Canto 1 1. Who followed Shild and Beo as kings? 2. What does Healfdane mean? 3. Who was the next king? 4. What did he build? 5. Explain how peace and happiness was disrupted. 6. What is foreshadowed on page 6? 7. Explain the creation story in canto 1. 8. How does the story explain the origin of evil? Canto 2 9. What did Grendel do? 10. Explain why Hrothgar s throne was never touched by Grendel. 11. How long had Herot stood empty? 12. Explain the following line: No one waited for reparation from his plundering claw: 13. What pagan reference is made? Canto 3 14. Describe Beowulf s reaction to Hrothgar s sorrow.
15. List one Christian reference made in this canto. 16. How many men accompanied Beowulf? 17. How were the men greeted on the beach in Denmark? Canto 4 18. How did Beowulf explain their presence? 19. Where is Herot supposedly located? Canto 5 20. When the men arrived in Herot, who greeted them? 21. Where is alliteration used? 22. What did Hrothgar hear about the Geats? Canto 6 23. List at least three kenning that you have seen (include page number). 24. List three epithets and tell who they describe (page numbers). 25. What is foreshadowed at the beginning of canto 6? 26. What is Beowulf s plan? 27. What leadership qualities does Beowulf show? 28. If Beowulf is slain by the monster, what does he ask Hrothgar to do?
Canto 7 29. Describe Hrothgar s dealings with Edgetho. 30. List three things you have learned about the culture through reading. 31. Define personification and list one thing that has been personified (canto 1-7). Canto 8 32. What is the purpose of Unferth s story about Brecca? 33. How does Beowulf respond? What could be a possible weakness of our hero? Canto 9 34. In what other ways does Beowulf show hubris? 35. Who is Welthow and what part does she play in canto 9. 36. What has Hrothgar promised Beowulf? Canto 10 37. Explain how this canto shows loyalty. 38. List a few Christian references made thus far in the reading.
Canto 11 39. What does line 718 foreshadow? Beowulf Translated by Burton Raffel 40. Explain lines 734-736. 41. Describe Grendel and his arrival. 42. Summarize the battle between Grendel and Beowulf. 43. Give an example of each of the following found in Canto 11: Alliteration Personification Epithet Canto 12 44. Who is the mighty protector of men describing? 45. What supernatural trait(s) does Grendel possess? 46. Explain how the epic shows that good (God) is more powerful than evil. 47. What did Grendel do? 48. What proof did Beowulf have that he had defeated Grendel? Canto 13 49. Explain Beowulf s quest. How is he succeeding thus far? 50. Examine canto 13 and show the evilness that Grendel possessed. 51. Compare Siegmund s heroic story to Beowulf s heroism. 52. How does Beowulf s heroism contrast with that of Hermod?
Canto 14 53. List a few things you learn about the culture in this canto. 54. Explain the Christian references made in this canto. 55. Why has Unferth grown quiet? Canto 15 56. How is reciprocity shown in canto15? 57. How does this society view afterlife? 58. List examples of the following from cantos 11-15: Kenning Personification Epithet 59. List some cultural values and beliefs learned in cantos 11-15. General Questions: Describe the mood of the epic. Litotes are ironic negative statements or understatements. Refer to Canto 2 and find a litote. The term comitatus describes the relationship between an Anglo-Saxon chief and his warriors. By using examples from the story, show how this relationship operates.
Canto 16-18 60. What was the wergild rewarded for Grendelʼs death? 61. This canto states the theme or moral of the story. What lines tell us the theme? 62. Explain the role of fate in the lives of men. 63. What do we learn of the burial customs? 64. What story did the court poet tell? 65. As with most stories, the story of Beowulfís heroism contains symbolism. What might the banquet (ceremony) symbolize? 66. What did Welthow give to Beowulf and ask of him? 67. What two things are foreshadowed in canto 18? Canto 19 68. What new trouble arose? 69. Explain the religious reference made on page 51. 70. Describe the purpose of the monsterʼs attack.
71. Who was taken? 72. Where were the Geats? Canto 20 73. How is revenge emphasized on page 54? 74. What does Hrothgar ask of Beowulf? Canto 21 75. What cultural belief is emphasized again in this canto? 76. List a few alliterations found in this canto. 77. Explain Unferthʼs actions toward Beowulf. Canto 22 78. What does Beowulf ask Hrothgar to do if he shall die? 79. Describe the superhuman powers Beowulf and the female monster had. 80. How is the theme of good and evil shown?
Canto 23 81. How did Beowulf kill Grendelʼs mother? 82. How do the Geats show loyalty to Beowulf? 83. What did Beowulf bring with him from the water? 84. Explain what the calm waters might symbolize. Canto 24 85. How does Beowulf explain his victory? 86. What two gifts does he give Hrothgar? 87. Examine the story of Hermod and infer what Hrothgar was telling Beowulf. Canto 25 88. What other warnings did Hrothgar give Beowulf? 89. What did Hrothgar tell about himself? 90. How does Unferth show respect for Beowulf?
Canto 26 91. Summarize the promise that Beowulf made to Hrothgar. 92. Explain the bond shared between Beowulf and Hrothgar. Canto 27 (This canto brings us back where we started; Geatland in Sweden) 93. Before the ship sailed, what did Beowulf give the coast guard who watched the ship? 94. What is the story of Higlacʼs wife? What is the purpose of this story? 95. Who was Higlac? Canto 28 96. Explain line 1965: The worldʼs bright candle shone. 97. Summarize Beowulfʼs story of his adventure. 98. Explain the role of women in this culture as seen so far in the story. Canto 29-30 99. What is being said about war? 100. When Beowulf returns to telling his story, what does he share about Grendel? 101. Explain lines 2140-2144.
Canto 31 102. Explain lines 2178-2184. 103. What was Beowulf like as s young boy? 104. Where is the caesura and what purpose does it serve? 105. How did Beowulf become king? 106. What is Beowulf s third test or trial? Canto 32 107. Summarize the dragon s story. 108. What is ironic about the love of freedom expressed throughout the story. 109. What is foreshadowed at the end of this canto? Canto 33 110. How does Beowulf prove to be a good, wise leader? 111. Explain lines 2341-2345. 112. On page 93, what do we learn about Beowulf s character? Canto 34 113. What does fate foreshadow on page 94?
114. Explain the purpose of Beowulf s thoughts about his childhood. Canto 35 115. How is revenge emphasized? 116. Why does Beowulf avenge Higlac s murderer? 117. Explain lines 2510-2515. 118. Summarize lines 2570-2576. 119. Who remains loyal to Beowulf during this battle? Canto 36 120. Explain the purpose of Wiglaf s speech to the soldiers. 121. How does Wiglaf encourage Beowulf (quote, lines)? 122. What is blamed for Beowulf s defeat? Canto 37 123. How does Beowulf prove to be a hero until the end? 124. What was Beowulf s ultimate sacrifice for the sake of immortality? 125. Explain the significance of treasure when dying.
Canto 38 126. Has Beowulf succeeded in his quest? 127. What did Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do? Canto 39 128. Give and example of God s power. 129. How does Wiglaf show leadership? Canto 40-43 130. Explain the purpose of canto 40. 131. How do the warriors honor Beowulf? 132. Show where the power of God s again emphasized. 133. Explain the dramatic dialogue in canto 42. 134. How do the warriors show loyalty and tribute to Beowulf.
Would you consider Beowulf a great, wise leader or a man full of hubris? Explain. In your opinion, did Beowulf deserve immortality? Explain why Beowulf is considered a hero. Why is this story considered an epic (give epic elements as proof)?