Beowulf Comprehension Questions

Prologue:

1. Scyld became leader because he was the strongest out there. No one would dare to challenge him and because of that he gained respect. His people were sad to see him go. They sent him to sea in a ship filled with gold and other riches. Scyld is the great-grandfather of Hrothgar.

Heorot Is Attacked:

1. Hrothgar undertook the task of building a mead-hall (banquet hall). Grendel attacked it at night by killing thirty men and continued his attacks for 12 years. The Danes were struck with grief for their lost friends and no one dared to use the new hall. All those who fought against Grendel in effort to stop him were killed.

The Hero Comes To Heorot:

1. Beowulf assembles a ship of men and sets sail to Hrothgar upon hearing of his struggle with Grendel.
2. When the Geats arrive they meet Hrothgar's lieutenant, a watchman, who asks what the strangers purpose is for landing there. They respond that they are there to speak with Hrothgar about ways to help battle the monster.
3. Beowulf then meets Wulfgar who is impressed with Beowulf's tale and immediately relays the message to Hrothgar. Beowulf is then invited to see Hrothgar and offers to fight Grendel unarmed. It's not surprising that Hrothgar knows Beowulf because tales of his feats have traveled such a long way.
4. Hrothgar tells Beowulf that after his father killed a member of the Wulfing tribe Hrothgar sent money and treasure in hopes of mending the feud.

Feast at Heorot:

1. Unferth accuses Beowulf of losing a race against his childhood friend Breca. Beowulf responds with his version of the story about how not only was he victorious but he also slayed multiple monsters along the way. This is relevant because it highlights Beowulf's previous victories and reinforces the audience's confidence in him. He accuses Unferth of being a drunk and calls out his weakness against Grendel.
2. Queen Wealhtheow thanks God that Beowulf is there to fight Grendel (www.sparknotes.com).

Beowulf Returns Home:

1. Hrothgar predicts a great future for Beowulf and promises him gold.
2. Hygd is the wife of King Hygelac and she differs from Modthryth because she(Hygd) is not a killer of innocent people.
3. Beowulf hopes to inspire a feud between the families again, hopefully strong enough for fighting to ensue. This is a far less noble and heroic side to Beowulf.
4. Of course Beowulf embellishes the story of his great battle.
5. Beowulf is given treasure and a land of his own to rule from Hygelac. He gives a lot of his treasure to his king.

Beowulf Attacks the Dragon:

1. Beowulf wishes his men good luck but asks for no help in facing the dragon.
2. Beowulf is not as strong as he used to be in his youth and struggles against the dragon. While most of his companions flee in terror Wiglaf remains and encourages the others to stay and fight because it is their duty to remain loyal and honor their oaths. Wiglaf continues to aid Beowulf in the fight.
3. Wiglaf continues to assist Beowulf. The dragon manages a bite to Beowulf and before he realizes it will be a fatal bite, Beowulf stabs and kills the dragon.
4. Beowulf asks Wiglaf to fetch some of the treasure for him to see before he dies. Beowulf is joyful that he has won this treasure for his people. He wanted a large pyre decked with armour.

Beowulf's Funeral:

1. Wiglaf scolds the soldiers who fled and calls them cowardly. He predicts that many clans who were too afraid to attack them while Beowulf was alive will hear of his death and launch attacks.
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3. Wiglaf tells the crowd of Beowulf's final moments and to begin building the funeral pyre specific to Beowulf's last wishes.
4. The dragon's body is thrown into the water.
5. During the funeral "the Geats burn their kings body on a funeral pyre and bitterly lament his death." After they take to building a tower in his honor for sailors far and wide could find it. (from the translation by Burton Raffel).
6. In the last three lines the Geats say that no better king had ever lived and that there was no one so deserving of praise as Beowulf. In a way this is expected of someone who was a military hero because they are often thought to be the biggest, baddest, and bravest of society.

The Fight with Grendel, Celebration at Heorot, Another Attack, Beowulf fights Grendels Mother, and Further Celebration at Heorot: Courtesy of Jenna.
The Fight with Grendel

