Beowulf questions

What happens when Grendel reaches for Beowulf?

Beowulf grabs Grendal by the hand and begins turning it and Grendal experiences pain like he's never experienced before. Every bone in his body begins to ache.

What large event happens fifty years into Beowulf's reign?

A slave steals a cup from a dragons hoard.

How does Higlac reward Beowulf for his feats?

He gives him a prized sword a bunch of land the throne and the hall.

How does Beowulf react when he sees the treasure?

He gives thanks to God and is great full for all the treasures and the glory he has accumulated all his life and he is happy he left his country with all this treasure.

What prior battle experience has Wiglaf experienced?

He has no prior battle experience he father is the one who fought and used sword in a tough battle and at his death gave wiglaf his sword in hopes he would use it.

Who is Siegmund? Why is his story recounted?

He is a Scandinavian hero who slated a dragon. The house keeper who is a singer is telling the story of sigmoid and comparing Beowulf to him who took care of the nation and it's now up to Beowulf to do the rightist deed to take care of their nation as well.

Why is this chapter devoted to the re-telling of the tale of Beowulf's victories over Grendel and his mother?

He is telling his story to make sure that the story is told right and no one tells his story wrong.

Identify: Wiglaf.

He is the son of Weostan, and a well regarded shylfing warrior. He is the one who helps Beowulf slay the dragon.

How does Beowulf feel about his upcoming battle against the dragon?

He knows he is going to die.

What equipment does Beowulf adorn as he goes in pursuit of Grendel's mother? How is this different from what he wore in his battle with Grendel?

He puts on a shunting helmet that his mother gave him and chain mail.

Describe Beowulf's account of his adventures that he relates to his king, Higlac.

He recounts how takes out Grendal.

What one request does Beowulf make of Hrothgar?

He requests that he uses his own men only to defeat Grendal.

Describe Hrothgar's final words to Beowulf. What realization does the old king make?

He says Beowulf should be king of the geats if Hrothgar is to die.

What is Beowulf's vow to the Danes prior to his departure?

He says he will be there with a thousand warriors whenever they need help.

Describe Unferth's tale of the swimming competition between Brecca and Beowulf.

Unferth describes the race between Breca and Beowulf and how in the end Beowulf lost, so if he can't beat breca he will be no match for Grendal.

What gifts does Welthow give to Beowulf at the feast? What are her words to Beowulf about her sons?

The responsibly of taking car of her sons and more battle armor, golden arm bands, and the most beautiful necklace known man. She doesn't want them to battle each other for the throne and she wants Beowulf to protect them and teach them and don't kill her sons.

Why did the slave steal from the dragon? What was his motivation?

The slave was desperate to become rich.

What do Beowulf's men think of their chances against Grendel?

They thought their chances were very low and that their would never see their homeland or the people they love ever again.

What do the Geats do with the dragon's body?

They threw the dragon over the cliff into the ocean and let the waves wash it away.

On the morning following the battle, describe the reactions of Hrothgar's people.

They trace grendael's bloody footsteps and find him and chase his away until, finally with his minutes numbered he vaneshes into the water.

What happens when Beowulf's men attack Grendel? Account for this outcome to their efforts.

They try to join the efforts of Beowulf and attack Grendel but Grendel but he is immune to blades and any type of weapons.

What is the role of the twelve horsemen who surround Beowulf's monument?

They were all great warriors and they chanted beowulfs accomplishments and all his greatness and gave thanks for his greatness. To protect beowulfs pyre and tell his story.

How were the bodies of the dead disposed of in Anglo-Saxon times?

They were burned

Why might Ingeld and his followers be angry at seeing Beowulf's ancestral armor and weapons?

They would be angry because it used to be their ancestral armor and it was stolen from them during war.

Why does Beowulf announce that he is going to fight the dragon alone?

To prove himself worthy

What individuals had witnessed the two fiends prior to the time of the attacks on Herot?

Two counselor who live in the upland country saw the two fiends

What is Grendel's mother 's motivation in coming to Herot?

She came because her son is dead and Beowulf is the killer and is in heorot.

Describe Higlac's queen. How is she received by the Geats?

She is young, respectful and generous.

Whom does she snatch?

She snatches hrothgars best friend/best warrior. Esher

How long had Grendel 's mother dwelt in the cold, murky subterranean lake?

She's been in the swampy lank since Cain killed able, about a couple thousand years old.

How did the dragon's tower come to have so many riches?

Someone one all them and went a began to bury them and now that person is dead and gone.

How long does Grendel haunt Herot?

12 years

What role does fate play in Beowulf's demise, according to Wiglaf?

A cruel fate forced him in that battle that lead to his death.

Beowulf and his men move into Herot for the night while Hrothgar sleeps peacefully. What is Beowulf's boast?

Because Grendal has never used warfare, he will not use swords or anything to delete him because that would not be fair to him.

Why has Grendel been exiled?

Because he is part of Cains lineage and part of cains punishment was that all his lineage would be outcasted.

Describe how the dragon discovered the riches.

Because the people were hunting the dragons, and the dragons were hiding in caves and that's how he discovered the riches.

