Beowulf Test Name Part I. Answer ALL questions using complete sentences unless otherwise detailed as fill-in-the-blank. 1. Circle four (4) of the six (6) themes from the epic. (8 points) 1. Goodness conquerors evil 2. Actions speak louder than words 3. The hero is always the greatest. 4. Help thy neighbor. 5. Forces of darkness always at work at society 6. The hero must travel most of his life. 2. What is Grendel s ancestry and why does he despise the people of Heorot? (10 points) Choose two. a. He is related to Cain and has been exiled into darkness because of it. b. He is related to Abel and murdered his brother because of a sacrifice. c. He wishes he could come out into the light and is jealous of the celebrations. d. He wishes he could worship any god he wishes. 3. Beowulf is written in - narration. a. Third-person limited b. First-person limited c. Second-person omniscient d. Third-person omniscient 4. Written from a Christian/Pagan (circle one) perspective, the epic depicts the triumph of over. (4 Points) a. Pagan over Christian b. Dark over light c. Good over evil d. Norse over Pagan 5. Characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon hero, Beowulf is introduced into the epic tale. a. At the beginning of things b. In media res. c. At the end of a gruesome battle. d. During the historical background introduction.
6. Give 5 examples of kennings from the text and explain what they mean. (20 pts) Answers will vary a. means b. means c. means d. means e. means 7. In the poem The Wanderer, the speaker talks about what a man should know before he may be considered to be wise. What reference to this idea did we discuss when reading Beowulf? (5 points) a. The speaker says that it is wrong to get discouraged by the destruction seen everywhere. Beowulf and Hrothgar agree. b. The speaker states that the world is beautiful and should not be destroyed by fire. Beowulf and Hrothgar are fearful of the dragon for the same reason. c. The speaker in The Wanderer speaks about not making a promise too quickly based upon the fact that a heart may be able to change. Beowulf and Hrothgar are both very proud to be able to make promises and keep them. d. To be wise one must insure victory in all challenges. Beowulf and Hrothgar both believe in victory. 8. Why did Beowulf have to speak to the sentinel, then the herald, then Hrothgar? (5pts) a. Because Beowulf always made sure to observe social customs (could not barge in and see Hrothgar) b. Because he is a man of considerable wealth and does not want anyone to rob him. c. Because he would expect the same thing given he is a king as well. d. Because Hrothgar will kill anyone who does not speak to his vicar first. 9. What direct comparison is made between Beowulf and Grendel s physical strength? Why is this important to the tale?(5pts) Choose two. a. Both Grendel and Beowulf are said to have the strength of 30 Men. b. Heroes and foes must be evenly matched. c. Grendel is known to be the strongest foe and Beowulf the strongest hero. d. Beowulf wants to be sure to win, therefore, his foe must be weaker.
10. What are the two themes that are constantly brought up throughout the poem when battles are pending? (4pts) Choose Two a. Fate c. Honor e. Travel b. Destiny d. Strength f. Descent into darkness 11. For what two reasons does Unferth challenge Beowulf s tale of the swim challenge against Breca? (4pts) Choose two. a. He is bold because he is drunk. b. He is afraid of looking weaker than Hrothgar. c. He does not wish to embarrass his family name. d. He does not like other men who achieve more fame than he. 12. What promise does Hrothgar make to Beowulf regarding his eminent victory over Grendel? a. He will have a home built for him in Dane-land. b. Hrothgar promises to make Beowulf a king. c. He will find him the most beautiful woman in all of Dane-land to marry. d. Hrothgar promises to give Beowulf anything he desires if hew rids Heorot of Grendel. 13. What is stated in the text which speaks to the fact that Grendel will lose his battle against Beowulf? a. Beowulf states, You will murder no longer! Beowulf knows he will be victorious. b. You will not live another day! Hrothgar warns Grendel of his defeat. c. But destiny did not permit him [Grendel] to seize any more of mankind after that evening. Beowulf s victory is being foretold. d. Grendel tells Beowulf, You are stronger than I. I have no chance against you. 14. What happens to Grendel s arm after Beowulf removes it? What does it represent? a. Grendel s arm is hung above the door just below the gabled roof. It represents Beowulf s victory. b. Grendel s arm is taken into Hrothgar s bedroom and hung over the door. c. Grendel s arm is taken to the lake of fire and burned. It represents the idea of from dust to dust. d. Grendel s arm is placed over the fireplace in the mead hall so all men can look at it and remember Beowulf s power.
