TX-ELA: Epic from Beowulf: Part 1 – Flashcards

The king is sad and depressed that his kingdom has fallen into such a state of disrepair. He is overjoyed to learn that Beowulf, whom he knows from stories and his father, Ecgtheow, has come to fight Grendel. Hrothgar promises Beowulf treasure if he can defeat the monster.

A. The monster Grendel is the reason for the hall being abandoned B. Grendel attacked the hall at night. C. Grendel killed any men left in the hall at night. D. Hrothgar and his people feared the attacker and abandoned the hall for safer places. .

In his youth, Beowulf was viewed as handsome and of great stature, but lazy and too good-natured to be much of a warrior. As he grows, he proves himself and his bravery in a swimming contest against the kingdom's best swimmer, and is then viewed as a brave and powerful leader worthy of respect. He leaves in an attempt to prove his worth and win respect, honor, fame, and glory.

students should use reasons, examples, and quotations to show the Danes' acceptance of, or resignation to, fate. They may say that Beowulf believed he was destined to fight the monsters, and he accepted his victory or death as predetermined. For example, in talking about the upcoming battle with Grendel, he says, "Fate will unwind as it must" (line 284).

b.had rid the land of pain and suffering Because affliction means pain and suffering.

Grendel gets away, but he is fatally wounded and goes to his den to die.

Grendel is impatient with the music and celebration of Hrothgar's men; his home is a hell on earth; he was born in slime; his parents are the children of Cain, who were exiled by God; he is family to "a thousand forms of evil," who angrily fight against God.

To avenge her son's death, Grendel's mother comes to Herot and kills a warrior who happens to be Hrothgar's closest friend.

The den of Grendel and his mother is the bottom of a dark lake. It is covered with dark mists and trees whose roots travel down into the deep water. At night the lake "burns like a torch."

Students may say Grendel will return to fight Beowulf again. They may note that Grendel is determined to battle humans and the forces of good. He is also a strong, proud, and brave monster used to winning his battles.

the sounds of the battle

fearfully

Beowulf's bloody sword became liquid the way ice and frost do when God warms and melts them.

Students should realize that one of Beowulf's main goals is to win glory by killing Grendel. His deeds have given him a reputation for heroism and support from his people to help the Danes. When he goes into the lake to fight Grendel's mother, the bystanders fear he has lost his life—and fame: here, death equals defeat equals loss of glory. Even when old, Beowulf wants to seek fame by fighting the dragon. He doesn't wish to die at the end, but when he sees that it is inevitable, he asks his warriors to build a tower that will keep his name alive in memory.

Among Beowulf's virtues are a. courage. b. loyalty and sense of duty. c. strength of character. d. determination and stoic resolve. e. tenacity. Students could say that these virtues are valued in a warrior society because a. warriors engage in battle and battle requires courage. b. warriors are surrounded by conflict and need to be able to depend upon their comrades for support.

The Anglo-Saxon age was a time of frequent warfare, involving ruthless marauding and ferocious attacks on peaceful settlements. The monsters' attacks on human settlements may symbolically represent attacks by enemy nations. No doubt each side viewed the other side's warfare as monstrously bloodthirsty—each side demonized the other. Grendel commits wholesale slaughter at Herot, delighting in the blood he spills; Grendel's mother takes savage revenge; the dragon, furious because of the theft of his jewels, lays waste to all the land of the Geats. Each monster is relentless, merciless, and vicious, like an invading warrior. The image of a dragon jealously guarding his treasure makes this monster seems particularly like an archetype of the human enemy. The image of Grendel invading the hall while his enemies are asleep and blood spurting all around is also similar to something human warriors might have been seen doing.

a. Beowulf repeatedly endangers himself to protect others. b. Beowulf is admired by all of the other characters, with the exception of the monsters. c. Beowulf needs help to kill the fire dragon. d. Most of the men flee for their lives while he fights for his. e. In the fight with the fire dragon, Beowulf's weapons are portrayed as having betrayed him. f. He accepts his fate as just. g. He has no children of his own to leave his kingdom to.

Yes they are, they both exemplify what it is to be a hero. They had a duty that needed to be fulfilled and knew that they must protect the lives of others rather than themselves. They were loyal to their kings and was humble. They both represented what it was to be a a good warrior that followed the heroic code.

good vs. evil was Beowulf and Wiglaf vs. Dragon. I think the battle that was most important was Beowulf battle against the dragon. Even though Beowulf is old age he still goes to fight the dragon to protect his people. He had his premonition of his death, but still went. Beowulf fatally stabs the dragon, but he himself also has fatal wound. This battle shows that his heroic code has come in a full circle. He passes on his legacy to Wiglaf, someone that embodies the heroic code like Beowulf.

Students may mention such virtues as bravery (e.g., He faces death at the hands of three monsters fearlessly.); fairness (He fights Grendel bare-handed.); responsibility (He feels it's his duty to help the Danes.); concern for others (He saves the communities the monsters ravage.); piety (He thanks God for his victories.); ambition (He wants to earn fame by his deeds.); loyalty (He's good to his subjects.); and intelligence (He plans how he will battle Grendel and the dragon.).

Students may write about good versus evil, the virtues of the epic hero, the military role, belief in God and fate, or social and cultural values. They should support their opinions with appropriate evidence from the text. A big lesson is the ongoing battle of good vs. Evil. Evil is always present, but it can be defeated by those that uphold the heroic code. Good came to beowulf as he followed the heroic code. His legacy increased and so did his humility that resulted in making him a good king. That on the side of good they will be rewarded.

He wants sailors and passing boats in the future to see the tower and remember his name.