Beowulf Close Reading Questions Review

Literary Analysis #4 and #5 (end of poem) Beowulf’s body is burned and buried in a tomb by the sea along with treasures seized from the dragon’s lair. His men ride around the tomb on horseback telling stories of his greatness. How do we know his body was burned? Why was he buried with the treasure?

Literary Analysis #2 and #3 Grendel is the enemy of God; Grendel and his mother are monstrous descendants of Cain; discussion of the belief in God protecting people from harm Beowulf boasting about his skill; the importance of Grendel’s defeat for glory; talk of being remembered after death; loyalty to leaders He is strong, brave, imperfect, helpful. Fight with the dragon humanizes him…why? Heroic qualities - Beowulf? Hrothgar? Wiglaf?

Literary Analysis #7 and #9 Grendel got pride from killing the Danes; his mother fought Beowulf out of revenge and loyalty; the dragon destroyed villages in order to protect his treasure. Contemporary heroes are often given grand burials and monuments erected in their honor like Beowulf.

Critical Reading #5 and #6 5. Thoughts on this one? Good and evil based on both moral and social standards; the evil characters in the poem are completely bad and their actions are morally wrong and antisocial; the good characters live within acceptable moral and social boundaries.