1.)Heroic poetry normally has a scene in which the hero arms for battle. What is different about Beowulf's preparations for his fight with Grendel? Beowulf unarms himself when preparing for battle with Grendel which is unusual for the time because a characteristic of a hero back then was excellent sword skills and he instead decided to use his hands. 2.)What happens when Grendel enters Heorot? How does Beowulf fight with him? What happens when Grendel tries to leave? Does Grendel escape? What does he leave behind? When Grendel enters Heorot he killed one of the men easily so he was taken aback when Beowulf comes at him with such power. Grendel tries to escape, but Beowulf rips off his arm. Grendel finally manages to escape only to go die alone. Celebration at Heorot 1.)When the Danes and Geats return from following Grendel's tracks to the mere, someone sings in Beowulf's presence, comparing him to Sigemund and saying that he was not like Heremod (lines 883-914). How is Beowulf like Sigemund? How is he not like Heremod? Beowulf is similar to Sigemund in that he had won many battles and is known for his courage and bravery as well. Heremod and Beowulf are similar because they were both excellent warriors, but Heremod was interested in the fame and fortune that goes along with winning and Beowulf was not. 2.)How does Hrothgar respond to Beowulf's deed? What does he offer to do for him? What does Unferth have to say now? Hrothgar is so happy that Beowulf slayed Grendel that he promises him his kingdom and all his riches. Unferth doesn't really have anything to say because he is embarrassed that he was so wrong about Beowulf. 3.)The singer sings of Finn during the feasting (lines 1070-1158). The exact details of the Finn story are not clear, but in general, what happens? What does it suggest about the wisdom of using a woman as bride to heal enmity between tribes? In the story of Finn Hnaefs daughter is given to Finn as sort of a peace offering which suggests that marriages were seen as business agreements in that time. 4.)When the feasting resumes, what does Wealhtheow ask Hrothgar not to do? Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar not to forget his children and their inheritance. 5.)Wealhtheow gives Beowulf a large, broad necklace. What later happens to it? What does Wealhtheow ask Beowulf to do? Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to look out for her sons and to help them if they need it. 6.)Why do so many men remain in the beer hall to sleep? Why is it a mistake? The drunk men fall asleep in the hall because they believe, now that Grendel is gone, that it is safe. This is a mistake because Grendel's mother comes seeking revenge. Another Attack 1.)Why has Grendel's mother come to Heorot? Is it the same reason Grendel had? Grendel's mother comes to get revenge by killing Beowulf while Grendel entered Heorot to just kill anyone in sight. 2.)What is Hrothgar's response? Whom has Grendel's mother killed? Hrothgar is very upset about Grendel's mother so he offers Beowulf a reward if he can kill her. 3.)What sort of place is the mere? The mere is dark and dangerous, it is always covered with a thick fog. Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother 1.)How does Beowulf tell Hrothgar to respond? Beowulf says he'll fight for the Danes and believes that he'll be sucessful. 2.)What happens at the mere before Beowulf enters it? Beowulf sinks down in the water. 3.)How does Beowulf prepare for the battle? What sword does he take with him? Beowulf tells Hrothgar what he wants done in case he doesn't make it back and he takes his ring marked blade sword. 4.)What happens when Beowulf enters the mere? What is surprising about where Grendel and his mother live in the mere? Grendel's mother grabs Beowulf's armor which protects him from her claws. The surprising thing about where Grendel's mother lives is that it's underwater. 5.)What happens to the sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth? The sword breaks when it makes contact with Grendel's mother. 6.)At one point Beowulf is on the floor, with Grendel's mother sitting on him and drawing her knife. How does Beowulf escape? Beowulf digs deep and uses his incredible strength to get out from under her. 7.)How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother? What weapon does he use? What happens when she dies? What does Beowulf take with him from her home? What happens to the sword he used to kill her? Beowulf kills Grendel's mother by using a sword he found hanging on the wall and breaking all her bones. When she dies her body lights up, he brought Grendel's head and part of the sword because some of it was stuck inside her body. 8.)What happens when Beowulf returns to the surface? Did his men expect him to return? The men didn't expect Beowulf to return so no one was there when he surfaced. Further Celebration at Heorot 1.)What does Beowulf give to Hrothgar? Beowulf gives him the sword of giants. 2.)What message does Hrothgar have for Beowulf? What and why does he tell us about Heremod? Why and how did Heremod die? What lesson does Hrothgar teach with the Heremod example? Hrothgar tells him to seek virtue because Heremond didn't and he ignored the signs of the gods. This teaches Beowulf not to act selfishly. 3.)What does Beowulf give to Unferth as he leaves? Beowulf gives Unferth his sword back.

The Dragon Wakes: Courtesy of Rachel

The Dragon Wakes

1.      How much later does part 2 take place? What kings have died in the meanwhile? What danger now exists?

Part 2 takes places 50 years later. King Hygelac and his son Heardred have both died. The danger that now exists is the dragon that is attacking the kingdom.

2.      Why is the dragon angry? Why did the man take the cup? How did the treasure come to be there in the first place? (The speech of the lone survivor, the one who put the gold in the barrow, is in a typically old English elegiac tone.)

The dragon is angry because a man stole a cup from his treasure. The man stole the cup from the treasure to honor his lord. The treasure was there because ancient people hid it there.

3.      What did the dragon destroy that evening?

The dragon destroyed buildings and homes in the kingdom.

4.      Why does Beowulf think his home was burnt? Why does he order a new shield? How will he fight this battle? What will happen to him?

Beowulf thinks his home was burnt because he did something to anger god. He orders a new iron shield so that it can’t be burned like his old wood one would be against the dragon. Beowulf plans to fight this battle until the death.

5.      How did Hygelac die? (the description in lines 2354-2379 begins one of the several versions of Geatish history and Hygelac’s death we will get.) What did Beowulf do after Hygelac’s death? What happened when he returned home? Did he accept Hygd’s offer to become king?

Hygelac was killed by the Frankish king in a battle. Beowulf killed the Frankish king and refused to become king in loyalty to his cousin.

6.      What happened to Hygelac’s son Heardred? (That’s the story in lines 2380-2390.) How did Beowulf plan to revenge Heardred’s death (lines 2391-2396)?

Heardred was killed by the Swedish. Beowulf planed on revenge by befriending the man that killed Heardred.

7.      How many men accompany Beowulf as he goes to meet the dragon?

Eleven men accompany Beowulf to meet the dragon.

8.      What happened to Hygelac's oldest brother Herebeald? Who killed him? What did this do to his father King Hrethel? What happened between the Swedes and Geats after Hrethel's death? What happened to Haethcyn? How did Beowulf revenge Hygelac's death?

Herebeald was killed by Heathcyn (the younger brother). King Hrethel went into a depression and then died. After Hrethel’s death the Swedes and Geats continued having their conflicts. Heathcyn died and Beowulf revenged Hygelac’s death by killing a lot of the Swedes.