15. Why was it a smart move on Beowulf s part in choosing not to use a sword, or any weaponry, against Grendel during their epic battle? a. Beowulf knows the weapons will not work against Grendel before he fights him. b. Grendel warns Beowulf that man s weapons will not work on him. c. Man s weapons are of no use against Grendel. d. Beowulf does not ever carry any weapons. 16. Why did Grendel finally return the Heorot after twelve (12) years? a. Grendel returns to Heorot because the partying in honor of God had resumed. b. Because the period of thirty days of night has resumed. c. He has been warned by his mother about God gaining power. d. He knows that Beowulf will be there. 17. Why was Beowulf not at Heorot when Grendel s mother visited the mead hall to avenge her son s death? a. He had gone after Grendel s mother already. b. He was celebrating his wedding night with the woman Hrothgar had promised him. c. He had already returned to Geat-land. d. Beowulf had received private sleeping quarters as part of his reward for destroying Grendel. 18. Why does Beowulf have no problem agreeing to Hrothgar s request to seek revenge against Grendel s mother? a. Beowulf knows the importance of achieving renown before meeting his end. As a hero, Beowulf is not willing to leave his neighbors at risk or in harm. He holds true to the oath he made to help rid Heorot of darkness. b. Beowulf knows that he cannot leave until he has killed every foe who attacks Hrothgar because of the promise he made to his father. c. Beowulf is too proud to leave before all foes have been killed. It is the only way he can return to his homeland- Hrothgar will not let him leave until all foes are killed. d. Beowulf wants as much wealth as possible and Hrothgar has told him he will step down as king if Beowulf kills Grendel s mother. 19. From where did Beowulf obtain Hrunting? a. Beowulf receives Hrunting from Unferth. b. Hrothgar gives Hrunting to Beowulf. c. Wiglaf gives Hrunting to Beowulf. d. God gives Hrunting to Beowulf..
20. Why did Hrunting not harm Grendel s mother? a. Grendel s mother is a supernatural being. Therefore, man s weapons do not work on her the same way man-made weapons did not harm Grendel. b. It was the sword if a giant and would not work on Grendel s mother. c. The sword was cracked from a previous battle and was weak. d. She possessed a force field which kept her safe against weapons. 21. Why did Beowulf feel the need to take Grendel s head from his dead body? a. Beowulf felt the need to take Grendel s head because of all of the harm he caused to Heorot and Hrothgar. b. Grendel was not dead yet and Beowulf needed him dead. c. Grendel s head held the power Beowulf needed to defeat his mother. d. Beowulf did not want Grendel to come back to life. 22. What two items did Beowulf take from Grendel s mother s lair? What happened as he left the lair? What prizes was he actually allowed to leave with? a. The sword of the giants and Grendel s head, the sword melted leaving only the hilt/ the hilt and Grendel s head. b. Hrunting and a goblet/ the goblet melts/ Hrunting c. Grendel s head and the necklace/ Grendel s head melts away/ The necklace only d. Grendel s arm and his head./ Sea monsters tried to take away the head./ Nothing. 23. Who does Beowulf credit with providing him with the weapon which allowed him to defeat Grendel s mother? a. Unferth. b. God. How often does HE guide men when they are friendless. c. Hrothgar. d. Wealhtheow 24. After receiving a gift from Beowulf upon his return from defeating Grendel s mother, what advice does Hrothgar give to Beowulf and all others? a. Be courageous and defeat all enemies. Heremod did this and grew to be a wellloved king. b. Live like a true hero. Take as much land as you can. c. Hrothgar reminds Beowulf and the others how important it is to remain virtuous. He tells a tale of a man, Heremod, who lived a joyless life in which he suffered in woe. d. Hrothgar tells Beowulf to live life to the fullest and live with no regard for anyone but himself.
