1. Beowulf

2. What is an epic? 12345 1. Songlike poem that explores the speaker’s feelings 2. Brief story that teaches a moral about life 3. Story that focuses on a single incident 4. Long narrative poem that describes the deeds of heroes 10

3. What is an archetype? 12345 1. The main character of a story 2. Loyal and strong by nature 3. A character type that recurs in literature from many cultures and time periods 4. The villain of a story 10

4. Ancient epics were passed down …. 12345 1. By the king 2. Orally 3. In written form 4. Through schools 10

5. Why does Beowulf kill Grendel? 12345 1. Keep Herot from being destroyed 2. To get the treasure in Grendel’s lair 3. Save Hrothgar and the Danes from the monster 4. To win the heart of a princess 10

6. Why does Beowulf fight Grendel with only his bare hands? 10 1. His hands were made of magic 2. Grendel was magically protected by weapons 3. Beowulf wants to prove his bravery 4. Beowulf wants to prove that the Geats are better than the Danes 12345

7. How does Beowulf die? 12345 1. He is killed as he and Wiglaf fight the dragon 2. He is killed by his own army 3. Grendel’s mother slays him 4. The dragon kills him as Beowulf goes out unarmed to fight the monster 10

8. What saves Beowulf’s life when he is battling Grendel’s mother? 12345 1. helmet 2. woven mail shirt 3. sword 4. shield 10

9. How does Beowulf kill Grendel? 12345 1. Cut off his arm 2. Cut off his head 3. Stabbed his heart 4. Cut off his leg 10

10. What two things does Beowulf bring back after defeating Grendel’s mother? 12345 1. The arms of Grendel and Grendel’s mother 2. The legs of Grendel and Grendel’s mother 3. A hidden treasure 4. The heads of Grendel and Grendel’s mother 10

11. Which of the following is one of Beowulf’s final wishes? 12345 1. To be buried with the treasure 2. He wants the Thanes to build him a borrow 3. To be buried with the dragon 4. To have the dragon’s head mounted 10

12. In John Gardner’s Grendel how is the raid on Hrothgar’s hall different? 12345 1. In Grendel the monster does not eat humans 2. The novel Grendel shows the action from the monster’s point of view 3. In Beowulf each victim is individually described 4. Beowulf shows the action from Beowulf’s point of view 10

13. An epic usually has all of the following elements except … 12345 1. Gods and goddesses 2. Formal, elevated language 3. A comic tone 4. A mixture of myth, legend, and history 10

14. Which of the following is the reason why the dragon attacked the Geats? 12345 1. He was hungry 2. He wanted to take over Geatland 3. He wanted to kill Beowulf 4. A thief stole the dragon’s jeweled cup 10

15. Why does Beowulf want the barrow built for him? 12345 1. To remind people to his greatness 2. To remind Wiglaf of his duties 3. To serve as a monument to King Hrothgar 4. Sign of the new Christian faith 10

16. Why does Grendel’s mother attack Herot? 12345 1. She is hungry 2. She wants to take over the hall 3. She wants to kill Hrothgar 4. To avenge Grendel’s death 10

17. Why does Unferth bring up Beowulf’s swimming match with Brecca? 12345 1. He wants to show Beowulf’s strength 2. He is proud of Beowulf 3. He is jealous of Beowulf 4. He wants everyone to know Beowulf’s loyalty 10

18. What is Welthow’s role in Herot? 12345 1. She is the queen 2. She is Beowulf’s wife 3. She is Grendel’s wife 4. She is Beowulf’s sister 10

19. To what does Beowulf attribute his victory in defeating Grendel and Grendel’s mother? 12345 10 1. Hrothgar 2. Welthow 3. Himself 4. God

20. How does Beowulf respond to Hrothgar’s request to defeat Grendel’s mother? 12345 1. He is ready and confident 2. He is scared and unsure 3. He doesn’t want to do it 4. He leaves and never returns 10

21. Which of the following is true about Wiglaf? 12345 10 1. He abandons Beowulf 2. He helps Beowulf defeat the dragon 3. He tells Beowulf that the troops will desert him 4. He is unworthy to succeed to the throne

22. Which of the following quotations from Beowulf contains a kenning? 12345 1. “And all at once the greedy she-wolf..” 2. “At last he saw the mud of the bottom.” 3. “He was hunting another/Dead mother…” 4. “Grendel’s mother/Is hidden in her terrible home..” 10