Name _______________________________ Date _____
Dunn AP12 Period ____
Beowulf Discussion Questions
In addition to preparing notes for discussion, try to decide on at least two themes and four important symbols in the poem.
1) What is the status of gold and gift-giving in the poem? Who gives gifts, who receives them, and why? Are the modern concepts of wealth, payment, monetary worth, and greed appropriate for the world of Beowulf?
2) Wealtheow, Hygd, Hildeburh, and Grendel’s mother. What do the women in Beowulf do? How do they do it? Do they offer an alternate perspective of the heroic world (centered around male action) of the poem?
3) Look at the religious references in Beowulf, what are the names for God? What biblical events are mentioned and who mentions them? What specifically pagan practices (sacrifice, augury, ritual, etc.) are described? What is the relationship to God(s)? Why would a Christian author write about a pagan hero? Does the heroic code conflict with Christian sensibility?
4) Why would Beowulf rather be a hero than a king? What is the difference? Discuss the social hierarchy as presented in the text. How does it differ from social relationships and structure today?
5) Is Beowulf more interesting as a piece of historical knowledge or as a piece of art? Discuss the literary techniques used as well as the historical information that is presented in the poem. Is Beowulf canonical?