Answer the following questions using either your Beowulf book or the web sites on the Feasting Web Quest.
1. Why do the Danes and the Geats feast in Beowulf?
2. What is significant or ironic about the fact that Grendel attacks the Danes in Herot and nowhere else?
3. Why/how did feasts play an important part in the social values of early Medieval English culture?
4. How would halls be decorated for feasts during the Anglo-Saxon times?
5. What sort of entertainment was provided at Anglo-Saxon feasts?
6. Explain the differences between the two types of Anglo-Saxon feasts.
7. What did the Anglo-Saxons eat and drink at their feasts?
8. Why were feasts difficult to prepare?
9. How were guests seated at these feasts?
10.What was the atmosphere like in the room? Why?
NOW IT’S YOUR TURN!
In your groups, you must plan an Anglo-Saxon feast. We will have this feast in class on Friday, November 9. Divide the responsibilities however you like, but in terms of grading, every group member is responsible for everything.
1. How will you decorate your hall? You must have at least one type of decoration.
2. What kind of entertainment will you have at your feast? You must have at least one source of entertainment.
3. What kind of food will you serve at your feast? You must have a minimum of two types of food and one type of drink. (You may substitute a modern-day food, but have a label for everything with a real Anglo-Saxon name on it and have a good reason as to why the food or drink you chose is a good substitute)
Food 1:
Food 2:
Drink: