Beowulf, Pearson Realize Questions
Story element: Settings: Story teller's choice and effect
(time and place in which the story takes place, details of immediate surroundings in the story) Beowulf takes place in Scandinavia some time in the 6th century, in the areas of the Geats and the Danes. These areas really existed in that time and place. Landscapes like the underwater lair and monsters like Grendel are fictional. Immediate details about surroundings are mentioned at the Underwater battle hall, Heorot, Coast of the Danes, and Beowulf's tower. It is imaginative and visually appealing to the audience, it also helps create mood.
What is apposition?
Apposition is the placement of two elements, typically nouns or noun phrases, side by side so that the second identifies, clarifies, or elaborates on the first.
"Grendel, that most heartless of creatures, continued his onslaught." Apposition or Diazeugma?
Apposition, Grendel is elaborated on.
What can you conclude about the character of Beowulf, based on his last words?
Based on Beowulf's last words one can conclude that he was proud to be a warrior and was happy to die like one as well.
How does the contrast between Grendel and Beowulf turn their conflict into a clash between good and evil?
Beowulf is described as a representative of good. A person who is bold, courageous, sincere, and powerful warrior who will go to great lengths to rid the world of evil. While grendel is described as a representative of evil. An unstoppable creature that shows no mercy, and has brought fear to even the kingdom's bravest warriors, a source of evil. Their characters contrast drastically. With Grendel being such a dangerous and important foe and Beowulf being such a powerful and courageous warrior, this battle between the two is not an ordinary one. It is a battle between good and evil that must be won.
Where does the battle with Grendel's mother take place, and what is the outcome?
Beowulf is dragged by Grendel's mother into someone's battle hall, her lair in the lake. Beowulf emerges victorious from the battle and after killing Grendel's mother he cuts off Grendel's head. Taking the head and hilt if the giants jeweled sword as battle trophies.
Explain how the poem, by keeping Beowulf's memory alive, also keeps a culture's values alive.
Beowulf is the main character of this poem. His courage, strength, boldness, and wisdom are principles that his culture values. That is why he is the hero of this story. By keeping his memory alive you also keep a culture's values alive.
What do Beowulf's dying wishes tell you about him?
Beowulf's dying wishes show that he is a man who is thankful for everything. He cares about his people and wants to be remembered by all who see his tower.
How have Beowulf's men, with the exception of wiglaf, changed?
Beowulf's men had become cowards, fleeing deep into the woods at the sight of Beowulf losing to the fire breathing dragon. They boasted about how brave and willing they would be to give up their lives when their king needed them, yet when the time came they all fled, showing their true colors.
How do the contrasting details of when Beowulf was fighting the dragon help the reader better understand Beowulf's dilemma?
Fate was against him, his glory denied him, his weapon failed him, and none of his men came to help him. These contrasting details help the reader understand the dire dilemma that Beowulf had to face in his final fight against evil.
What have you learned about heroism and leadership from reading this epic poem?
I have learned that a hero is someone who is acknowledged for their bravery or noble qualities. Someone who is known through their achievements that have benefited people in some way. I have learned that a leader is someone who is clear and concise. Someone who once having made up their mind, will not hesitate to do what must be done in order to complete their task.
Identify a passage that shows the hero's more human side. Explain your choice.
In lines 702-711 Beowulf was weakened and about to be killed by the dragon, he felt defeated. He wasn't as strong as he used to be. This passage shows Beowulf's more human side because he was weakened and needed someone else's help to defeat the dragon.
Cain in the Bible is the firstborn son of Adam and Eve, who murdered his brother Able. Where these "monsters" born from Cain? How are monsters born from a human? How is grendel a descendent of Cain a human?
In the Anglo Saxon period of Beowulf all evil was believed to exist because of Cain. It would make sense why Grendel would be referred to as a descendant.
How is Beowulf's fight with the dragon similar to his two previous battles? How is it different?
