Beowulf
How is Grendel's death or defeat foreshadowed?
"God's wrath lay heavy on him"
What does Beowulf give to Wiglaf before he dies, and what is the significance of this action?
Beowulf gives Wiglaf his gold collar
Who put an end to the long war?
Duke of Normandy
Where did the Angles and Saxons settle?
England
According to Hrothgar, what strange sight can be seen at night on the mere?
A strange creature that lurks around the forests. At night, there is fire on the water.
How many men seek out the dragon?
Altogether, thirteen men went with Beowulf to seek out the dragon.
What does Ecglaf's son, Unferth, do that causes him to fall "short of glory and the honor of court?"(54)
He gave Beowulf the sword and decided he didn't want to risk his life by trying to kill Grendel's mother.
What does Beowulf do with the treasure he receives from Hrothgar, and why?
He gave it to his king because he wants to set an example.
How does Hygelac bestow upon Beowulf for his service?
He gives him the most glorious sword of the geats. Seven thousand hides of land, a large house, and a seat of authority.
What was the king in charge of?
He had control of the army. He called the witan (great council) to meet to talk about public issues.
According to Beowulf, why is he qualified to fight Grendel?
He has captured and killed monsters on land and in the sea.
The person that becomes king is not always a direct hair of the late king. What requirements does this person have to have?
He has to be in the royal family who hade the ability and characteristics to rule.
Both Beowulf and Hygelac own land and estates because of their inheritance, but why does the kingship go to Hygelac?
He is older.
In the past, why did Beowulf's father swear loyalty to Hrothgar?
Hrothgar sent a treasure to the people Beowulf's dad started a feud with. Paid blood-price to settle the feud
How are Beowulf and his men received when they arrive on the Danish shore?
Hrothgar's lieutenant demands to know their business before they can proceed.
According to Beowulf, what is the purpose of the marriage between Freawaru and the son of Froda?
The purpose is to help end a feud between the two respective peoples.
What was the second rank (the rank after king), and what were they in charge of?
The second rank was the ealdormen, chief witan (vice president or second in command), whose assented laws could not be altered or abrogated.
What does the slave remove from the cave, and why?
The slave removes a cup from a treasure because he left in a panic and only grabbed one thing.
What do the people anticipate will happen once news of Beowulf's death travels, and why?
They think they will be attacked because they are now weak and without a king.
According to Beowulf, how did the race with Breca begin?
They were boasting their bravery and decided to swim across the sea with armour and swrod to fight monsters. (became separated after 5 days)
How was the king's privileges and exercised powers granted?
They were granted by the consent of the witenagemot ("meeting of the wise"), or parliament.
Which gods and goddesses did the people worship?
They worshiped the deities that were part of every aspect of life (birth, life, death, harvest, earth, love, etc.). Latter each developed its own image and character that is illustrated later in Norse mythology.
What does the woman sing about during Beowulf's funeral?
To mourn him, to make known sorrow for the dark future to come for their village.
Why does Hrothgar build a mead-hall and what is it called?
To show that's it's greater than any other mead-hall on the earth. It's named Heorot. Place for gathering for celebration.
What were the first people to inhabit the area that is now Great Britain called?
Romano-Britons
What is Beowulf's nationality? (This is the same place as where the story takes place.)
Scandinavia
What is Beowulf's only request if he is killed in battle?
Send his armor back to Hygelac.
What does Beowulf tell Hygelac about Hrothgar's daughter, Freawaru?
She is supposed to get married to Froda's son.
What does Beowulf give to the boat-warden? Beowulf gives him a gilded sword. How did Queen Thyrth earn a Thyrth earn a terrible reputation? Is her behavior customary in Germanic culture?
She was known for her cruelty. She had numerous warriors put to death for looking at her. Her behavior is not normal in her culture. The author writes, "Although she is without peer, no wife should, upon false pretense of injury, take the life of a warrior thane!"(66)
Who is Hildeburh, and why does she mourn? How is her situation an example of divided loyalty?
