You do not have to RECORD the answers to these questions, but you should be able to answer them as you read and review the text.

Transcription

1 BEOWULF GUIDED READING QUESTIONS (Burton Raffel translation) Beowulf, considered by most literary historians to be the first English epic, was composed between the fourth and eleventh centuries. What is the definition of an epic? Traditionally speaking, an epic is a long narrative poem that tells the tale of a great hero and reflects the values of the culture from which it comes. Epics are usually composed in an elevated style, and they typically employ a variety of elements called epic conventions. You do not have to RECORD the answers to these questions, but you should be able to answer them as you read and review the text. PROLOGUE: The History of the Danes Who is Shild? What does Shild change? (See line 7). What transformation does he make? What enables him to transform? Who is Beo? (DO NOT confuse Beo with Beowulf. They are two very different people. Beo is Danish; Beowulf is a Geat (Swedish). Describe Shild s funeral. What is NOT known about the motionless cargo? SECTION 1 What boast does Hrothgar fulfill? Notice what we are told about HEROT upon its completion; Notice this pattern throughout the text. Whenever something good is about to happen, we are FIRST told about how this will not last, OR we are told about the temporary nature of this good thing. Note the monster Grendel s origins. What does the narrator say will always happen to the brood that forever oppos[es] the Lord s will? What archetypal conflict is depicted by this statement? SECTION 2 How many men can Grendel snatch at one time? For how many years does Grendel attack Herot? To whom do the Danes pray? What can you tell about the narrator s beliefs based on the way he describes the Danes and their prayers? SECTION 3 How strong is Beowulf? In what manner are Beowulf and his men greeted when they reach the Danish coast? 1

2 SECTION 4 When the lookout asks Beowulf why he and his men have come, how does Beowulf respond? SECTION 5 When Beowulf and his men arrive in Herot, a Danish warrior greets them. What can he tell about them based on their appearance? SECTION 6 Beowulf and his men are made welcome in Herot, but what must they leave at the door, and how do they respond? Note the contents of the oral resume Beowulf presents Hrothgar. What does Beowulf mean by the following statement: Now, Grendel and I are called together, and I ve come. Make note of the final sentence in this section. SECTION 7 Hrothgar notes that Beowulf has come in friendship, but he provides another reason for Beowulf s trip. What is it? What will be given in Beowulf s honor? (This is an epic convention!) SECTIONS 8-9 This section contains the very famous story known as Unferth s Challenge. Earlier, Beowulf claimed that the days of his youth were filled with glory. Unferth presents a different version of Beowulf s youth. Read his challenge carefully. Notice Beowulf s response to Unferth. Of what does he accuse Unferth? How does Beowulf s version of the swimming match with Brecca differ from Unferth s? Identify Beowulf s tone in lines Note Beowulf s comment about Fate in lines Beowulf verbally attacks Unferth, revealing what sin or crime from Unferth s past? The narrator introduces Hrothgar s wife, Wealthow. Note her physical description. SECTION 10 Why does Beowulf decide to fight Grendel without using any weapons? According to Beowulf, who/what will determine the victor in his fight with Grendel? 2

