Beowulf
Melinda
Waldo, Janay Pitts, Britta Fort & Rebecca King
Author: Unknown
Characters:
Written by
Britta Fort, Edited by Rebecca King
1. Beowulf - Geatish Hero who fights the monster
Grendel, Grendel's mother, and a fire- breathing dragon
2. King Hrothgar - The king of the Danes. He is a
father figure to Beowulf and a model for the kind of king Beowulf becomes.
3. Grendel - A demon descended from Cain, who preys on
Heorot, the king's mead hall.
4. Grendel's mother - Another demonic descendant of
Cain, who lives in a cave at the bottom of a lake in a magical land, and
attempts to avenge her son's death by attacking Heorot.
5. The dragon - An old, powerful serpent, which
guarded a horde of hidden treasure for three hundred years. The last survivor
of an ancient race who realized it would be of no use to him after he died like
the rest of his civilization buried this treasure.
6. Unferth - Addressed Beowulf upon first meeting him
with an accusation challenging his boastful sucess. He tried to embarrass
Beowulf by saying that he lost in a swimming match against the challenger,
Brecca; however, Beowulf did win victoriously.
7. Wiglaf - A kinsman of Beowulf who helps him fight
against Grendel, and the dragon while all the others ran away.
Vocabulary:
Written by
Britta Fort, Edited by Rebecca King
8. Epic poem - A
long poem narrating a deed or adventure of legendary figures.
9. Anglo
Saxon - Fifth century Germania tribes in Beowulf.
10. Fen - A low, dark and magical, swamp land also known as the Moors.
10. Fen - A low, dark and magical, swamp land also known as the Moors.
11. Mead - An
alcoholic drink made from fermented honey and water.
12. Wyrd - In old English, belief that fate ruled a person's life.
12. Wyrd - In old English, belief that fate ruled a person's life.
Summary:
Written by
Rebecca King
Beowulf is one of the most famous poems in old English. It is about three
thousand lines long and the story revolves around three battles. Grendel, the
first foe. By far not the greatest, but a deadly menace to mankind. An outcast,
that hated the celebrations of drunken men and decides to kill them in the
night. Twelve
years passed with no relent, untill news of Grendel's aggression on the Danes
reached the Geats. A Geat thane, Beowulf,
decided to help.
Eventually Grendel arrived to Heorot, hungry for flesh. When Grendel reached
for Beowulf, he in turn, grabbed Grendel's arm and did not release it. Grendel
screamed out in pain as Beowulf gripped him with the strength of thirty men.
Eventually, Grendel tore away, leaving his arm in Beowulf's grasp. He crept
back to his lair in the moors and died.
Grendel's
mother sought revenge for her son's death. She, the only adversary standing in
Beowulf's way to glory. Beowulf's emergence from the Fen's lake into her cave
ultimately led to her downfall, but only by an ancient sword waiting on the
cave wall. Beowulf gains reputation and recognition, all that he seeks.
Then fifty more years pass and only one foe is left to be beaten.
The fire-breathing dragon that has guarded a treasure for 300 years has
suffered thievery. Beowulf is now a king. He retaliates to the dragon burning
down his hall, while looking for the stolen treasure, with great thought and a
mighty decision. He will be faithful to his duty once more, even at the price
of his life. His sword and shield prove worthy but at that dear price. A bite
is exchanged for a mortal blow. A fatal poison spreads throughout Beowulf's
body as he watches the dragons head land on the ground. The treasure is buried
with him in remembrance of "the ablest of all world-kings."
Pictures:
Uploaded and cited by Rebecca King
 |
| Marshall, Tyler. "Beowulf." Universal Truths. Unknown, 20 Oct. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. |
 |
| "Lessons in Manliness from Beowulf." The Art of Manliness. Unknown, 21 Sept. 2010. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. |
 |
| "Deviant Art." Beowulf vs. The Dragon by on DeviantArt. Unknown, 2006. Web. 08 Dec. 2014. |
Discussion Questions:
Written by Melinda Waldo, Rebecca King, Britta Fort, & Janay Pitts
1. Discuss the prologue. What does it describe? Why did the author think this was important?
- The prologue recounts the glory days of the Danes and begins with the genealogy of the Danish royal family. The text is highlighted with the "bitter tone" illustrating the idea that heroes have been replaced with cowards. The narration compares Scyld, a mighty king, to Hrothgar, a king with one enemy he cannot defeat.