How does Beowulf react when he hears of the plight of the Danes and Hrothgar?

Beowulf descides to go and help the Danes and Hrothgar.

What "trophy" does Beowulf give Hrothgar as a symbol of his victory over the demons?

Beowulf give Hrothgar grendals head as a symbol of his victory over the demons.

At the conclusion of the battle between Beowulf and Grendel, what transpires?

Beowulf had Grendel in such a tough hand grip that the tissue in his arm snaps and his arm is torn out of its socket. Beowulf wins and Grendel returns to his layer bleeding to death as he knows his days are numbered. Beowulf has Grendel's arm to show of his victory.

After both Beowulf and the dragon are slain, how do Beowulf's followers behave? What does Wiglaf say to them?

Beowulfs followers act ashamed and hid behind their shields. Wiglaf makes them all feel very guilty by reminding them how Beowulf showered them with riches and how when he needed them they were nowhere to be found .

Why does Beowulf describe himself by recounting his heritage? Why has he come?

Family is very important to the Anglo-Saxons. Because of this, Beowulf tells about his heritage and his father who is highly honored in order to get his trust and respect. He has come to help and show Hrothgar how to get rid of Grendal.

According to Beowulf, - what is the only thing that survives death?

Glory survives death. In other words, your legacy and the stories told about you survive death.

What happens during Grendel's first visit to Herot? When does this occur? Describe the scene.

Grendal attacks the men at heorot after they had been parting. He does this while they are sleeping and takes 30 men. He then takes these men to his layer and burns, charrs, and butcher them into pieces.

To what does Beowulf attribute his victory over Grendel's mother in his audience with Hrothgar?

He attributes the victory to God because he helped him to see the sword and be able to defete the demon.

Describe

He begins to tell of all his accomplishments and how he's killed and defeated so many beasts in order to gain the kings respect. He also adds that he will have hand to hand combat with Grendal in order to make it fair since Grendal doesn't use weapons.

What does Beowulf think has brought on the wrath of the dragon?

He blames himself because he believes he must have gone against one of God's commandments because that's the only reason he can think this plague could have came upon him

What does Beowulf do with the body of Grendel that he finds lying in a corner of the lair?

He chops of grendals head as well.

Upon seeing Grendel's bloody arm swinging from the "gold-shinning roof" of Herot, what is Hrothgar's proclamation?

He declares that mother of Beowulf was blessed by the Lord of all ages and asks Beowulf If he could adopt him in his heart as his son. He also says he will give Beowulf anything he desires.

Describe the lake into which Grendel vanished.

He dived into a marsh den into which he drowned in and it was like hell claimed him.

Beowulf continues with his story, countering Unferth's tale. How does his tale end?

He fought and defeated 9sea monsters and landed in Finland, which is his reasoning for not finishing the race. He then goes in to say that him and breca were never praised for bravery and that unferth went to even go kill his kin and if he really was so brave Grendal wouldn't still be there.

Who does Grendel respond when he comes to Herot? Describe his reaction to seeing the sleeping Geats.

He sees all the men sleeping and all the gold shiny armor and he is ready to start mayhem. He is excited to rip apart and devour all the men.

How does Beowulf eventually slay Grendel's mother?

He sees one of grendals mothers swords from her heirlooms and uses that to cut her head off.

What does Beowulf take with his as souvenirs of his victory over Grendel's mother?

He takes grendals head and the handle of his mothers sword.

How does the watchman respond to

He tells him he has great respect for Beowulf and believes that he is loyal to the king, so he lets him come in and even tells him that he will have his men watch his boat which shows that he has honor and respect for him.

What is the purpose of the feast that Hrothgar hosts in Beowulf's honor?

He throws the feast in order to honor him for coming there to help them defeat Grendal.

What has Hrothgar to say of the role of pride for a leader?

He uses a danish king who was not generous and never gave thanks to God because of this things did not go good for him because he let pride take over him. Hrothgar says that you shouldn't have to much pride and be humbled by the fact that you will die one day and you should always thank God and be generous to others and never take it for granted because as soon as he did Grendal showed up.

If Beowulf loses the battle with Grendel, what are his instructions for after his death?

He wants his breast blade that was made by weland and given to him by Hrethral sent back Hygen

What are his funeral instructions? Why?

He wants them to construct a wheelbarrow on the coast after his prye has cooled so that people who sail by will be call is beowulfs barrow.

Wiglaf decrees that all the treasure should be burned. What is his reason for this?

He wants to make sure no one to steal and of his treasures because no one is worthy of wearing them.

What is Beowulf's dying wish?

He wants to see all his gold riches and armor he's won and what he fought for the dragon.

Why does Beowulf again recount the glory of his day's past before taking on a battle with the dragon?

He's showing that he's worthy of taking this battle and he also is trying to encourage himself that he can do it.

Who is king after Higlac? How does he die?

Higlac son Hereford is king after him. He dies after getting killed in battle.

What is Beowulf's response to Unferth?

Him and breca had been competing since they were kids, and they had been competing on who was the strongest and fastest swimmer for five nights until the winds from the north separated them.

What do Beowulf's men do as he is taking on the dragon?