3 SECTION 11 Carefully read the description of Grendel and his movements. What does Fate intend for Grendel? What does Grendel do to the first man he comes across? Why do you think Beowulf watches this without doing anything? SECTION 12 Beowulf s men attempt to come to Beowulf s aid. Why are they unsuccessful? Although Grendel is fighting with Beowulf, the narrator says, Now he [Grendel] discovered... what it meant to feud with. Although Beowulf ripping Grendel s arm from his body might not sound like an overwhelming victory to us, in the context of this story and in its cultural context why would a man s arm be one of his most important assets? What does Beowulf do with the arm, and why? SECTION 13 Grendel returns to his home at the bottom of the lake to die. What does the narrator say opened to receive Grendel? While men sing Beowulf s praises, what do they NOT mean to do regarding Hrothgar their kind and gracious king? In what way does it make sense to insert the story of Sigmund at this point in the epic? Make sure you carefully read and remember Sigmund s victory over the dragon. Note, too, what happens to the dragon s body. The brief story of Hermod stands in contrast to the story of Sigmund. What do Sigmund, Hermod, and Beowulf have in common? What happened to Hermod and why? SECTION 14 Whom does Hrothgar thank FIRST for Grendel s demise? Hrothgar claims that the woman who bore Beowulf knew the grace of God. What fundamental, introductory information are we NOT given about Beowulf s mother? (John Proctor would be disappointed if you can t answer this question!) SECTION 15 What is it that no one escapes, according to the narrator? After Hrothgar s nephew Hrothulf is mentioned, what does the narrator let us know will eventually happen among the Danes? How does Hrothgar repay Beowulf for Beowulf s exploits? What does Hrothgar earn for himself by doing this? 3

4 One of the horses Hrothgar gives Beowulf had been a war horse. Where had the horse taken Hrothgar? What does this say about the character of a leader? SECTIONS How is Beowulf compensated for the death of the Danish warrior eaten by Grendel? According to the narrator, all who remain in the world meet with what two things? There exist many scholarly articles discussing the pagan and Christian elements in this poem. Look up the word pagan and identify one or two pagan elements in the poem thus far. Notice the blatant Christian stance the narrator takes in lines Next, the narrator reports the story of the Fresian king Finn and his attack on the Danish king Hnaf. Read this story carefully. It is confusing if you skim. Make sure you understand the dilemma faced by Hnaf s wife who is also Finn s sister. What do the two depleted tribes agree to? Notice the descriptive images of death at the end of section 16. (Yikes!) Why could Hnaf s followers (such as Hengest) NOT flee? Afterward, Hengest and the other Danes kill Finn and his men, and they take Finn s wife. What ADJECTIVE is used to describe her captivity and why? In what way is this story at all relevant to what has just occurred in Herot with Beowulf and Grendel? Can you see what is foreshadowed by this story? In another act of foreshadowing, what does the narrator let us know will one day occur between Hrothgar and his nephew Hrothulf? How do the Danes feel about Unferth? Why is this important in light of the curse Beowulf pronounced over Unferth s eternal future? Can you see how this contributes to one of the epic s themes about fate? Why do you think Wealthow repeatedly concerns herself with Hrothulf and her two sons? Note Hrothulf s history and keep this in mind when you learn about Beowulf s youth and his relationship to Higlac (his own uncle/king) SECTION 18 Hrothgar gives Beowulf a beautiful necklace, and the history is told of another necklace (one eventually owned by Higlac Beowulf s uncle/king), a history of pride, woe, and the fleeting nature of power and possession. How is the warrior culture described at the end of section 18? 4

5 SECTION 19 Note the references to Grendel and hell, Beowulf and God. What three things motivate Grendel s mother s revenge? What two things does she take from Herot? SECTION 20 Note the very famous description of the place where Grendel and his mother live(d). What is significant about the reference to deer in need of a drink of water in that area? SECTION 21 What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar to do with his sorrow/grief? Try to remember this for later in the semester when we read Macbeth. According to Beowulf (and the Anglo-Saxon culture), what is the noblest of goals? Beowulf agrees to avenge Esher s death, and the men ride down to the lake at whose bottom Grendel s mother lives. Note the descriptions of the lake s water. What do the men see on the cliff above the water? Note the description of the woven mail of Beowulf s armor. We will discuss this at length when we discuss comitatus. Note how Beowulf is armed (including contributions from Hrothgar and Unferth). What is the name of Unferth s sword, and why is it important that his sword has a name? What is the relationship between Beowulf and fear? SECTION 22 For how long does Beowulf sink underwater? The greedy she-wolf is a term used to describe Grendel s mother. Carefully read the description of the battle. What things according to the narrator save Beowulf from death? SECTION 23 With what does Beowulf kill Grendel s mother? Note the description of the Danes and Geats waiting on shore. How are these tribes similar in their reaction to the blood surging waves? How are their reactions different? What does Beowulf do before leaving the battle-hall, what does he take with him to the surface, and why (guess the why ). 5

