Beowulf
Epic Poem by The Beowulf Poet
Translated by Burton Raffel
pages 409-424
Read background on page 409
Although the poem was composed in England during the AngloSaxon age, it is set in sixth-century Scandinavia. Beowulf, the
hero of the epic, is a Geat, a person from what is now Sweden.
He travel to Denmark to help the Danes, who are being
terrorized by the monster Grendel.
There is only one historical copy of Beowulf in existence.
Scholars believe that it dates from the eleventh century. The
manuscript now is part of the British Library’s collection.
1. How was Beowulf part of a rich oral tradition?
2. What did the Anglo-Saxons believe would give them
immortality?
3. Why were Christian references mingled with pagan beliefs in
the final draft of Beowulf?
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Read pages 410-411
Notice the setting, conflict, and characters are introduced
near the beginning of the epic.
4.
Explain the contrast that is developed between Herot, home
of the Danes, and Grendel’s home?
5. How do the Biblical allusions extend this contrast?
6. What conflict is foreshadowed through this contrast?
NOTE: One of the devices used in the oral tradition is alliteration,
the repetition of the initial consonant sound in a line of poetry.
7. Re-read lines 33-37. What sound is alliterated throughout
these lines? How does this sound create an image of the
action?
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Pages 410-411
Community lay at the heart of Anglo-Saxon society. Note the effect of
Grendel's actions on both Hrothgar, the Danes’ leader, and on their hall.
8. Identify the tone of lines 44-45. What details and words help to convey
the attitude of the poet?
9. What happens to Hrothgar’s hall. Why does the poet say “hate had
triumphed”?
In any good story, the poet grips the attention of the listeners by developing
the conflict and the suspense.
10. Write down the details that show the threat that Grendel poses.
11. What does Grendel's unwillingness to accept gold or land to settle the
feud mean for the Danes?
Note: Another characteristic of oral poetry is the use of kennings. Kennings
are compound words or phrases used to both name and describe an object
or person or place.
12. Explain what the denning “shadow of death” contributes to the
characterization of Grendel.
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Read pages 412-413
Note: The central character of an epic is a hero, a character who epitomizes
the heroic ideal of a society. The hero incorporated the traits most admired
by the culture.
13. Identify details that tell you about Beowulf. What conclusions about
the traits most valued by the Anglo-Saxons can be drawn from this
description?
14. Define affliction: How do the Danes try to end their affliction?
NOTE: Remember you can use the test details to make Inferences, or logical
assumptions about what is not directly stated.
15. What does Beowulf, seen in “the silvery metal of his mail
shirt/Gleaming with a smith’s high art,” Represent to the Danes?
The Danes have never met Beowulf. Think about the impression created
by the Danes’ first sight of him and by his words.
16. Examine what he says to Hrothgar about himself and his past deeds.
Why does he appear to boast about his accomplishments?
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Read pages 414-115
An epic reflects the historical context from which it originated. From the
passage we can infer ideas about the sociopolitical conditions of the
Angelo-Saxons..
17. What is Beowulf’s reasoning behind the method he will use to fight
Grendel. What does this reveal about the relationship between
warrior and leader?
18. Identify details that reveal Beowulf’s attitude toward Hrothgar. Why
dies he feel this?
19. Define purge: Explain the consequences for the Danes if Beowulf is
able to purge the hall of Grendel’s presence.
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Page 415
Notice that in this part of the epic. Hrothgar responds to Beowulf’s long
speech with one f his own. These long speeches are a characteristic of an
epic. Often they include important ideas about values, behaviors,
traditions, and beliefs of the culture and were used as a way to pass this
information down from generation to generation.
20. Explain how Hrothgar's speech reflects the importance of courage and
community.
Note: The old epic’s were often sung to the accompaniment of a harp,
strong rhythm is a prominent feature. In Beowulf the lines have four
stresses , which are often divided by a pause, or caesura.
