Anglo-Saxons, Picts and Scots
Worksheet 5A
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________________
The Story of Beowulf
Draw a picture to show what is happening in each of the sections of the story. Include as much detail as you
can in your pictures.
King Hrothgar watched as his
When the hall was finished,
men built a huge wooden hall. Hrothgar's men sang and drank.
Grendel could hear the singing
in the hall and it made him
angry.
Grendel came one night and
took sleeping men away.
Grendel took the men back to
his cave and ate them.
Hrothgar closed the hall so that
Grendel would not come.
Beowulf arrived at Hrothgar's hall
and promised to kill Grendel.
Beowulf fought Grendel and
tore his arm off.
Hrothgar gives Beowulf new
armour, a sword and a banner.
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Anglo-Saxons, Picts and Scots
Worksheet 5B
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________________
The Story of Beowulf
Write some text under each title to describe each section of the story and then draw a picture above to show
what is happening. Include as much detail as possible.
Hrothgar builds a hall
Hrothgar's men party
Grendel grows angry
Grendel comes in the night
Grendel feasts
Hrothgar closes the hall
Beowulf arrives
Beowulf fights Grendel
Hrothgar rewards Beowulf
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Anglo-Saxons, Picts and Scots
Worksheet 5C
Name: _____________________________ Date: ____________________
The Story of Beowulf
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Anglo-Saxons, Picts and Scots
Story Sheet A
Beowulf
Hrothgar, King of the Scyldings, was a great warrior and his brothers and cousins looked up
to him. He ordered a huge hall to be built. The hall towered up, high and wide. But the
powerful spirit who lived in darkness suffered the pain of hearing the partying in the hall
each day. There was the sound of music and singing. The dark spirit was called Grendel.
He went when night fell and found all the lords sleeping. He grabbed thirty of them and
went home, filling his house with killing. In the morning, Hrothgar saw what had happened
and was very sad for his lost men. Grendel came the next night, and the next. Soon men
began to sleep somewhere else to stay safe. Grendel attacked Hrothgar's people for
twelve years.
Men did not know what to do. They killed animals in their temples and prayed to their
gods that this would help them against the monster. They did not know the power of the
Christian God.
Then a hero appeared at the beach in a boat filled with warriors. One of Hrothgar's lords
went to meet them and bring them to his hall. The strangers took off their armour and put
down their weapons. Hrothgar's servant said, “Why have you got so many weapons? Who
are you?”
The hero answered “I am Beowulf, servant of the King of the Geats. I will only speak to
Hrothgar.” Then Hrothgar spoke and said, “I knew your father. He was a great warrior. They
say you are as strong as thirty men.”
“Hrothgar,” Beowulf said, “I will beat Grendel, the monster, the giant. I heard about
Grendel's attacks in my homeland. My people knew I was strong and told me to come. I
know Grendel does not use weapons, so I won't either. I will fight him with my bare hands.”
Everyone celebrated in the hall that night. There was music, singing and laughter. Then
everyone except the Geats left and Beowulf put away his weapons to get ready for
Grendel.
Everone fell asleep, except one man. Then from the moor
under the misty cliffs came Grendel. He ripped off the door
of the hall. Flames shot from his eyes. He did not wait. He
grabbed a sleeping warrior, tore him open and drunk the
blood from his veins. He reached for Beowulf, but the hero
was ready. He grabbed Grendel's hand in his strong grip.
Grendel had not met a stronger hand grip. He felt afraid.
The monster felt pain. His shoulder started to tear, the
muscles ripped, the skin burst open. Grendel ran away to
the fen-cliffs mortally wounded. He knew the end of his life
was near. Fame in war was granted to Beowulf.
Hrothgar gave Beowulf a golden flag as a reward, a
decorated banner with a handle, a helmet and armour,
and a famous sword.
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Anglo-Saxons, Picts and Scots
Story Sheet B
Beowulf
Hrothgar, King of the Scyldings, gained glory in battle and his kinsmen
gladly obeyed him. He ordered a great mead-hall to be built. The hall
towered up, lofty and wide. But the mighty spirit who dwelt in darkness
endured the torment of hearing the revelry in the hall each day. There
was the sound of the harp, the clear song of the minstrel. The grim spirit
was called Grendel.
He went when night fell and found all the thanes sleeping. He seized
thirty of them and departed homewards, filling his dwelling with
slaughter. At the breaking of day Hrothgar saw what had happened
and sat empty of joy and sorrowed for his men. Grendel came the
next night, and the next. Soon men began to sleep elsewhere to stay
safe. Grendel waged war on Hrothgar for twelve long years.
Men did not know what to do. They sacrificed animals in their temples and prayed to their
heathen gods that this would help them against the monster. They did not know the Lord God,
the Ruler of glory.
Then a hero appeared at the beach in a boat filled with warriors. One of Hrothgar's thanes
went to meet them and bring them to Hrothgar's hall. The strangers took off their armour and
put aside their weapons. Hrothgar's herald said, “Why have you so many weapons? Who are
you?”
The hero answered, “I am Beowulf, companion of the King of the Geats. I will tell my errand to
Hrothgar himself.” Then Hrothgar spoke and said, “I knew your father. He was a great warrior.
They say you hold the strength of thirty men in your hand.”
“Hrothgar,” Beowulf said, “I alone will achieve this exploit against Grendel, the monster, the
giant. The ravages of Grendel were made known to me in my native land. My people knew my
strength in battle and counselled me to seek you out. As Grendel does not bear weapons, nor
will I, but will sieze the fiend, foe against foe.”
Everyone celebrated in the hall that night. There was music, singing and laughter. Then all but
the Geats left and Beowulf put aside his weapons to ready himself against the coming of the
monster.
