Beowulf Writing Activity Sample responses for 25A, B, and C

Written Response – At least one of these will be on your test a. What challenges of Anglo-Saxon life are represented by the monsters Beowulf fights? On a separate sheet of paper, write a paragraph in which you answer the question drawing on your knowledge of Anglo-Saxon society and on the imagery associated with the monsters in the selection. Support your ideas with at least two references to Anglo-Saxon life or Beowulf The monsters may represent enemies from other lands. Warfare was a constant condition of Anglo-Saxon life. The monsters’ ferociousness and ruthlessness suggest the violence of marauding warriors. The warriors of Anglo- Saxon times, like the monsters, were ruthless, destroying almost everything and everyone they encountered. Similarly, Grendel commits wholesale slaughter at Herot, delighting in the blood he spills; Grendel’s mother takes savage revenge, invading Herot and killing Hrothgar’s best friend; and the dragon, furious because someone stole its jeweled cup, lays waste to all the land of the Geats. Each monster is relentless, merciless, and vicious—like an invading warrior. The monsters’ carnage might symbolize the brevity of life in Anglo-Saxon times—war, disease, and an extraordinarily harsh environment caused many people to die young …

Written Response – At least one of these will be on your test Identify which scene (Beowulf vs. Grendel, Beowulf vs. Grendel’s mother, Beowulf and his men vs. the Dragon) involves both internal and external conflict, and explain how both elements of conflict are present. There is both internal and external conflict involved in Beowulf’s battle with Grendel. The external conflict is obvious; it is man versus monster: Beowulf versus Grendel. The internal conflict occurs within Grendel. Once he realizes that he has never faced an opponent as worthy as Beowulf, Grendel desires only to flee. He battles to escape, and he does so only at the cost of his arm and his life. Perhaps if he had faced his fear and fought bravely the outcome might have been different. Internal and external conflict both occur during Beowulf’s fight against Grendel’s mother. As with the other battles in the story, the external conflict is easily recognized as being that of man versus monster: Beowulf versus Grendel’s mother. This struggle is much more challenging for Beowulf than his fight with Grendel, and at one point, he even finds himself on his back on the floor of the mother’s lair with only his mail shirt protecting him from certain death. It is at this point that Beowulf experiences internal conflict. For a moment he doubts his own ability; however, he thinks of the glory a victory will bring him, and he overcomes his doubts long enough to throw Grendel’s mother off of him and regain his feet and his confidence. He then has the good fortune to obtain the giant’s sword, and it’s all over for Grendel's mother. Beowulf two; monsters zero. Elements of both internal and external conflict are present in the scene in which Beowulf and his men go to slay the dragon. The external conflict is fairly obvious—Beowulf is going to fight the dragon that has been terrorizing his people and burning their homes. The internal conflicts, there are 3, are not so obvious. Beowulf is struggling with himself; he is old and weary and knows that this is probably the battle in which he will die. His men are struggling with their fear of the dragon, and at the moment of crisis, they not only fail to rush to Beowulf’s aid, they run for their lives. Wiglaf, one of the men, is struggling with fear, too, but he does not run, he stands there, “miserable, remembering, as a good man must, what kinship should mean.” His loyalty and inner resources enable him to assist the king in killing the dragon, which Beowulf could not have accomplished alone.

Written Response – At least one of these will be on your test c. Think about what Beowulf’s words and deeds suggests about traditional Anglo-Saxon values. Then, in a paragraph identify three of these values. Quote lines that support your choices, or explain what Beowulf says or does to demonstrate these values or to suggest their importance to the Anglo-Saxons. Your answers should indicate an understanding of the prompt and at least three of the following: Compassion: “. . . he’d go to that famous king, / Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar, / Now when help was needed.” (lines 95–97) Courage: “So Beowulf / Chose the mightiest men he could find, / The bravest and best . . .” (lines 101–102) Gratitude: “And then / They gave thanks to God for their easy crossing.” (line 124) Responsibility: “My people have said, the wisest, most knowing / And best of them, that my duty was to go to the Danes’ / Great King.” (lines 228–230) Strength: “They have seen my strength for themselves . . .” (line 230) Bowing to fate: “Fate will unwind as it must!” (line 268) The epic poem Beowulf wasn’t just an entertaining heroic epic. In its time it was also a story in which the hero’s words and deeds were meant to illustrate and convey many of the values and traditions that the Anglo-Saxon people held most dear. One such value was compassion for one’s own people. This is illustrated by Beowulf when he decides “…he’d go to that famous king,/Would sail across the sea to Hrothgar,/ Now when help was needed.” (ll. 95-97) Courage was a much admired trait among the Anglo-Saxons, and this is obvious when Beowulf “…Chose the mightiest men he could find,/ The bravest and best…” (ll. 101-102) Another important value among the Anglo Saxons was …