Vogel
from Beowulf
English IV
Questions While Reading
DO NOT WRITE ON! FOR CLASSROOM USE ONLY! COPY AVAILABLE ON EDUGATORVOGEL.COM!
Text Mark-Up:
Highlight, underline or circle lines from the text which indicate answers
Write thoughts, ideas and summaries beside text
Grendel
Lines 3-15
What is the mood in Hrothgar’s mead hall?
Lines 17-19
Where does Grendel live both literally & figuratively?
Lines 20-21
Biblical Allusion: Who is Cain? What does this allusion tell you about Grendel?
Lines 28-29
Theme Alert! “A brood forever opposing the Lord’s will, and again and again defeated.”
Line 30
When does Grendel strike (time of day)? What is the figurative indication?
Line 58
“Hate had triumphed.” Why?
Line 62
How many years does Grendel’s rampage continue? How do you know?
Lines 64-66
How is Hrothgar’s story spread throughout the countries?
Line 74
Kenning Alert! Shadow of death
Line 79
Kenning Alert! Mankind’s enemy
Lines 83-85
Why does Grendel avoid Hrothgar’s throne?
Lines 84-85
Why will Grendel never know God’s love?
Lines 90-103
Why do you think Hrothgar’s men turned from God to ask the Devil for help?
Lines 90-103
What does the inclusion of both Paganism and Christianity tell you about the evolution
of this poem?
Beowulf
Lines 109-110 Epic Hero Trait Alert! “Higlac’s follower” How is Beowulf related to Higlac? What epic
hero trait does this match?
Lines 132-134 Why do you think Wulfgar asks Beowulf and the warriors to leave their shields and
spears?
Why does Beowulf ask some of his men to stay with the weapons?
Line 148
What does the line “light and life fleeing together” allude to?
Vogel
from Beowulf
English IV
Questions While Reading
DO NOT WRITE ON! FOR CLASSROOM USE ONLY! COPY AVAILABLE ON EDUGATORVOGEL.COM!
Lines 143-144 Epic Hero Trait Alert! “…the days of my youth have been filled with glory” Name the
trait.
Lines 151-159 What sorts of heroic deeds has Beowulf accomplished?
Lines 143-148 How was news spread in the time of Beowulf?
How is news spread today?
What similarities do you see between how news traveled in Beowulf’s time and
in today’s time?
What might be some of the problems with news spreading in either circumstance?
Line 163
Kenning Alert! “Shelterer of warriors”
Line 165-189
Theme Alert! How will Beowulf fight Grendel?
Who/What will decide the winner?
Lines 193-207 Background Alert! Epic Hero Trait! What did Hrothgar do for Edgetho, Beowulf’s
father?
What epic hero trait does Beowulf display by helping Hrothgar?