1. Beowulf
Study Questions
Directions:
Type your answers using complete sentences. That is, transpose words from the question to
frame your answer.
Identify the lines from the poem that support your answer. Put these in parenthesis after each
answer.
Name all characters in the answer.
Skip a line between questions to leave room for corrections.
The goal is to end up with a coherent synopsis of the epic poem which will help you on the tests.
For example:
Question: Why does Beowulf fight Grendel?
Answer: Beowulf fights Grendel because…… (53-114)
NOT: He fights him because….
NOT: because he…..
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Prologue: 1-52
1. Why does Shild become king?
2. What do Shild’s warriors do when Shild dies?
Chapter 1: 53-114
3. Who is Hrothgar?
4. Why does Hrothgar build the Hall Herot?
5. Find an example of Christian religious detail that might have been added to the original pagan
epic.
Chapter 2: 115-188
6. What does Grendel do at Herot?
7. What does Grendel dare not touch? Why?
Chapter 3: 189-257
8. Why do Beowulf and the Geats sail across the sea to Hrothgar?
9. How does the Danish watchman describe Beowulf’s arrival as different from others?

2. Chapter 4: 258-319
10. Name Beowulf’s king and his father.
VOCABULARY:
Renown –
Dispense –
Anathena –
Lair –
Respite –
Malignant –
Blundering –
Wassail –
Aghast –
Parlay –
Heathen –
Riven (193) –
Omens –
Canny –
Prow –
Interloper –
Proffer (278) –
Respite (281) –
Undaunted –
Astride –
Gumption –
Preen –
Gallant (312) -
Chapter 5: 320-370
11. Why does the Danish warrior make Beowulf and his men wait?
VOCABULARY:
Stook (329) -
Chapter 6: 371-455
12. How does Hrothgar know Beowulf?
VOCABULARY:
Recompense (385) –

3. Wane –
Whetted –
Chapter 7: 456-498
13. Even though Hrothgar is not the oldest son, how did he get to be king?
VOCABULARY
Stalwart (494) -
Chapter 8: 499-558
14. Why doesn’t Unferth like Beowulf?
15. How does Beowulf defend himself against Unferth?
VOCABULARY
Brook (502) –
Filigree –
Swathed (555) –
Chapter 9: 559-661
16. Beowulf accuses Unferth of what crime?
17. *line607+ Why is Hrothgar called a “ring-giver”? (Notice that Shild was, too, in line 35. Hint: what
does the ring signify?)
18. Why does Hrothgar leave when the sun goes down?
VOCABULARY:
Slopped (566) –
Mizzle (596) –
Reprisal (602) –
Ward (658) –
Mettle (659) -
Chapter 10: 662-709
19. Why does Beowulf decide not to use his sword to fight Grendel?
VOCABULARY:
Loom (device -696) -

4. Chapter 11: 710-790
20. How does Grendel react when Beowulf grabs him? Why does he react this way?
VOCABULARY:
Lope (711) –
Bane (712) –
Baleful (726) –
Quailed (752) –
Monger (763) –
Manacled (788) –
Chapter 12: 790-836
21. What is hung from the rafters of Herot?
VOCABULARY:
Harrow –
Sinews (814) –
Fen -
Chapter 13: 837-924
22. Where has Grendel gone?
VOCABULARY:
Ignominious –
Wallow –
Mere –
Prowess (900) –
Redress (907) -
Chapter 14: 925-990
23. Who does Hrothgar thank first?
VOCABULARY:
Solace (932) –
Requite –
Hasp (975) -

5. Chapter 15: 991-1049
24. What six gifts does Hrothgar give to Beowulf?
VOCABULARY:
Throng (992) –
Unscathed (999) –
Chapter 16: 1050-1124
25. How does Hrothgar compensate for the one Geat who died?
VOCABULARY:
Waylaid (1075) –
Arbitrate (1107) –
Chapter 17: 1125-1191
26. What would you say is the moral of the story of Finn? (Hint: Think about why they tell this story
now, after Grendel’s defeat.)
VOCABULARY:
Hankered (1142) –
Boon (1173) -
Chapter 18: 1192-1250
27. What does Welthow ask of Beowulf?
VOCABULARY:
Resplendent (1194) –
Torque (1216) -
Chapter 19: 1251-1320
28. Who wants revenge for Grendel’s death?

6. VOCABULARY:
Fell (1262) –
Sallied (1278) –
Raze (1287) –
Depredations –
Scud –
Pale -
Chapter 20: 1321-1382
29. Why does it matter to Hrothgar that the monster has killed Esher?
Chapter 21: 1383-1472
30. How has Unferth’s attitude changed?
VOCABULARY:
Bulwark (1389) –
Plaited (1401) -
Dismal (1414) -
Chapter 22: 1472-1556
31. In what way is Beowulf’s battle here similar to his fight with Grendel?
Chapter 23: 1557-1650
32. In the underwater home of Grendel’s mother, what two things does Beowulf find?
VOCABULARY:
Fettle (1641) -
Chapter 24: 1651-1739
33. In what way was Hermod a bad king?
VOCABULARY:
Damascened –
Yore –
Venerable –
Caroused –
Pariah –
Bent –

7. Paltry –
Depredations –
Elated -
Chapter 25: 1740-1816
34. Here is some foreshadowing! What does Hrothgar want Beowulf to reject? What should
Beowulf choose instead?
VOCABULARY (1800 -2195):
Alacrity –
Depredations –
Reproach –
Peerless –
Loping –
Ensconced –
Regalia –
Vehement -
Chapter 26: 1817-1887
35. Before Beowulf returns home, what two things does he promise to Hrothgar?
Chapter 27: 1888-1962
36. What does Beowulf give to the boat’s watchman?
Chapter 28: 1963-2038
37. Why does Hrothgar plan to give his daughter Freaw in marriage to Ingeld?
Chapter 29: 2039-2092
38. What is Beowulf talking about in the second half of this chapter?
Chapter 30: 2093-2143
39. *line 2141+ Interpret the meaning of the metaphor when Beowulf says, “My death was not
written.”
VOCABULARY:
Virulent –
Reconnoiter -

8. Chapter 31: 2221-2311
40. How long has Beowulf been king when the dragon awakes?
Chapter 32: 2221-2311
41. Why is the dragon angry?
42. [lines 2249-2252+ Interpret the meaning of “War and terror have swept away my people, shut
their eyes.”
Chapter 33: 2312-2390 NO Question
Chapter 34: 2391-2459
43. [lines 2419-2425+ Interpret the meaning of “Beowulf’s heart was heavy….Body and soul might
part here.”
Chapter 35: 2460-2601
44. What is Beowulf’s boast?
VOCABULARY:
Suppurating –
Chapter 36: 2604-2693
45. Who is the only one of Beowulf’s comrades that does not run?
Chapter 37: 2694-2751
46. What causes Beowulf’s death?
Chapter 38: 2752-2820
47. What does Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do?
Chapter 39: 2821-2891
48. Wiglaf accuses the other men of failing in what way?
VOCABULARY:
Litany –
Abasement –
Extol -

9. Chapter 40: 2892-2945
49. According to Wiglaf’s messenger, how will things change now that Beowulf is dead?
Chapter 41: 2946-3057
50. How do Beowulf’s men feel now, after having heard the messenger’s warning?
Chapter 42: 3058-3136
51. Why does Wiglaf order the treasures to be destroyed?
Chapter 43: 3137-3182
52. Look back at Hrothgar’s advice to Beowulf in chapter 25 *1761-1768]. What would you say is
Beowulf'