Prologue, Ch. 1-4 (Lines 1-319)
1. How does the Prologue start? With which characters? What information is the reader provided with in
this section?
2. Who is Shild? Where does he come from? Where does he go? What does he do? Why does the poem
begin here, rather than with Hrothgar and Grendel?
3. Why was the Great Hall built? How is it described in the story?
4. “He wept fearing / The beginning might not be the end.” (Lines 133-135) What does this mean?
How does it foreshadow possible future problems from Grendel?
Ch. 5-8 (Lines 320-558)
1. What image does Beowulf and his company of men present when they arrive in Herot?
2. How does Hrothgar know of Beowulf?
3. How are Beowulf and his company greeted by Hrothgar? Does it seem that Beowulf’s men will be able
to save the Danes from Grendel? What evidence do you have that will support this concept?
4. Why does Beowulf say that riding the Danish kingdom is a “favor” that Hrothgar “should not refuse”
him?
5. Who is Unferth and why is he so hostile to Beowulf? Why is he allowed to speak that way?
6. What does Beowulf accuse Unferth of? How does he know these things about him? How does Beowulf
correct the story Unferth told?
7. How does Hrothgar respond? Find a quote and write it in the space below.
8. Who is Welthow and why is she pleased with Beowulf?
Ch. 10-18 (Lines 662-1250)
1. Why does Beowulf take off his armor and weapons?
2. How do Beowulf’s men feel about this “noble” quest not that the lights are out and Grendel is on the
move? How do these feelings differ from our noble hero?
3. What type of reception does Grendel receive at Herot? How is it different from the receptions from
before?
Chapter 19-23
(Lines 1251-1650)
1. What happens the first night the Danes return to sleep in Herot?
2. Explain how Grendel’s mother reacts when the men in Heorot are awake.
3. What happens with Unferth here?
4. Explain how the strategies of Beowulf’s hunt with Grendel and his mother are similar.
5. How does Beowulf defeat Grendel’s mother?
6. Explain how the symbolism of the scene changes once Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother.
7. Why does the magic sword begin to melt?
8. How does Beowulf treat Grendel’s and his mother’s corpses as a trophy?
9. What does Beowulf do with the hilt of the magic sword?
10.
How did Hrothgar repay Beowulf? How does Beowulf respond?
Chapter 24- 27 (Lines 1651-1895)
1. Describe the hilt of the magic sword that Beowulf gives Hrothgar.
2. What is Hrothgar’s opinion of Beowulf?
3. What does Hrothgar do when Beowulf gives him the sword hilt?
4. What, specifically, is Hrothgar warning Beowulf about in telling them this story? Find the specific
quote that reflects this warning and write it out in the space below.
7. What does Hrothgar say about the role of fate in life? Find the specific quote and write it in the space
below.
8. How does Beowulf and his men feel about leaving the Danes?
9. What does Beowulf say and not say to Unferth as he returns Hrunting to him?
Chapter 27- 31 (Lines 1888- 2144)
1. How does the coast-guard treat Beowulf as he leaves the Danes and how does this reaction differ
from how he treated them when they were first arriving?
2. How does Hygelac react to Beowulf’s return?
3. Why do you think Hygelac asks questions about his journey to Denmark?
4. How did Hygelac expect Beowulf’s quest to end? Did you agree with him?
Chapters 32-34 (Lines 2221- 2459)
1. How long does Beowulf rule Geatland in peace?
2. Describe the dragon’s purpose in the barrow.
3. How is the treasure disturbed and how does this affect the dragon?
4. Explain the origin of the treasure hoard.
Chapters 35-39
(Lines 2601-2820)
1. What is the meaning of lines 2464-2467 (“When Herbald was dead, and his heart swelled / With grief.
The murderer lived; he felt / no love for him, now, but nothing could help, / Word nor hand nor sharphoned blade, / War nor hate, battle or blood / or law.”)
2. What do you make of Beowulf’s speech? What is his tone? Why does he relate his adventures like
this? Explain.
3. Re-read these lines, “I swear that nothing / He ever did deserved an end / Like this, dying
miserably and alone, / Butchered by this savage beast: we swore / That these swords and armor
were each for us all!” (Lines 2656- 2660). How is this an example of chivalric code and honorable
sacrifice that is so important to the knights and warriors? Why is this important to the concept of the
Hero and his Journey?
4. What are Beowulf’s final instructions?
5. How does Wiglaf feel about his lord’s death? Why is he angry at the other people that were present at
the fight? Do you agree with Wiglaf?
Chapter 40-43 (Lines 2892-3182)
1. What does Higlac say in regards of the burial of Beowulf? What does he say should go with
Beowulf into the beyond?
2. How was Beowulf to be remembered by the Geats?
3. What did the soldiers do with the dragon’s body? With the treasure they found down in his lair?
4. How do you feel about the ending? Did Beowulf deserve that high praise?
5. Should all of the treasure gone with Beowulf in his passing? Or should it have been passed around
to his noble warriors? Explain your answer.