Beowulf Annotation Questions

Directions:

For each reading assignment, annotate parts of the text that answer the following questions. Be sure to clearly mark which question your annotations refer to; your reading quizzes will be timed and based off of these questions.

Lines 1 – 399

  1. Who is Shield Sheafson? What characteristics of his does the poet praise? What makes him a “good king”?
  2. What is Heorot? Who builds it? What kind of language does the poet use to describe it?
  3. What is Grendel’s lineage? What biblical character is his ancestor? What words does the poet use to describe Grendel and his relatives?
  4. Why did Grendel attack Herot? What are his reasons? How many men does he kill?
  5. Annotate words and phrases that describe Hrothgar’s reaction to Grendel’s attacks. How does it affect him? How long does Grendel keep men out of Heorot?
  6. What reason does the poet give for the fact that Grendel cannot touch Hrothgar’s throne? What does that imply about Hrothgar’s kingship?
  7. To whom do the Sheildlings pray, seeking help against Grendel? Annotate words that indicate the poet’s attitude toward this approach.
  8. The poet begins to describe Beowulf at line 194. Annotate words or phrases the poet uses to describe him.
  9. Who is the first person Beowulf and his band of thanes meet when they arrive in Denmark? What is his job? Annotate phrases that describe their interaction.
  10. How does Hrothgar know Beowulf? What is his reaction to hearing about Beowulf’s arrival in Denmark? What does he hope for?

Lines 400 – 873

  1. What information does Beowulf include about himself when he first greets Hrothgar?
  2. How does Beowulf say he will confront Grendel? What weapons does he say he will use?
  3. Who else has tried to kill Grendel? What, according to Hrothgar, led them to pledge to do so? What was the outcome of their oaths?
  4. What are the activities at the feast? Annotate examples of a good party as defined by the Anglo-Saxons.
  5. How does Unferth taunt Beowulf? Why, according to the poet, does he do it? Annotate all of his accusations.
  6. What is Beowulf’s response to Unferth’s taunts? Annotate his claims in his counter argument.
  7. Who is Wealtheow? What sort of things does she do at the feast? Annotate words that the poet uses to describe her.
  8. Why does Hrothgar go to bed? Does this make him seem weak?
  9. Why does Beowulf say he will meet Grendel bare-handed? Remind you of someone from “The Battle of Maldon”?
  10. Who does Grendel attack first? What is Beowulf doing during this attack?
  11. What do Beowulf’s thanes do to try to help Beowulf as he struggles with Grendel? How helpful are they?
  12. How does Beowulf end up killing Grendel?

Lines 1,158 – 1,590

  1. What sort of rewards does Hrothgar give to Beowulf?
  2. Who is the next monster to attack Heorot? Who does she kill? Annotate words the poet uses to describe her.
  3. What else does Grendel’s mother take away from Heorot?
  4. What does Hrothgar ask of Beowulf when he calls him to his chamber?
  5. How does Beowulf respond to Hrothgar’s request? Annotate words and phrases that indicate Beowulf’s philosophy on life and death.
  6. What does Unferth lend to Beowulf before he dives into the mere? Why does the poet claim that Unferth loses “fame and repute”?
  7. What weapon does Beowulf find that helps him in his fight with Grendel’s mother? How does he finally defeat her?

Lines 1,591 – 1,931

  1. What happens to the sword after Beowulf beheads Grendel’s corpse with it?
  2. What is the sign of victory Beowulf gives to Hrothgar?
  3. What is the story of Hermod? What, specifically, is Hrothgar warning Beowulf about in telling this story? What “trap” is he telling Beowulf to beware of?
  4. What little white lie does Beowulf tell Unferth because “[Beowulf] was a considerate man”?
  5. What promises does Beowulf make as he takes his leave of Hrothgar?
  6. Hrothgar says he is pleased with Beowulf for what reasons?
  7. During their parting words, what else, beside his strength, does Hrothgar praise Beowulf of?
  8. How does Hrothgar react when Beowulf finally leaves him?
  9. How, according to the poet, does Hrothgar eventually die?
  10. What does Beowulf give to the boat-watcher as a parting gift? What does the poet say this gift will do for this man?

Lines 2,177 – 2,728 (you can skip lines 2,355 – 2,510)

  1. According to the poet, how was Beowulf originally viewed by his people and his ring-giver (Hygelac) before he proved himself? Does this seem surprising to you?
  2. What happened to Hygelac? Who takes his place as ring-giver? How long does this person rule?
  3. What wakes the dragon? Who does it? What mood is the dragon in when he wakes up?
  4. How did the treasure get to the dragon’s borrow? Who put it there? How is this character like The Wanderer?
  5. What is Beowulf’s mental reaction to the dragon’s rampaging? How is this similar to Hrothgar’s reaction to Grendel?
  6. What does Beowulf order made for his battle with the dragon?
  7. Why does Beowulf say he does not want any help when fighting the dragon?
  8. How does Beowulf call the dragon? How does the dragon respond to this?
  9. Where do Beowulf’s Thanes go when he needs them?
  10. Why does Wiglaf go to Beowulf’s aid? How does he attempt to get the rest of the Thanes to come with him?
  11. What happens to Beowulf’s sword (Naegling) when he strikes the Dragon?

Lines 2,729 – 3,182 (you can skip lines 2,911 – 3,006)

  1. What is Beowulf’s one regret about his life? What does he ask Wiglaf to do as he lay dying?
  2. What is ironic about the poet’s observations about how the “battle dodgers” are dressed when they return to find Beowulf dead?
  3. What does Wiglaf predict will happen to the Geats once word gets out that they we too afraid to face the dragon?
  4. Where does Wiglaf take the rest of the Thanes after they see Beowulf and the Dragon?
  5. What do the Geats do with the Dragon’s body?
  6. What does the Geat woman who “sang out in grief” at Beowulf’s funeral fear the future of her people will be?