Beowulf Writing Activity
Sample responses for 25A, B, and C
Written Response – At least one of these will be on your
test
a. What challenges of Anglo-Saxon life are represented by the
monsters Beowulf fights? On a separate sheet of paper, write a
paragraph in which you answer the question drawing on your
knowledge of Anglo-Saxon society and on the imagery
associated with the monsters in the selection. Support your
ideas with at least two references to Anglo-Saxon life or Beowulf
The monsters may represent enemies from other lands.
The monsters’ carnage might symbolize the brevity of life in
Anglo-Saxon times—war, disease, and an extraordinarily harsh
environment caused many people to die young …
Written Response – At least one of these will be on your
test
a. What challenges of Anglo-Saxon life are represented by the monsters Beowulf fights?
On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph in which you answer the question drawing
on your knowledge of Anglo-Saxon society and on the imagery associated with the
monsters in the selection. Support your ideas with at least two references to Anglo-Saxon
life or Beowulf
The monsters may represent enemies from other lands. Warfare was a constant
condition of Anglo-Saxon life. The monsters’ ferociousness and ruthlessness suggest the
violence of marauding warriors. The warriors of Anglo-Saxon times, like the monsters, were
ruthless, destroying almost everything and everyone they encountered. Similarly, Grendel
commits wholesale slaughter at Herot, delighting in the blood he spills; Grendel’s mother
takes savage revenge, invading Herot and killing Hrothgar’s best friend; and the dragon,
furious because someone stole its jeweled cup, lays waste to all the land of the Geats. Each
monster is relentless, merciless, and vicious—like an invading warrior.
The monsters’ carnage might symbolize the brevity of life in Anglo-Saxon times—war,
disease, and an extraordinarily harsh environment caused many people to die young …
Written Response – At least one of these will be on your
test
b. Identify which scene (Beowulf vs. Grendel,
Beowulf vs. Grendel’s mother, Beowulf and his
men vs. the Dragon) involves both internal and
external conflict, and explain how both elements
of conflict are present.
There is both internal and external conflict
involved in Beowulf’s battle with Grendel.
Internal and external conflict both occur during
Beowulf’s fight against Grendel’s mother.
Elements of both internal and external conflict are
present in the scene in which Beowulf and his men go
to slay the dragon.
Written Response – At least one of these will be on your
test
b. Identify which scene (Beowulf vs. Grendel,
Beowulf vs. Grendel’s mother, Beowulf and his
men vs. the Dragon) involves both internal and
external conflict, and explain how both elements
of conflict are present.
There is both internal and external conflict
involved in Beowulf’s battle with Grendel. The
external conflict is obvious; it is man versus monster:
Beowulf versus Grendel. The internal conflict occurs
within Grendel. Once he realizes that he has never
faced an opponent as worthy as Beowulf, Grendel
desires only to flee. He battles to escape, and he does
so only at the cost of his arm and his life. Perhaps if
he had faced his fear and fought bravely the outcome
might have been different.
Written Response – At least one of these will be on your
test
Internal and external conflict both occur during
Beowulf’s fight against Grendel’s mother. As with the
other battles in the story, the external conflict is
easily recognized as being that of man versus
monster: Beowulf versus Grendel’s mother. This
struggle is much more challenging for Beowulf than
his fight with Grendel, and at one point, he even finds
himself on his back on the floor of the mother’s lair
with only his mail shirt protecting him from certain
death. It is at this point that Beowulf experiences
internal conflict. For a moment he doubts his own
ability; however, he thinks of the glory a victory will
bring him, and he overcomes his doubts long enough
to throw Grendel’s mother off of him and regain his
feet and his confidence. He then has the good
fortune to obtain the giant’s sword, and it’s all over
for Grendel's mother. Beowulf two; monsters zero.
Written Response – At least one of these will be on your
test
Elements of both internal and external conflict are
present in the scene in which Beowulf and his men go
to slay the dragon. The external conflict is fairly
obvious—Beowulf is going to fight the dragon that
has been terrorizing his people and burning their
homes. The internal conflicts, there are 3, are not so
obvious. Beowulf is struggling with himself; he is old
and weary and knows that this is probably the battle
in which he will die. His men are struggling with their
fear of the dragon, and at the moment of crisis, they
not only fail to rush to Beowulf’s aid, they run for
their lives. Wiglaf, one of the men, is struggling with
fear, too, but he does not run, he stands there,
“miserable, remembering, as a good man must, what
kinship should mean.” His loyalty and inner resources
enable him to assist the king in killing the dragon,
which Beowulf could not have accomplished alone.
Written Response – At least one of these will be on your
test
c. Think about what Beowulf’s words and deeds suggests about traditional Anglo-Saxon
values. Then, in a paragraph identify three of these values. Quote lines that support your
choices, or explain what Beowulf says or does to demonstrate these values or to suggest
their importance to the Anglo-Saxons.
Your answers should indicate an understanding of the prompt and at least three of the
following:
• Compassion: “. . . he’d go to that famous king, / Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar,
/ Now when help was needed.” (lines 95–97)
• Courage: “So Beowulf / Chose the mightiest men he could find, / The bravest and
best . . .” (lines 101–102)
• Gratitude: “And then / They gave thanks to God for their easy crossing.” (line 124)
• Responsibility: “My people have said, the wisest, most knowing / And best of them,
that my duty was to go to the Danes’ / Great King.” (lines 228–230)
• Strength: “They have seen my strength for themselves . . .” (line 230)
• Bowing to fate: “Fate will unwind as it must!” (line 268)
The epic poem Beowulf wasn’t just an entertaining heroic epic. In its time it was also a
story in which the hero’s words and deeds were meant to illustrate and convey many of
the values and traditions that the Anglo-Saxon people held most dear.
Written Response – At least one of these will be on your
test
c. Think about what Beowulf’s words and deeds suggests about traditional Anglo-Saxon
values. Then, in a paragraph identify three of these values. Quote lines that support your
choices, or explain what Beowulf says or does to demonstrate these values or to suggest
their importance to the Anglo-Saxons.
Your answers should indicate an understanding of the prompt and at least three of the
following:
• Compassion: “. . . he’d go to that famous king, / Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar,
/ Now when help was needed.” (lines 95–97)
• Courage: “So Beowulf / Chose the mightiest men he could find, / The bravest and
best . . .” (lines 101–102)
• Gratitude: “And then / They gave thanks to God for their easy crossing.” (line 124)
• Responsibility: “My people have said, the wisest, most knowing / And best of them,
that my duty was to go to the Danes’ / Great King.” (lines 228–230)
• Strength: “They have seen my strength for themselves . . .” (line 230)
• Bowing to fate: “Fate will unwind as it must!” (line 268)
The epic poem Beowulf wasn’t just an entertaining heroic epic. In its time it was also a
story in which the hero’s words and deeds were meant to illustrate and convey many of
the values and traditions that the Anglo-Saxon people held most dear. One such value
was compassion for one’s own people. This is illustrated by Beowulf when he decides
“…he’d go to that famous king,/Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar,/ Now when help
was needed.” (ll. 95-97) Courage was a much admired trait among the Anglo-Saxons, and
this is obvious when Beowulf “…Chose the mightiest men he could find,/ The bravest and
best…” (ll. 101-102) Another important value among the Anglo Saxons was …