All fell asleep, save one. Then from the moor under the misty cliffs came Grendel. He tore open
the entry of the hall, enraged. A baleful light like flame flared from his eyes. He did not delay.
He seized a sleeping warrior, tore him asunder and drunk the blood from his veins. He reached
for Beowulf, but the hero was ready. He seized Grendel's hand in his strong grip.
Grendel had not met in the world a mightier hand grip. Fear grew in his mind and heart. The
foul monster suffered pain in his body. A great wound was seen in his shoulder, the sinews
sprang apart, the body burst open. Grendel must needs flee under the fen-cliffs mortally
wounded. He knew too well the end of his life was come. Fame in war was granted to Beowulf.
Hrothgar gave Beowulf a golden ensign as a reward, an ornamented banner with a handle, a
helmet and a corslet, and a famous precious sword.
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Anglo-Saxons, Picts and Scots
Riddle Cards
Riddle 1:
When I am alive I do not speak.
Anyone who wants to takes me captive and cuts off my head.
They bite my bare body
I do no harm to anyone unless they cut me first.
Then I soon make them cry.
Riddle 2:
I was abandoned by my mother and father.
I wasn't yet breathing.
A kind woman covered me with clothes,
Kept me and looked after me,
Cuddled me as close as if I had been her own child.
Under that covering I grew and grew.
I was unkind to my adopted brothers and sisters.
This lovely woman fed me
Until I was big enough to set out on my own.
She had fewer of her own dear sons and daughters because she did so.
Riddle 3:
A wonderful warrior exists on earth.
Two dumb creatures make him grow bright between them.
Enemies use him against one another.
His strength is fierce but a woman can tame him.
He will meekly serve both men and women
If they know the trick of looking after him
And feeding him properly.
He makes people happy.
He makes their lives better.
But if they let him grow proud
This ungrateful friend soon turns against them.
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Anglo-Saxons, Picts and Scots
Riddle Cards
Riddle 4:
A thing came marvelously moving over the waves,
comely from the keel up. It called out to the land,
loudly resounding. Its laughter was horrible,
awful in its place. Its edges were sharp;
hateful it was, and sluggish to battle,
bitter in its hostile deeds. It dug into shield-walls,
hard, ravaging. It spread mischievous spells.
It spoke with cunning craft about its creation:
“Dearest of women is indeed my mother;
she is my daughter grown big and strong.
It is known to men of old, among all people,
that she shall stand up beautifully everywhere in the world.”
Riddle 5:
The sea fed me; the water-helm was over me,
and waves covered me, close to the ground.
I was footless. Often toward the water
I opened my mouth. Now people will
eat my meat. They want not my skin.
When they rip my hide with the point of a knife
..... ....
Then they eat me uncooked.
Riddle 6:
Uuob is my name read in reverse.
I’m a beautiful thing, shaped for fighting.
Whenever I am bent and there flies from my bosom
the poisonous dart I am all eager
to drive afar off the deadly bale.
Whenever my master who shaped me that pain
loosens my limb I am longer than before,
till I spit forth again the death-blended bane,
that very fell poison which erst I swallowed.
This that I speak of leaves no man easily
if that which flies from me should ever touch him,
so that perforce he purchases surely with his life
that fatal drink, a full atonement.
Unstrung I obey no man, but only
when skilfully tied. Tell me my name.
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Anglo-Saxons, Picts and Scots
Riddle 1: An onion
When I am alive I do not speak.
Anyone who wants to takes me captive and
cuts off my head.
They bite my bare body
I do no harm to anyone unless they cut me first.
Then I soon make them cry.
Riddle 2: A cuckoo
I was abandoned by my mother and father.
I wasn't yet breathing.
A kind woman covered me with clothes,
Kept me and looked after me,
Cuddled me as close as if I had been her own child.
Under that covering I grew and grew.
I was unkind to my adopted brothers and sisters.
This lovely woman fed me
Until I was big enough to set out on my own.
She had fewer of her own dear sons and daughters
because she did so.
Riddle 3: A fire
A wonderful warrior exists on earth.
Two dumb creatures make him grow bright between
them.
Enemies use him against one another.
His strength is fierce but a woman can tame him.
He will meekly serve both men and women
If they know the trick of looking after him
And feeding him properly.
He makes people happy.
He makes their lives better.
But if they let him grow proud
This ungrateful friend soon turns against them.
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Riddle Solutions
Riddle 4: An iceberg
A thing came marvelously moving over the waves,
comely from the keel up. It called out to the land,
loudly resounding. Its laughter was horrible,
awful in its place. Its edges were sharp;
hateful it was, and sluggish to battle,
bitter in its hostile deeds. It dug into shield-walls,
hard, ravaging. It spread mischievous spells.
It spoke with cunning craft about its creation:
“Dearest of women is indeed my mother;
she is my daughter grown big and strong.
It is known to men of old, among all people,
that she shall stand up beautifully everywhere in the world.
Riddle 5: An oyster
The sea fed me; the water-helm was over me,
and waves covered me, close to the ground.
I was footless. Often toward the water
I opened my mouth. Now people will
eat my meat. They want not my skin.
When they rip my hide with the point of a knife
..... ....
Then they eat me uncooked.
Riddle 6: A bow
Uuob is my name read in reverse.
I’m a beautiful thing, shaped for fighting.
Whenever I am bent and there flies from my bosom
the poisonous dart I am all eager
to drive afar off the deadly bale.
Whenever my master who shaped me that pain
loosens my limb I am longer than before,
till I spit forth again the death-blended bane,
that very fell poison which erst I swallowed.
This that I speak of leaves no man easily
if that which flies from me should ever touch him,
so that perforce he purchases surely with his life
that fatal drink, a full atonement.
Unstrung I obey no man, but only
when skilfully tied. Tell me my name.
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