She's married to Finn. Both her brother (a Dane) and her son (a Frisian) were killed in battle. She's torn between her own country and her husband's country.
Of whom does the thane sing about in relation to Beowulf?
Siegmund
The bard sings about a battle between what two groups of people?
The Danes and the Frisians
When did the Anglo-Saxons invade what is now Britain?
449 AD
How long is Beowulf king before trouble with a dragon begin?
50 years.
When does the story of Beowulf take place?
6th century
Why does Beowulf have a shield made out of iron?
Because wood shields wouldn't work against the dragon's fire.
How does Beowulf find the dragon's cave?
Beowulf found the man who had stolen the cup. Then this man lead them to the dragon's cave.
Following Hygelac's death, whom do the people and Hygd wish to be king? Why does he refuse?
Beowulf refuses because Heardred is still alive and should be king after his father.
How is Beowulf's behavior different when he firs arrived in Hrothgar's court, and why?
Beowulf was boastful when he first arrived, probably so he could convince the Danes of his capabilities. He no longer has a reason to brag, however, because his performance and victories can speak for him.
Why does Hrothgar cry when he bids Beowulf farewell?
Beowulf was very dear to him and he was upset that he wouldn't see him ever again.
How many men were needed to carry Grendel's head to Heorot?
Four.
Describe Grendel's heritage, including why he is cursed?
Grendel comes from the line of Cain. Cain committed the first murder in history by slaughtering his brother Abel. All evil and cursed things came from Cain's line including Grendel.
Why can weapons not harm Grendel?
Grendel is protected by magic.
Why aren't they able to give Aeschere a proper funeral?
Grendel's mother had taken the body below the water
What is the only thing that Grendel will not touch or approach in Heorot, and why?
He couldn't touch the throne sacred to God because he was the outcast of the Lord.
How does Beowulf make a final act of retribution on Grendel?
He cuts off Grendel's head.
What does Beowulf use to defeat Grendel's mother?
He uses a giant's sword and cuts off her head.
Why are the Geats noteworthy to the Danish sentry?
He wanted to know what the Geats had come for. Did they come in peace or to fight? Came with bravery.
How does Hrothgar's family single him out as a leader?
He was so great in combat and war that he was looked at as the leader.
How does Heardred die?
Heardred took in exiles, sons of Ohtere, and they killed him.
Compare and contrast Beowulf and Hengest.
Hengest contrasts because he breaks his oath while Beowulf would keep promises and not kill Finn
How is the peace pact between Finn and Hengest broken?
Hengest stays with Finn as a guest secretly planning revenge after a year, Hegest kills Finn, steals his queen and treasure and returns home
What does Hrothgar give Beowulf for killing Grendel?
Horses and treasure
Who is Beowulf's king?
Hygelac
How did someone become a king?
It is not by divine right, but by the will of people represented by the witan (wise men), his great council. (The council essentially voted.)
What is significant about the composition, Beowulf?
It is the oldest surviving epic in British literature; its author is unknown.
How does Beowulf plan to fight Grendel?
Kill him with his bare hands.
Who is Britain's once and future king?
King Arthur
Whom does the thane contrast against Beowulf and Sigmund? How does this character differ from the two heroes?
King Heremod who was weak in battle and was banished
When Beowulf was a youth, why was King Hrethel unable to seek a blood-price for his son's death?
King Hrethel was unable to seek a blood-price for his son's death because his other son accidently killed his brother.
What does Beowulf reveal about Unferth's past?
Murdered his brothers to achieve power in the Danish court
How long was Beowulf in the water before the warriors lost hope?
Nine hours.
Does Beowulf thing that the marriage will be successful, and why or why not?
No, he thinks people will think back to past times and renew the feud among each other.
Is the alphabet of Old English the same as the alphabet of modern English?
No; some of the letters may look the same, but some are missing.
Hrothgar's herald greets Neowulf and his men, Accordong to the herald, what distinguishes Beowulf's visit from those of others who have come before him?
None of the others ever brought all their best soldiers to assist Hrothgar.
The Anglo-Saxons were separated into 4 main sections. What are they?