2. Discuss the speech of the lone survivor who left the treasure that the dragon now watches over. Is it symbolic or foreshadowing of anything?
- The poet relates that many centuries earlier, as the last survivor of an ancient race, buried treasure that would be of no use to him because he was destined for the same death as his people. Beowulf is destined to die also and will not be able to enjoy the rich treasure he conquers.
3. Describe how Beowulf was an epic hero? What was his downfall?
- Beowulf was an epic hero because he showed bravery in the face of opposition, courage over fear and obedience to honor loyalty. He faced terror and met his goals without failing. The battle with the dragon was his undoing. A fatal bite from an enemy he could have vanquished in his youth.
4. Discuss the transitions that Beowulf goes through during the poem.
- The son of Ecgtheow, Beowulf's life if viewed in two phases, separated by fifty years. In the first phase of his life, Beowulf is young and victorious in his endeavors. He is a great warrior, undefeated, even by the demon, Grendel and his even more monstrous mother. These triumphs give him the reputation he was seeking for bravery and loyalty to his cause. The second phase of his life began with wise lessons on how to be a great ruler. This prepares him for ascension to the throne. This phase focuses more on the last part of Beowulf's life; his time in the throne and his encounter with the fire-breathing dragon, which ultimately led to his death.
5. Discuss Grendel's lineage? What other things does the audience know about Grendel that may not be apparent to the characters in the story?
- Grendel's lineage began with Cain, slayer of his brother, Able. Cain was cursed by God and sent to roam the earth till his death. By his lineage then, Grendel is an outcast, condemned by mankind. Grendel is bitter over the joy in the mead hall, Heorot. He is malignant by nature and, therefore, attacks the jovial drunkards by night just because they are celebrating.
6. Compare and contrast Beowulf's battle with Grendel to his battle with the dragon.
- When Beowulf fought Grendel, a debt was paid by him for his father's security and safety offered by Hrothgar a few years back. Beowulf is trying to gain a reputation. He wants fame and honor. He fought bare handed with no armor. His kinsmen and fellow warriors stood beside him against Grendel, although they were no real help. He was a young warrior with nothing to lose. When Beowulf fought the dragon, he was an old king, his glory days long passed. Beowulf fought the dragon to protect his own people after the dragon burned his hall to the ground. He fought the dragon with a full set of armor, a sword and a fireproof shield. The eleven thanes he brought to fight the dragon cowardly ran away from the scene, only Wiglaf stayed to help Beowulf. He was the only one that was not afraid.
7. Discuss how Beowulf becomes king of the Geats.
- Beowulf exhibits great loyalty and courage by offering to be protector over the true heir of the Geats. However, after the heir, Heardred, was killed in a war against the Shylfings , Beowulf ascends to the throne to rule over the Geats for fifty years.
8. Would Beowulf rather be a king or an epic hero?
- A hero is a savior, a sanctuary from harm. He stands up for a cause or for his people even when fate is against the odds. Beowulf enjoyed being a hero and recounting his adventures. As a king, he was just a monarch over a people.
9. Discuss different instances of gift giving in the poem. Why do you think kings were so generous to the warriors? What were the qualities of a good king?
- Many kings were measured by their generosity. Loyalty was rewarded and the king depended on it. Beowulf was a loyal warrior even if that meant death. Being a loyal person means giving of yourself; this also measured a great king.
10. What roles do women play in Beowulf?
- The women that appear in Beowulf are: Wealththeow, Hygd, Hilderburh, Freawaru, Thyrth and Grendel's mother. There are queens, Wealththeow and Hygd; queens becuase they are married to the king. They are expected to be hostesses in the mead hall and to always serve their king first. Grendel's mother's role was one of vengeance. Women did not have a large role in the Anglo-Saxon society.
Video:
Uploaded and cited by Melinda Waldo and Rebecca King
Wood, Michael. "In Search of Beowulf." YouTube. YouTube, 11 Oct. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
External
Links:
Found by
Janay Pitts, Edited by Rebecca King
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