21. Re-read lines 233-240: Note the punctuation that indicates the caesura.
How does the rhythm created by those pauses reinforces the action
described in the lines?
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Read pages 416-417
The poet uses imagery and foreshadowing in lines 241-261 to increase
suspense.
22. What details reinforce the idea of Grendel as a force of evil?
23. How does this view of Grendel increase suspense? Identify
foreshadowing in this passage and explain why the poet includes it?
Remember you can use what you know about a character and situations to
infer motives.
24. Why does Beowulf allows one of his followers to be taken by Grendel
before he attacks?
Although a particular segment of the text might focus on the action or a
character you can also learn about other elements, such as setting, at the
same time.
25. Re-read lines 290-305: explain what the setting details in this passage
reveal about Angle-Saxon civilization.
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Pages 416-417
The epic hero typically confronts enemies who have supernatural
qualities that make them particularly difficult to defeat.
26. Re-read lines 314-327: Explain why Grendel is such a formidable
opponent?
27. What is the significance of the inability of Beowulf’s men to help
him.
28. Define infamous: what instinct drives the infamous Grendel once
Beowulf has hold of him?
29. Define taut: Explain how Beowulf’s taut grip causes Grendel’s
agony.
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Pages 418-419
NOTE: Symbols are objects or events that stand for something other than
themselves. Poets may incorporate symbolism into their works to convey
deeper meaning.
30. Identify the evidence that supports the idea that the fight between
Grendel and Beowulf is symbolic of the struggle between good and evil.
31. How does the symbolism of Beowulf’s gesture in lines 356-359 reveal a
theme resulting from this conflict?
32. Re-read lines 370-375: How does the alliteration and imagery affect the
impact of this part of the poem?
33. Re-read lines 376-389: How does this passage relate to the Anglo-Saxon
view of immortality?
On one level, the epic can be read as a thrilling narrative about a larger than
life hero. It can also be studied as a a chronicle of life in the historical
period. Lines 387-397 reflects how Anglo-Saxon poets use alliteration,
kenning and rhythm.
34. Explain why the term pilgrimage is appropriate for those traveling to the
site of Grendel’s disappearance?
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Pages 420-421
An epic hero undergoes several trials to show that he truly deserves to
be called a hero.
35. Re-read lines 400-424: Identify the details and techniques the poet
uses to convey the brutality of Grendel’s mother’s attack..
36. What is the significance of her actions. What do they foreshadow
about future events?
37. Re-read lines 425-445: Identify the descriptive images that link
Grendel's mother’s home to the concepts of death and darkness.?
38. What does the lake symbolize?
The epics include detailed descriptions of the hero’s battles.
39. Re-read lines 450-473: Note where the battle takes place. How
does Grendel’s mother inadvertently give Beowulf an advantage?
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Pages 422-423
A performance of Beowulf would be sung over several nights. Therefore,
the poet planned to develop and maintain the suspense in each new part.
40. Re-read lines 485-523: Explain how this battle differs from Beowulf’s
encounter with Grendel?
41. What is the similarity between the two battles, why is this important?
Notice the details that develop the image of the hero as an extraordinary
individual.
42. Explain the significance of Beowulf’s ability to wield the sword. What
does this show?
43. Identify images of light and connect them with Beowulf's victory.
44. What does Beowulf cutting off Grendel’s head symbolize?
45. Define loathsome: What image of Grendel’s moor is evoked by calling it
loathsome?
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)
Page 424
Universal themes are those that appear again and again in works of art
throughout a civilization’s history.
46. Re-read lines 574-578: Explain the transformation of the lake.
What has Beowulf metaphorically restored?
47. Re-read lines 587-605: Identify details in these final lines that
reinforce the idea the Beowulf is superior to all others?
48. How does the poet keep readers on the edge of their seats. Cite
specific textual evidence form the poem to support your ideas.
Share your answer with your shoulder partner. (2 min.)