It is similar in the sense of the fight being a clash between good and evil. However, it differs by many factors. He was an old man and no where near as strong as he used to be. In this battle fate was against him, his glory denied him, and none of his men except wiglaf came to help him. Beowulf had to face a much more sire dilemma in this final battle against evil in comparison to the other battles.
Expand these sentences so that each contains an instance of both apposition and diazeugma. Just before his death, Beowulf removed his golden necklace.
Just before his death, Beowulf removed his golden necklace, a expensive possession (apposition), and took off his armor ordering wiglaf to use them well (diazeugma)
How do the renaming of Grendel in line 323 emphasize the significance of the battle that is about to begin? ( "that Shepard of evil, guardian of crime")
These appositive phrases emphasize the significance of this battle by portraying Grendel to be a source of evil. With such a dangerous and important foe, this battle against evil is not an ordinary one. It is a battle that must be prioritized and must be won.
What do the details in lines 151-171 suggest about the threats the Danes face and the personal qualities they value?("whose soldier's are you....from where and why")
These details suggest that the Danes face threats that usually sneak ashore to get onto Danish soil. It also suggests that they value bold, trusting, helpful, sincere men.
What effect might the words that contain sound devices and parallel structures in lines 477-489 have on the listeners? ("Then she carried him,... swimming to see... beasts who beat.... tusks and teeth.... heat could not hurt him")
These word choices can help focus the listeners attention, produce imagery, and enhance the mood. Creating a better reading experience.
What do Beowulf's motives for the trip suggest about his character?
They suggest that he is a bold, helpful, sincere man who will go to great lengths to seek fame.
What is Diazeugma?
Diazeugma is the linkage of a single subject with two or more verbs, either to add dimension to the first verb or to establish a clear sequence of actions or events.
"Beowulf engaged the beast, fought valiantly, and emerged victorious." Apposition or Diazeugma?
Diazeugma, it establishes a clear sequence of actions or events that beowulf takes.
Who is Hrothgar, and who is Grendel?
Grendel is a powerful monster that brings terror to all of hrothgars kingdom through his killing sprees. Hrothgar is the king of the danes.
Expand these sentences so that each contains an instance of both apposition and diazeugma. Grendel's mother emerged from her lair.
Grendel's mother, that most loathsome of creatures(apposition) emerged from her lair and grabbed Beowulf (diazeugma)
List two characteristics that are beowulf an epic hero.
He possesses extraordinary strength, and the poem is a story that is told in episodes with various settings.
Story element: plot, storyteller's choice and effect
( Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) The exposition, the disaster, the voyage/quest, the overcoming the monster, the return, the discovery, the voyage, the overcoming the monster, the return, the rags to riches, the tragedy, the overcoming the monster, the resolution. Creates an effective, memorable and entertaining story.
Story element: Archetypical pattern: Story teller's choice and effect
(An archetype is a character, situation or action that conveys a universal theme or pattern found in human nature) Archetypes in the story Beowulf: The Hero, The Everyman, The Villain, The Task Allows the audience to be able to connect with the character(s), can help the audience be more interested in the story.
What is the affect of using two appositives in a row?
The effect of using two or more appositives in a row helps to emphasize the significance of renaming or explaining a person or thing.
What is the effect of describing Beowulf's arrival from the point of view of the watchman?
The watch Man's helps portray Beowulf as a courages and powerful leader, almost god like.
If the kingdom believes in god, wouldn't the council's actions of sacrificing to other gods and even seeking the help from hell be considered an act of betrayal to god? Is there unfaithfulness the reason why they received no help from the lord?
God has lost faith in the kingdom after the unfaithful acts they committed in their desperation. Which is why they can no longer hear his praise nor know his glory. The author's warning is a clear reflection as to why the kingdom was not able to escape Grendel's terror.
Why might an author choose to repeat a word in such rapid succession?
Perhaps to create a desired mood, bring attention to a point or idea , or even just to give rhythm to the text.
What can you conclude about the mix of Christian and pagan details?
