41 Selection Review #1 Chapters I - IV 1. What is an epic? List some of the features of an epic story that we find in Beowulf. An epic is a long narrative told in poetry. Epics include the deeds of great heroes against fearful enemies. They usually include several stories told one after another. The story of Beowulf that we are reading has been retold in prose (ordinary language), but the original version was written in Old English poetry. The story is about heroes and monsters, and there are several stories told one after another. 2. The exposition of a narrative tells us about its setting (time and place), the characters involved, and the conflict or problem to be solved. Using the chart below, briefly describe the setting, characters, and conflict in the story Beowulf. Possible answers are shown (see back of page.) Exposition of the Beowulf Narrative Setting Main Characters Conflict (Problem) 3. Describe the monster Grendel. Where does he come from? What does he do to Hrothgar s finest warriors? Grendel is a slimy, vicious monster. He is bloated and disgusting, full of hatred and evil. He is said to be a child of Cain and a horrible snake. Every night he comes out of the swamp to attack Hrothgar s palace. He eats up thirty of Hrothgar s finest warriors on the first night of celebrations, and he comes back every night looking for more people to eat. 4. What are some of Beowulf s strengths and weaknesses? How has he made himself stronger? Beowulf is a fairly short man, with short legs and poor eyesight. However, he has made himself stronger by accepting his weaknesses and developing his strengths in other areas. He has a broad chest and shoulders and strong wrists. More importantly, he is a good man and very brave. His honesty, integrity, and determination have earned him the respect of all who know him. continued...
42 5. We find many symbols in this story of Beowulf. Fill in the blank spaces in the chart below, matching each symbol to the idea that it represents. Answers are shown on bottom of page. Symbols in Beowulf Symbol Meaning Gold Swords Grain Peace; prosperity Evil Light Answers to Charts Question #2: Exposition of the Beowulf Narrative Setting Main Characters Conflict (Problem) A long time ago, in the land of the Danes---a lonely place near the sea and a great swamp Hrothgar (the king); Wealhtheow (the queen); the monster Grendel; Beowulf; Unferth Grendel comes to Hrothgar s palace every night to attack and eat any people he can find. Question #5: Symbols in Beowulf Symbol Gold Swords Grain Darkness Light Meaning Wealth Power Peace; security Evil Goodness
43 Selection Review #2 Chapters V - IX 1. What insinuations does Unferth make about Beowulf s character? How does Beowulf respond to these claims? Unferth says that Beowulf must be wicked because he can eat apples that are cursed without harm. He also claims that Beowulf once tried to drown his friend Breca because Breca was a better swimmer than he. Beowulf responds to these claims calmly but firmly. He says that the apples are not cursed, and invites the king and queen to taste them and see that they are good. He also tells the story of his swimming contest with Breca. He says that Breca was the better swimmer and was carried by the waves all the way to Norway. While this was happening, Beowulf was busy fighting and killing nine sea monsters that attacked him. 2. What happens in the fight between Beowulf and Grendel? Why does this make Unferth angry? When Grendel comes to the palace, he kills and eats one of Beowulf s men. However, Beowulf grabs Grendel s wrist and hold it tightly. He tells Grendel that his own evil is what will destroy him. When Grendel tries to escape, Beowulf tears his arm off and Grendel bleeds to death. Unferth becomes angry at this because he found Grendel beautiful. He was fascinated by the evil in Grendel and did not want it to end. 3. There are two examples of story-within-a-story in this section. What is each story about? How do they fit into the main narrative? The first story-within-a-story is about Beowulf s swimming contest with Breca long before. It fits in the main narrative as Beowulf s answer to Unferth s insinuations about him. The second story-within-a-story is about the heroes Sigemund and Fitela fighting the four-headed Fire Dragon. This story is told in Hrothgar s hall as the king s poets celebrate Beowulf s victory over Grendel. 4. Why does Beowulf go out into the fen with his men? What does he hope to do? Beowulf goes out into the fen following the trail of the creature that killed Aeschere and took Grendel s arm. He believes this creature is Grendel s Mother, an even worse monster. He hopes to track her to her hiding place and kill her too. continued...
