Beowulf Reading Guide

Use the following slides to check your comprehension and understanding of the text. If you can answer the 5 questions for each section, you have understood the passage. If you cannot answer the 5 questions, reread the assigned lines.

Assignment #1 | Lines Who founded the Spear-Danes’ ruling house? 2.What clan is Grendel from? 3.What building does Grendel destroy? 4.Who comes to help Hrothgar? 5.To whom does the Geat hero owe allegiance?

Assignment #2 | Lines What is the Geat hero’s name? Who is the Geat hero’s father? What does Beowulf say he will do? What event takes place after Hrothgar welcomes Beowulf? In Unferth’s opinion, who won the swimming contest?

Assignment #3 | Lines What is the name of Hrothgar’s queen? 2.What does Beowulf renounce before his fight with Grendel? 3.What happens during the night? 4.How does Beowulf defeat the monster? 5.What tale does Hrothgar’s minstrel tell?

Assignment #4 | Lines What honor does Hrothgar bestow on Beowulf? 2.What proof of victory does Beowulf offer? 3.Name at least one gift that Beowulf receives. 4.In what land does the minstrel’s tale take place? 5.What gift will beowulf present to Hygelac?

Assignment #5 | Lines What occurs while the Danes are sleeping? 2.What does the “hell-dam” take from the hall? 3.Who does Grendel’s mother kill? 4.What strange thing happens to the mere’s water at night? 5.What does Beowulf plan to do at the mere?