Northumbria, Mercia, Kent, Wessex
What did the Anglo-Saxons speak?
Old English
Describe the events that occur between Finn and Hengest.
The Frisians and Danes are fighting, and Hnaef gets killed. Hengest comes in and starts fighting. When Finn realizes that too many people were dying, he talks to Hengest and they form a pact.
What is the result of Grendel's repeated attacks at Heorot?
The Heorot is emptied of all people. For 12 years
What is the significance of Beowulf sitting between the young princes, Hrethric and Hrothmund?
The King and Queen of the Scyldings regard Beowulf as their son.
What does the bard sing about, and why does this anger Grendel?
The bard sings about Creation and God which anger Grendel because God had exiled him.
What happened to Beowulf's newly acquired sword, and why?
The blade dissolves (like ice).
What is particularly special about the collar that Wealtheow gives Beowulf? What does the collar symbolize?
The collar is special because noble heroes and leaders have worn it. Most notably Hygleac the Great. Majestic in appearance.The collar symbolizes the wearer to be a fair noble hero/leader. The GOOD in good vs. evil. Symbolizes loyalty and peace in the clans.
According to the tale, what happens to the dragon that Sigmund kills?
The dragon died in its blood. (Flames)
What is the origin of the dragon's treasure and who hid it?
The dragon's treasure is from ancient times hidden by the last of a noble race.
What does Beowulf take from the cave?
The head and the jewel-encrusted hilt
Describe what transpired in the mead hall to evoke the anger of the monster.
The monster dweeling down in the darkness is angered by the music in the hall, by the song of the poet retelling the history of the Danes, and by the sounds of rejoicing.
Who were the Heathen?
The people who were not Christians, Muslims, or Jews, or did not belong to a widely held religion.
Who serves the men with the mead-cup? What does this custom suggest about culture?
The princess. It symbolizes the bond uniting the warriors gathered around the king in his hall. Warriors are held high esteem.
Who did the thanes hold close ties with?
Their superiors (king and the ealdormen)
The men track Grendel's mother to a place where the water is bloody. What do they find near the lake-cliff?
They found Aeschere's head by the lake-cliff. (Grendel's mother took him.)
What did the thanes do?
They held a quantity of land (smaller than the ealdormen) and filled offices of personal services to the king or administrative service of justice.
What similarities do Beowulf and Sigmund share?
They kill a dragon, get to keep his treasure, and receive lots of glory
What else did the ealdormen do?
They led the armed forces and were entitled to large quantities of land as well as some of the money levied for the king.
Where did the Jutes settle?
They settled in what is now known as the country of Kent.
Describe Hrothgar's reaction to Beowulf's arrival.
They think he is a brave hero.
Where were the Celts pushed to in western Britain?
Wales (King Arthur)
Describe Welthow.
Welthow is Hrothgar's "gold-ringed Queen." She is described as a noble woman who knows "what is right."
Who attacked the Britons?
West-Irish North-Pitts East-Angles, Jutes, Saxons (all from Germany or southern Denmark)
Who helps Beowulf and why?
Wiglaf, a warrior and Scylding thane, helps Beowulf because he remembers all the kindness and treasures that the king had bestowed on him in the past.
Who is Wulgar? What role does he play in this chapter?
Wulfgar is a noble Swede, known for his strength and wisdom. Wulfgar offers to introduce Beowulf and his men to Hrothgar, King of the Danes
Who are Odin, Thor, and the Dragon?
deities of the Norse religion
What ceremonial act does the queen perform when she arrives in the hall?
offering them the cup of mead
Where do scholars think Herot might have been built?
on the coast of Zealand, in Denmark
The ealdormen had officers who were the ___________ (sheriffs).
scirgerefan
The ealdormen had the head of administration of justice in the ______ (judicial and executive).
shires
When was Beowulf written?
sometime before the 10th century AD (about 700 CE)
Who were the third in command?
thanes (thegnas)
Who was the head of state, the highest of the nobles, and chief magistrate?
the king
How many thanes does Grendel kill on the first night that he attacks?
thirty