His men ran away into the woods and hide.

Describe the encounter Beowulf has with Grendel's mother. How effective were his weapons?

His weapons were not effective on her however her claws could not harm him because his chain mail was protecting him.

What were Hrothgar's gifts to Beowulf for removing the threat of Grendel to the Danes?

Horses, hrothgars saddle, ancient sword, battle armor, gold standard, eight horses, head armor.

Who are the two sons of Hrothgar and Welthow? Why are they permitted at the victory feast?

Hrethric and hrothmond. Permitted so they can remind hrothgars people that yes Beowulf is great but he still has two sons that are heirs to the throne.

What is happening on the surface with Hrothgar's men while Beowulf is fighting under the lake?

Hrothgar and all his men go home while Beowulf and all his men stay behind to wait for Beowulf.

How did Hrothgar become king? What is his past relationship to the Geats?

Hrothgar became king by paying the wulfings a box of treasure to end the feud started by Beowulf father and Ecgtheow acknowledged him. So his last relationship with the Geats is good.

What gifts does Hrothgar give to Beowulf's men?

Hrothgar gives beowulf's men gold.

Why does Hrothgar decide to build a mighty hall? What does he call it? Describe this hall.

Hrothgar had many young followers after many victories of war. He had so many followers that they turned into an army so he decided to build a hall. He called is Heorot and it became the hall of halls.

Describe Welthow.

Hrothgars queen. She goes around giving the men a drink starting with Hrothgar to Beowulf. She is very classy and dressed in gold.

Describe the dragon's "hidden home."

It is beneath cliffs by the seashore.

What happens to the "magnificent sword"?

It melts just like ice because grendals mothers head is so toxic.

Describe Hrothgar's reaction to what is written on the hilt of the sword. What is it?

It talks about good and Evil and the flood and Hrothgar is very amazed at it.

Describe the effectiveness of Beowulf 's sword, Nagling.

It was not effective and snapped in half.

Describe the lake that serves as the entrance to Grendel's mother's lair.

It's filled with blood and guts and sea monsters.

Describe what transpires in the mead hall to evoke the anger of the monster.

Large, loud parties with loud harps and poets telling stories of creation and God evoked the anger of the monster.

What is Hrothgar's declaration to Beowulf at the end of Chapter 9?

Never before has he given someone control of the hall but he will give it to Beowulf.

According to the messenger who announces Beowulf's death to his people, what might the Geats expect now from their enemies?

The geats expect their enemies (swedes from the north and franks from the south) to attack once word gets out that their king is dead.

Describe the struggles that ensue between Beowulf and Grendel.

The hall began to become torn up and apart. The mead benches were torn from their bolts and no one would have expected the hall to become this destroyed unless their was a fire.

Describe the location of the place where Grendel lived with his mother?

The live at the bottom of a cold treacherous swamp. No one will go in that swamp.

What is Grendel's lineage? Why is he described as being "born of

The lord condemned all of Cain's lineage which came to be ogers , elves, and evil phantoms as outcasts, and Grendel's is a fiend part of this lineage.

Why doesn't Grendel attack Hrothgar?

The lord doesn't let him attack Hrothgar and be some king because he was an outcast. The Lord forbade it.

To what measures do Hrothgar and his nobles resort to rid themselves of Grendal?

The would stop at pagan shrines and vowed offerings to idols and swore oaths in hope Grendal would come to save the people.

How are Beowulf and his men received when they arrive on the Danish shore?

They are received curiously and all the watchman wants to know is where they came from and why.

Describe Beowulf's funeral pyre.

They built it standing four square with all his gold armore shields and swords and his treasure hanging from it.

According to Wulfgar, why have Beowulf and his men come all the way from Greatland to help the Danes?

They came to defend them from Grendal.

What do Hrothgar's men discover on their search for Grendel's mother?

They found Escher's head. This guy was hrothgars best friend that grendals mother went in and killed.

Hrothgar's herald greets

They have never seen an army so big and well equipped.

Why did the Danes sleep with their armor on?

They slept with it on in order to be ready for battle.

Identify Unferth. Why does he seem to be perplexed by Beowulf's stories? How does he address Beowulf?

Unferth is Ecglaf's and is highly regarded in the hall. He seems so perplexed because he is envious of Beowulf and and cannot fathom someone being greater then him. Because of this he addresses Beowulf with envy and doubt.

What is the significance of the sword, Hrunting?

Unferth is giving his sword to Beowulf and no one has ever lost in battle with this sword. In doing this unferth is loosing his fame and reputation.

Describe Unferth's reaction to seeing the arm of Grendel.

Unferth stops boasting and belittling Beowulf.

Describe how Beowulf and Wiglaf join forces to slay the dragon.

Wiglaf helps Beowulf by stabbing the dragon in the stomach and then Beowulf comes and stabs him again and the dragon dies

Who is Wulfgar? What role does he play in this chapter?

Wulfgar is Wendel chief Renowned as a warrior, well known for his wisdom And the temper of his mind. He is the one who goes to ask the king about their coming. In a way he's an intercessor between Hrothgar and Beowulf and delivers messages between them until the king agrees to speak with him.