Essay On Beowulf
READING GUIDE: BEOWULF
“At the dawn of English literature stands Beowulf.”
Background (pages 38-39)
• The action takes place in ___________-century _____________________.
• The poem is written in ____________ English.
• The poem contains ______ mortal battles:
1)
2)
3)
• Beowulf belongs to the oral tradition, carried on by traveling minstrels called ________________.
• The poem was finally recorded in __________________.
• The poem contains _____________ lines.
• What is an epic? List two defining characteristics.
major themes:
noble ancestry/kinship and royal generosity
loyalty, selflessness, and blood vengeance …show more content…
heroic ideal
good versus evil (irrational, menacing forces of darkness always at work)
life as a continuing struggle
wyrd (Old English for “fate”)
conflict between or merging of pagan and Christian values
What do we know about the Beowulf poet?
As you read… keep in mind the Anglo-Saxon poetry terms we’ve already discussed. Look for examples of the various techniques throughout Beowulf. major Characters: (Note that most of the names in Beowulf are typical Germanic compounds. Also, family names often alliterate, masculine names generally have military associations, and characters are frequently designated by formulas identifying them in terms of relationships.)
Beowulf: illustrious warrior from the land of the Geats in Sweden (Beowulf may derive from beo for “bee” and wulf for “hunter.” Because a bear hunts bees, Beowulf translates loosely as “bear.”)
Hrothgar: king of a Danish realm terrorized by a monster (Hrothgar is a combination of words meaning “glory” and “spear.”)
Grendel: monster that terrorizes Heorot
Grendel's Mother: monster that retaliates after Beowulf defeats Grendel
Dragon: monster that goes on a rampage in the land of the Geats
Wiglaf: warrior who helps Beowulf fight the dragon
Hygelac: king of the Geats in Sweden and Beowulf's uncle
Ecgtheow: Beowulf's father (Ecgtheow is a compound meaning “sword-servant.”)
Unferth: Danish warrior who envies Beowulf
Reading Guide
The wrath of grendel (page 41) 1.
Why does Grendel growl in pain?
2. Of what is the poet singing? Given the history of England, why is this significant?
3. How does the poet account for Grendel’s origin?
4. What makes the opening of the poem elegiac?
5. How long does Grendel terrorize Hrothgar’s people?
6. How does the poet account for the survival of Hrothgar’s throne?
7. How does the poet’s description of Hrothgar’s attempt to deal with Grendel illustrate the pagan-Christian conflicts in early England?
the coming of Beowulf (page 43) 8. Describe the poet’s introduction of Beowulf.
9. How many men accompany Beowulf to
Denmark?
10. What kinds of serious concerns are addressed in the watchman’s speech?
11. How does the way in which Beowulf puts the watchman at ease display the values of the Anglo-Saxons?
12. What are the conditions Beowulf lays down for his battle with Grendel?
the battle with grendel (page 48) 13. Find some examples of alliteration in this passage.
14. How does the poet alert the reader that Beowulf will win the fight?
15. Describe the precise moment when Grendel meets Beowulf.
16. How does the translator’s diction reemphasize the theme of good versus evil?
17. What is Grendel’s supposed advantage in battle? What happens to change that?
18. Why doesn’t anyone doubt Beowulf’s victory?
the monster’s lair (page 51) 19. Describe the monster’s lair.
20. How does the description reiterate the themes at work in this epic?
21. What is the deal that Hrothgar offers to Beowulf?
the battle with grendel’s mother (page 52) 22. How does Beowulf indicate his willingness to accept fate?
23. What is the name of Beowulf’s sword?
24. How does this episode demonstrate Beowulf’s heroic traits?
25. In what ways does this fight differ from Beowulf’s battle with Grendel?
26. How is Beowulf able to succeed?
27. What does Beowulf do “for final revenge”?
28. How does this episode display the contrast between pagan and Christian beliefs?
29. Why do the Danes leave the lake while the Geats stay behind?
30. What two “treasures” does Beowulf take as his reward?
the last battle (page 56) 31. How many years elapse before Beowulf’s third battle?
32. Who is his new opponent?
33. How is this fight both different from and similar to the battle with Grendel?
34. Which soldier remains to support his king?
35. What themes come across in Wiglaf’s words and actions?
the spoils (page 60) 36. What does Wiglaf take from the dragon’s lair?
37. Why does he run away from the treasure trove?
38. What is Beowulf’s final request?
the farewell (page 61) 39. What ultimately happens to the spoils?