25. After his battle with the Dragon, what does Beowulf say to Wiglaf about his reign (over the Geats) over the last fifty (50) years? Why does he claim he has been a good king? a. He tells him he took aver as much land as he could so as to give his people more land. b. He won all 100 battles he fought. He never backed down from a challenge from other kings. His people feared him. c. He was richer than all other kings in the land. d. Beowulf tells Wiglaf that he was a good king. He never began any feuds, he took care of his people, and he never broke an oath. 26. What does Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do before he (Beowulf) submits to death? a. End his life so that he does not suffer any longer. b. Go to proclaim his king s death on the cliffs. c. Beowulf asks Wiglaf to go and get the dragon s treasure. He [Beowulf] wishes to look upon it before he dies. d. To bring him his wife so her can tell her how much he loves her. 27. Who does Beowulf name as king of the Geats before he submits to death and what object is used to symbolize the claim to the throne? a. Wiglaf/ the collar b. Unferth/ the ring c. Heremod/ the shield d. Heorot/ the sword 28. After Beowulf s body has been set aflame on his funeral pyre, what happens to his soul? a. Beowulf s soul fled to seek the saints reward. b. It descends into the underworld- part of the hero s requirement c. It becomes a star in the heavens. d. It dissipates over his body and disappears. 29. Who paid the price of death for the dragon s hoard? a. Beowulf b. Wiglaf c. Both Beowulf and the Dragon paid the price of death. d. The Dragon.
30. Why did Wiglaf condemn Beowulf s men to exile? a. They were cowards and did not keep their oath. b. They stole part of Beowulf s fortune. c. They failed to help carry Grendel s head. d. They ran way from Heorot when Grendel came. 31. Give three examples where fate is mentioned throughout Beowulf. a. b. c. Part II. Beowulf Multiple Choice and Fill-in-the -Blank 32. How does one know that Beowulf is a legendary story? a. The villain is a God-Hater. b. It contains a hero and a villain. c. The hero is greater than all other men. d. The people in the story are called Sweds. 33. Why does Beowulf cross the whale-road to Hrothgar s kingdom? a. in order to conquer and take over the Dane-land. b. as an example of the heroic trait Help thy Neighbor. c. to obtain the sword, Hrunting. d. so that he can fight three (3) epic battles. 34. How does the reader know Beowulf is honorable? a. Beowulf refuses to use weapons because Grendel uses none. b. Beowulf refuses to accept gifts. c. Beowulf kills only those whom follow Christianity. d. Beowulf accepts the Danes into his clan. 35. What does this line mean: the monster s thoughts were as quick as his greed or his claws? a. He is hungry. C. He has sharp claws. b. He has intelligence. D. He is not trustworthy.
36. At the end of the battle, the poet attributes Grendel s defeat to a. Beowulf s weapon. C. God s power. b. Grendel s brotherhood with Cain. D. Hrothgar s power. 37. Which answer best summarizes the theme of Beowulf? a. Pagan theology is wrong. C. Exile can be positive. b. Actions speak louder than words. D. Valor will triumph. 38. Wiglaf thinks that he and his comrades should help Beowulf fight the dragon because a. Beowulf is stronger than ever. b. The dragon is too strong for Beowulf to fight alone. c. The dragon s treasure hoard can be split more evenly. d. Because of the battle-boast they made to Beowulf. 39. List three pagan images found in Beowulf: (3 points) a. b. c. 40. List three Christian images found in Beowulf: (3 points) a. b. c. 41. List two characters or places from Beowulf that are described using images of light: (2 points) a. b. 42. List two characters or places from Beowulf that are described using images of darkness: (2 points) a. b.
Part III. Literary Terms. Write the correct literary terms for each of the definitions below (2 points each). caesura elegiac poetry epic epic hero heroic poetry lyric poem kenning 43. Depicts the two-word metaphorical name for something 44. Figure that represents the values of a culture 45. Laments the loss of a loved one 46. A sound break in the middle of a line 47. Expresses the thoughts & feelings of a single speaker; usually retells events in the speaker s life. 48. Written about the achievements of warriors 49. Long narrative poem that celebrates the deeds of a legendary heroic figure.