BEOWULF – Find out more about him!
Use the sites below, and, of course, you can google
elsewhere too, in order to answer the questions below.
http://www.tha-engliscangesithas.org.uk/readings/readings.html
http://www.beowulfmovie.com/
http://www2.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/noa/audio.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_poetry#Old_English_Poetry
http://www.hu.mtu.edu/~cwnelson/Beowulf.html
1. Find and give a summary of Beowulf in which all or most of the following
names occur: Grendel, Heorot, Beowulf, Hrothgar, Geatland, Hygelac.
2. Who or what are described by the names above?
3. Which devices were used to make memorizing such a long poem
possible? Give examples of these as well!
4. What sort of person is Beowulf, judging from the poem?
5. Listen to one of the extracts of Beowulf read by Seamus Heaney on the
Norton site. Write down its title and describe the actions in the fragment
you hear.
6. In how far is Beowulf based on historical events?
7. What is Sutton Hoo? How can it be linked to the story of Beowulf?
8. Find a plot overview of the film Beowulf (2007). What are the differences
you find as compared to your answer in question 1?