40. How does the final mood of the poem echo its beginning?
“At the dawn of English literature stands Beowulf.”
Background (pages 38-39)
• The action takes place in ___________-century _____________________.
• The poem is written in ____________ English.
• The poem contains ______ mortal battles:
1)
2)
3)
• Beowulf belongs to the oral tradition, carried on by traveling minstrels called ________________.
• The poem was finally recorded in __________________.
• The poem contains _____________ lines.
• What is an epic? List two defining characteristics.
major themes:
noble ancestry/kinship and royal generosity
loyalty, selflessness, and blood vengeance …show more content…
heroic ideal
good versus evil (irrational, menacing forces of darkness always at work)
life as a continuing struggle
wyrd (Old English for “fate”)
conflict between or merging of pagan and Christian values
What do we know about the Beowulf poet?
As you read… keep in mind the Anglo-Saxon poetry terms we’ve already discussed. Look for examples of the various techniques throughout Beowulf. major Characters: (Note that most of the names in Beowulf are typical Germanic compounds. Also, family names often alliterate, masculine names generally have military associations, and characters are frequently designated by formulas identifying them in terms of relationships.)
Beowulf: illustrious warrior from the land of the Geats in Sweden (Beowulf may derive from beo for “bee” and wulf for “hunter.” Because a bear hunts bees, Beowulf translates loosely as “bear.”)
Hrothgar: king of a Danish realm terrorized by a monster (Hrothgar is a combination of words meaning “glory” and “spear.”)
Grendel: monster that terrorizes Heorot
Grendel's Mother: monster that retaliates after Beowulf defeats Grendel
Dragon: monster that goes on a rampage in the land of the Geats
Wiglaf: warrior who helps Beowulf fight the dragon
Hygelac: king of the Geats in Sweden and Beowulf's uncle
Ecgtheow: Beowulf's father (Ecgtheow is a compound meaning “sword-servant.”)
Unferth: Danish warrior who envies Beowulf
Reading Guide
The wrath of grendel (page 41) 1.
Why does Grendel growl in pain?
2. Of what is the poet singing? Given the history of England, why is this significant?
3. How does the poet account for Grendel’s origin?
4. What makes the opening of the poem elegiac?
5. How long does Grendel terrorize Hrothgar’s people?
6. How does the poet account for the survival of Hrothgar’s throne?
7. How does the poet’s description of Hrothgar’s attempt to deal with Grendel illustrate the pagan-Christian conflicts in early England?
the coming of Beowulf (page 43) 8. Describe the poet’s introduction of Beowulf.
9. How many men accompany Beowulf to
Denmark?
10. What kinds of serious concerns are addressed in the watchman’s speech?
11. How does the way in which Beowulf puts the watchman at ease display the values of the Anglo-Saxons?
12. What are the conditions Beowulf lays down for his battle with Grendel?
the battle with grendel (page 48) 13. Find some examples of alliteration in this passage.
14. How does the poet alert the reader that Beowulf will win the fight?
15. Describe the precise moment when Grendel meets Beowulf.
16. How does the translator’s diction reemphasize the theme of good versus evil?
17. What is Grendel’s supposed advantage in battle? What happens to change that?
18. Why doesn’t anyone doubt Beowulf’s victory?
the monster’s lair (page 51) 19. Describe the monster’s lair.
20. How does the description reiterate the themes at work in this epic?
21. What is the deal that Hrothgar offers to Beowulf?
the battle with grendel’s mother (page 52) 22. How does Beowulf indicate his willingness to accept fate?
23. What is the name of Beowulf’s sword?
24. How does this episode demonstrate Beowulf’s heroic traits?
25. In what ways does this fight differ from Beowulf’s battle with Grendel?
26. How is Beowulf able to succeed?
27. What does Beowulf do “for final revenge”?
28. How does this episode display the contrast between pagan and Christian beliefs?
29. Why do the Danes leave the lake while the Geats stay behind?
30. What two “treasures” does Beowulf take as his reward?
the last battle (page 56) 31. How many years elapse before Beowulf’s third battle?
32. Who is his new opponent?
33. How is this fight both different from and similar to the battle with Grendel?
34. Which soldier remains to support his king?
35. What themes come across in Wiglaf’s words and actions?
the spoils (page 60) 36. What does Wiglaf take from the dragon’s lair?
37. Why does he run away from the treasure trove?
38. What is Beowulf’s final request?
the farewell (page 61) 39. What ultimately happens to the spoils?
40. How does the final mood of the poem echo its beginning?