Since Beowulf was written sometime in england between the 8th and 11th century. One can conclude that the poem was written in a time when the society had converted from paganism to christianity.
What can you infer about Beowulf from the details he shares with hrothgar?
We can infer that Beowulf is a powerful warrior who's heroic capabilities see no limitation. We can also infer that he seeks the extermination of all evil in the world.
"Rejoicing rang out in Herot, the banquet hall of King Hrothgar." Apposition or Diazeugma?
Apposition, Herot is identified.
Where does Beowulf come from, and why does he travel to herot ?
Beowulf comes from geatland(Sweden), and he travels to Herot to slay the monster grendel.
After the first battle, what trophy does Beowulf hang from the rafters of the hall?
Beowulf hangs Grendel's entire severed arm. Claws, shoulder and all.
Is Beowulf a believable character, or is he "too heroic"? Explain.
Beowulf is a believable character. His human side and imperfections make him believable.
Why does Beowulf travel to Herot?
Beowulf travels to Herot to slay the beast Grendel. In lines 109-116 Beowulf Heard how Grendel brought terror to Hrothgars kingdom and proclaimed that he would go to herot now when help was needed.
In what way does the language of the story help make it memorable for both the story teller and the audience?
By stressing specific syllables, and emphasizing particular sounds, the author creates a powerful rhythm that really helps the audience understand the literary piece. The sound devices used can also help to convey and reinforce meaning into the story by helping readers develop strong visual images. Anything that contains rugged is easily recalled and is an important technique in making things memorable.
Frustrated pride may lead to spite, just as loyalty may lead to vengeance, and eagerness for glory may lead to greed. Explain how each creature Beowulf battles represents an extreme and dangerous form of moral values and behavior.
In the story Grendel represents spite. Grendel is introduced as an evil monster that out of spite, attacks and kills a hall full of warriors. Grendel is described throughout the story as a monster who enjoys deliberately hurting and killing others. Grendel's mother represents vengeance. Grendel's mother reclaims the arm ripped from Grendel and desires to exact revenge by killing Beowulf and avenging her only son. The battle with the dragon in the tower represents greed. The dragon guards the treasure that it has stolen, keeping it hidden in that tower. Beowulf goes to battle with the dragon seeking only the wealth that the creature has hidden. This battle represents man's greed.
What does the repetition in lines 67-73 reveal about Grendel? ( "seeking no peace,... one crime only with another")
The repetition reveals Grendel to be a beast so dangerous and so evil that it is capable of bringing terror to an entire kingdom. An unstoppable creature that shows no mercy, and has brought fear to even the kingdom's warriors.
How does the concept vocabulary sharpen the reader's understanding of the foes and challenges Beowulf faces?
The concept vocabulary provides detailed and descriptive words that help the audience envision the kinds of foes and challenges that Beowulf has to face.
Write a summary of the excerpt from a Beowulf to confirm your understanding of the epic.
The poem tells a story of a young Geat warrior who goes to danish soil to help get rid of a powerful monster that has terrorized Hrothgar's kingdom. Beowulf uses his strength, courage, and rage to kill Grendel and his mother in their underwater lair. After being honored by hrothgar, Beowulf returns home where he eventually becomes king and rules geatland for fifty years. When a dragon menaces Beowulf's kingdom, he and his soldier wiglaf kill the beast, but Beowulf ends up mortally wounded. After Beowulf sees the dragons treasure and gives wiglaf his belongings, telling him his final wishes, he perished and is buried. His life remembered by all.
What do the details in lines 235-253 reveal about the world in which this story is set?("Higlac is my cousin...I drove five great giants... Now Grendel and I are called...)
These details reveal that the world is a dangerous place, filled with all kinds of mythological monsters.
What is the result of Beowulf's battle with the dragon?
Wig lag and Beowulf kill the dragon, but Beowulf ends up mortally wounded. He asks wiglaf to bring him the treasure that the dragon was guarding. After Beowulf gives Wiglaf his belongings and tells him his final wishes, he perishes and is buried. His life remembered by all.