44 5. Listed below are some phrases from this section of the book. For each phrase, decide whether it is an example of alliteration, sensory image, or both, and place check marks in the appropriate columns. Answers are shown (see bottom of page).. Phrases sickened by slaughter riddled with rot her fair hair trembled with gold straightforward seriousness a sound like the breaking of ice red-hot nails driven into his skin a strange, sweet-smelling spoor Alliteration Sensory Image Answer to Question #5: Phrases Alliteration Sensory Image sickened by slaughter riddled with rot her fair hair trembled with gold straightforward seriousness a sound like the breaking of ice red-hot nails driven into his skin a strange, sweet-smelling spoor
45 Selection Review #3 Chapters X - XVI 1. What are the secrets to Beowulf s victory over Grendel s Mother? Beowulf stops losing the battle with Grendel s Mother when he becomes calm and stops being afraid of her. He accepts his weakness and turns it to his advantage. He holds her tentacle tightly, stares her down with his weak eyes, and talks quietly to her until she falls asleep and he can strangle her. 2. Describe Beowulf s life after he returns home. List some practical examples that show his goodness and humility. Beowulf lives a quiet, peaceful life after he returns home. He gives most of the wealth he received from King Hrothgar to his uncle, King Hygelac. He is granted a large estate and spends his time keepng bees. When King Hygelac is killed, Beowulf refuses to become king. Instead, he promises to protect Hygelac s young son, Hardred, who is the rightful king. Only after Hardred grows up and dies in battle does Beowulf agree to become king. 3. Describe life in the kingdom during Beowulf s rule. What changes this? While Beowulf is king, life is peaceful and happy for forty years. However, this changes when an unhappy slave steals a cup from the Firedrake, a fearful dragon who lives in a mountain. The Firedrake becomes so angry that he burns up a whole valley and everyone in it. 4. How has Beowulf changed by the time he goes out to fight the Firedrake? How does he hope to win the battle? By the time he goes to fight the Firedrake, Beowulf has become an old man. He is nearly blind, and his armor is too big for him. However, he is still courageous and clever. Beowulf knows that he is not physically strong enough to conquer the Firedrake. He hopes to use his intelligence to outsmart it. 5. How do Beowulf and Wiglaf destroy the Firedrake? Why does Beowulf tell Wiglaf not to tell the people the real story? Beowulf and Wiglaf destroy the Firedrake using a clever strategy. Beowulf taunts the dragon and calls it names. When it opens its mouth to reply, Wiglaf jams a stake between its jaws. Then he throws a glove down its throat that contains the queen bee. The other bees follow the queen bee into the dragon s stomach and sting it to death. Beowulf tells Wiglaf that the people might not be ready for a hero who wins his battles by trickery. He instructs Wiglaf not to tell the whole story, but to let them believe in him as an ordinary hero. 6. Name one lesson Beowulf wanted others to learn from his life. One lesson Beowulf wanted others to learn is that there are both good and bad in all people, and some good can always be found in what is bad. Another lesson is to recognize your weaknesses and become stronger by turning your weaknesses into strengths. A third lesson is to use cunning, not just brute strength, to overcome an opponent.
46 Name: Literature Test #1 Chapters I - IV 1. What are epic poems usually about? What features of an epic story do we find in Beowulf? 2. Who is Grendel, and what has he done to frighten everyone in Hrothgar s kingdom? continued...
47 3. In the chart below, list two of Beowulf s strengths and two of his weaknesses. How does Beowulf handle his weaknesses to turn them into strengths? Strengths: Beowulf Has... Weaknesses: Beowulf Has... 1. 1. 2. 2. 4. There are a number of symbols found in this narrative. In the chart below, list three of these symbols, and tell what each of them stands for. Symbols in Beowulf Symbol Meaning
48 Name: Literature Test #2 Chapters V - IX 1. How does Beowulf s struggle with Grendel end? How does Unferth react to this outcome? 2. This section of the book includes two examples of story-within-a-story. Briefly tell what ONE of these is about. continued...
49 3. Match each of the following terms in column A with its description in column B. Write the appropriate letter in the space beside the number. A. Literary Terms 1. sensory image 2. symbol 3. alliteration 4. story-within-a-story 5. exposition 6. narrative poem B. Descriptions a. an object that stands for an idea b. introduces the characters and setting c. tells readers how something looks, sounds, feels, tastes, or smells d. words that have the same beginning sounds e. a poem that tells a story f. a story that comes in the middle of a longer narrative 4. List several things that lead Beowulf and the others to conclude that Grendel s Mother has been in the hall. Why does Beowulf go out to the fen with his men?
50 Name: Literature Test #3 Chapters X - XVI 1. What does Beowulf have to do to overcome Grendel s Mother? 2. What does Beowulf do when he arrives home in the land of the Geats? How does it happen that he becomes king? continued...
51 3. Explain how Beowulf and Wiglaf conquer the Firedrake. 4. State one of the principles or beliefs that Beowulf lived by and taught to others.
52 Name: Vocabulary Test #1 Chapters I - IV WRITE MEANINGFUL SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS: sufficient dutifully cultivating consciences companion integrity emerging mortal inquisitive precise
Name: 53 Vocabulary Test #2 Chapters V - IX WRITE MEANINGFUL SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS: insinuated relentlessly exploit restraint objections impudent apprehensive relinquish capacity pandemonium
54 Name: Vocabulary Test #3 Chapters X - XVI WRITE MEANINGFUL SENTENCES FOR THE FOLLOWING WORDS: succumbed intelligible infintely intangible subsided deftly penetrate encounter agile dwelling