6 SECTIONS Beowulf gives Hrothgar the hilt from the magic sword. The story etched on the hilt tells of ancient wars between and. This is part of a thematic pattern that defines the epic. Note Hrothgar s comment about the wise way in which Beowulf hold his gift. Think about this if you are gifted. Hrothgar tells a very important story about Hermod (whose name has come up before). Read this story carefully. What do Hermod and Beowulf have in common? What vice does Hermod have that Hrothgar exhorts Beowulf to protect himself from? From here, Hrothgar speaks hypothetically about pride and its resultant wickedness. Read carefully. According to Hrothgar, from what can men NOT escape? For how long did Hrothgar rule before Grendel came? Hrothgar says, And here, too, the change has come. What exactly does he mean? In what ways does Unferth prove to be gracious, and why is this important? SECTION 26 What promise does Beowulf make to Hrothgar, and how does Beowulf include Higlac (his uncle/king) in this promise so that it does not seem presumptuous? For what TWO reasons does King Hrothgar cry upon Beowulf s departure? What is stolen from Hrothgar in his old age, according to the narrator? SECTION 27 Beowulf and his men return to Geatland, and to Higlac and his wife, Hidg. Hidg is praised in contrast with Thrith. Note Hidg s attributes; note Thrith s nature/behavior. According to the narrator, what role should a woman play in her community? What does it take to transform Thrith, and what kind of language is used to describe this transformation? How does this story contribute to a pattern that runs throughout the epic? SECTIONS Notice the ways in which Higlac s version of Beowulf s excursion is markedly DIFFERENT from the version Beowulf told Hrothgar in Herot. Identify at least TWO differences. In what way, according to Beowulf, does Hrothgar hope to end his quarrel with the Hathobards? Pay close attention to this. This is VERY TYPICAL of the Anglo-Saxon warrior culture. 6

7 The future Beowulf ENVISIONS for Freaw and Ingeld parallels a story you have already read about in this epic. Note in particular what he says about the vows between Freaw and Ingeld, the friendship between the Danes and the Hathobards. Which story does it sound very much like? Beowulf tells Higlac (his uncle/king) what happened in Herot. What is the name of the Geat warrior whom Grendel killed (ate) in Beowulf s presence? SECTION 30 Pay attention to Beowulf s report of Hrothgar playing the harp, singing of good and evil, of times past. Why, according to Beowulf, does he NOT die in his battle with Grendel s mother? SECTION 31 Notice how Beowulf talks about his relationship with Higlac. This is important and will come up later in the epic. After the narrator commends Beowulf for his manner and for the way he manages his strength, we are told a version of Beowulf s youth that seems to contradict the version Beowulf reported to Hrothgar (when he says, The days of my youth have been filled with glory... ). Note Beowulf s ORIGINAL character and reputation. How will Higlac s son, Herdred, die? For how long does Beowulf rule before a dragon comes and terrorizes his town? What motivates the dragon s attack? SECTION 32 The narrator looks back and tells the story of how all of the treasure got in the stone tower. He tells the story of the last survivor or a noble race. Pay close attention to this story. It will have a parallel before the epic ends. Consider your response to the following questions regarding the story of the last survivor. a. What fate is inevitable for all of the members of the noble race? b. What function did gold and jewels serve? c. What parallel is made between the gold and jewels, and the warriors who owned them? d. Why was the last survivor joyless? Name at least two other characters in the epic who have been depicted as joyless for the same reason. What phrase is used to describe the dragon that was also used to describe Grendel? Consider how Grendel and the dragon function similarly in terms of plot and theme. What important thematic idea is raised in the dragon s pursuit of the thief? How are the dragon s tactics similar to Grendel s? 7

