armor, etc... His treasures
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*How is Beowulf killed?
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The venom and poison of the dragon *test question
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Summarize Beowulf's last words to Wiglaf
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Wants him to build a tower on the shore edge where he can't watch the boats come and go and to lead his people
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What does Wiglaf say to the rest of Beowulf's followers?
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They are cowards. They and their family will have nothing and will be discarded forever.
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Side notes for the end of the book:
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-Herald tells the rest of the people to be aware that people are going to attack -they build a pyre to burn Beowulf's body and just pushed the dragons body over the cliff and they covered the treasures
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Beowulf
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Hero, Geat, son to Edgetho
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Edgetho
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Beowulf's father
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Higlac
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Beowulf's king; king of the Geats
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Hrunting
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Sword given to Beowulf by the Danes
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Hrothgar
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King of the Danes
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Welthow
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Queen
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Grendel
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Demon monster; kills Danes
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Unferth
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A Dane (but a trader from Sweden) - questions Beowulf's bravery
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Wiglaf
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Beowulf's best friend
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Esher
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Hrothgar's best friend; killed by Grendel's mother
