Reading Comprehension Questions – Part 2 of Beowulf
Directions: After you’ve completed reading the packet for Part 2 of the poem, answer the following questions as completely as you can on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Grendel’s mother is a major figure, but nothing is known about Grendel’s father. In apoem in which ancestry is important, what does Grendel’s ancestry suggest about hischaracter?
2. What is the mood at Herot at the beginning of Part 2? How does the mood change? Why?
3. What does Beowulf’s speech just before fighting Grendel’s mother suggest about his relationshipto his men? To Higlac?
4. Contrast Beowulf and Hermod. How does the contrast help define Beowulf’s character?
5. What sword does Beowulf take into battle? Who gave him the sword? What does thesword’s failure in battle suggest about its owner?
6. The literary term deus ex machinarefers to the improbable and unexpected introductionof a person or device to make things turn out right. In your opinion, does the term applyto Beowulf’s fight with Grendel’s mother? Explain your thinking.
7. Why does Grendel’s mother attack Herot? What does she take with her?
8. Who was Aescher? How does he impact the poem (what purpose does he serve to the overall story)?
9. What does Hrothgar ask Beowulf to do? How does Beowulf respond?
10. Describe the battle between Beowulf and Grendel’s mother. How does Beowulf defeat her?
11. To what does Beowulf attribute his victory? Why?
12. What does Hrothgar warn Beowulf about in his key speech (pgs. 118-121)?
13. What message does Wealtheouw give to Beowulf in lines 1167 to 1190? What does this show or reflect about women in this society?
14. What is the effect on the lake of Beowulf’s victory? What is this meant to symbolize in the story?
15. What item does Beowulf use to eventually defeat Grendel’s mother? What is the significance of this item?
Literary Analysis Questions – Part 2 of Beowulf
Directions: Read each of the following questions/items and respond to them as completely as you can in writing on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Allusions are references in a work of literature to a well-known person, place, event, writtenwork, or work of art. Beowulf contains numerous biblical allusions. For example, Grendel is described as an offspring of Cain. In a paragraph or two, choose any other allusion appearing in Part 2 and explain what this adds to the poem.
2. What is the author’s style as reflected in the poem? What stylistic elements can you identify? Give one example from the text to reflect each element you find.
3. From what point of view is the poem told? How does this impact the story? Is the narrator credible? How do you know?
4. What symbols are used in the poem? What purpose do they serve? How do you know?
5. Do any of the characters undergo any development or change as the story progresses?Would you consider the characters in the poem as psychologically complex as those found in modern literature? Why or why not?
6. Summarize the Frissian Digression and explain its impact on/significance to the story (How is it used? For what purpose is it intended? What message does it convey?)
7. What is it about this story that enables it to transcend time and cultural boundaries?
Writing Skills – Part 2 of Beowulf
Directions: Read the following prompts carefully. Then choose ONE and compose a well-developed Introductory paragraph for a hypothetical essay responding to this prompt. Do NOT restate the prompt, but be sure to include a THESIS. Be sure to address the entire prompt and clearly state what the focus of your essay would be, if you were to complete the entire essay.
PROMPT #1:
Many of the characters in Beowulf are motivated by vengeance or a need for revenge. Think about those characters and describe how their actions are used by the scop/narrator to develop the theme of Paganism vs. Christianity.
PROMPT #2:
Based on what you have read so far, discuss how the scop/narrator develops the main theme of Good vs. Evil in the poem.
PROMPT #3:
Consider the description of Grendel’s lair as it is presented in Part 2 of the poem. Then compare this setting to that of Hereot and explain how it is used to reflect and develop the religious allusions given in the poem.
PROMPT #4:
Consider the stylistic elements of the poem, such as variation, metaphor, kennings, versification, etc. Then discuss how the author uses these elements to develop the story and convey its key messages.
Key Vocabulary – Part 2 of Beowulf
PART I. Vocabulary
Directions: Read each of the following terms and identify where they are used in the poem. Then provide the correct definition of the word as it is used and give the page number/line number where it can be found in the poem.
1. exulting
2. fetters
3. host
4. imperious
5. surging
PART II. Vocabulary
Directions: For the following words/phrases, explain the meaning of the word as it is used in the poem (line numbers are given).
6. sway (line 1223)
7. sounded (line1367)
8. bite (line 1524)
9. redress (line 1555)
10. sore blow (line 1417)
Hot Seat Discussion Questions – Part 2 of Beowulf
Directions: Review the questions below in preparation for Hot Seat discussion and group assignments. Each group member must select one question for which he/she will lead the group discussion. After selecting your question, take a few minutes (1-2) to review text and prepare to lead the class in discussion/explanation of this question.
1. Choose one of the themes of the poem discussed in class and discuss how the scop/narrator uses religious references to appeal to both cultures/value systems as the theme is developed.
2. Discuss the plot of the poem and whether or not it is unified. What elements of the story are used to unify the plot (if any) and are these used effectively to hold the story together?
3. Discuss the development of any two significant characters from the poem. Then discuss how these characters reflect the different value systems presented in the poem and what educational or informational impact they have on the poem.
4. The imagery in Beowulf consists mostly of alliteration and metaphor. Discuss specific examples of this literary technique/ element and how it contributes to the overall story and the narrator’s development of theme.
5. Discuss the two possible ways to interpret the Structure of the poem. Explain the impact or significance each has on the overall story/poem.
6. Discuss the author’s style used in the poem and identify as many elements/characteristics of this style and how it contributes to the overall impact of the poem.