8 What is foreshadowed concerning Beowulf at the end of section 32? SECTION 33 What is foreshadowed concerning the dragon in the beginning of section 33? Carefully note Beowulf s reaction to the bad news about the dragon s doings? What does Beowulf seem to have forgotten that he was told many years ago by King Hrothgar? Note how the recent tragedy changes Beowulf entire view of the world. What are we told about Beowulf and the dragon before they ever enter into combat? Does Beowulf feel any fear about the impending battle? Which tribe killed Higlac? Why does Beowulf NOT accept the crown upon his return to Geatland, and what does this say about his character? Who was Herdred? Who was Onela and why did he kill Herdred? SECTION 34 How does this flashback (known as an epic digression ) function here? What does Beowulf FEEL before entering into combat with the dragon? How is the true story of Hrethel and his sons similar to the hypothetical story of the greybeard whose son sins against the king? What is IMPOSSIBLE for both Hrethel and the greybeard? SECTION 35 When Hrethel dies, Hathcyn and Higlac inherit everything, but the Swedes now see Geatland as weak and come to raid. The raid is led by Ongentho s sons, and Hathcyn is killed in this raid. Note the brutal description of Efor s revenge on the Swedish king. According to Beowulf, why did Higlac never need Danes or Goths or Swedes as allies; why did he not have to forge false friendships with other tribes? What was Beowulf s place in every battle? Do you remember reading something like this about a different king? Who is Dagref, and how did Beowulf kill him? What does all of this have to do with Beowulf and the dragon? What effect do all of these digressions have on the epic s forward movement? Very important: What does Beowulf ask his men to do while he goes into the tower to fight the dragon? What happens to Beowulf s shield when he fights the dragon? How is this symbolic? 8

9 Before much happens, the narrator announces the outcome of the battle. Make note of this. The narrator describes man s life on line 2591 using litotes or understatement. How long does the narrator say a man s life is? What do all but one of Beowulf s men do? SECTION 36 Who is Wiglaf? How does he chastise the fleeing men? What is the name of Beowulf s sword? How does the dragon wound Beowulf? SECTION 37 How is the dragon ultimately killed? Be specific. Did Beowulf have a son? For how long has Beowulf been king? Why is Beowulf so intent on seeing the treasure he has won? SECTION 38 What TWO THINGS does Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do after Beowulf dies? What does Beowulf claim Wiglaf is the last of? What story does this parallel? What happens to Beowulf s soul? How is this different from what happened to Shild in the prologue? SECTION 39 What does the narrator call Beowulf s men who come out of the woods? and According to Wiglaf, what fate awaits the men who abandoned Beowulf? SECTIONS According to the messenger, what awaits the Geats what can they expect now that Beowulf is dead? What central thematic idea is revisited through the story of Hathcyn, Ongentho, and Higlac?? Notice the description of the dead dragon. In what way does this symbolically describe the life of the Anglo- Saxon warrior tribes? How long is the dragon? This number has come up at least twice, already. Do you remember when? Note the curse on the treasure hoard and God s power over the treasure. 9

10 SECTION 42 What law of God s do you think was broken? Wiglaf accounts for the Geats predicament by offering two reasons. What reasons does he offer? What do the Geats do with the dragon s body? How is it that they are able to grab armfuls of the cursed treasure and burn it with Beowulf s body? SECTION 43 What happens to Beowulf s body? What role does the gnarled old woman with the gray hair play? In what way is Beowulf s tower emblematic of his life? What story do you think Beowulf s warriors tell as they ride around Beowulf s tower? How did Beowulf s men feel about him? What similarities and differences can you find in the funerals of Shild (the opening pages) and Beowulf (the closing pages). While Anglo-Saxon warriors clearly valued material wealth, based on the epic s ending, what do you think they valued equally or even saw as priceless? Despite Wiglaf s grim depiction of the Geats future, what do we know is ANOTHER possible outcome for the Geats based on the epic s thematic messages about fate? 10