Beowulf Questions
[Prologue: The Rise of the
Danish Nation] (lines 1-85, pp. 33-34)
1. The way Shield became
ruler of the Danes was unusual because he was an orphan that was adopted by the
king of the Danes. Shield’s funeral was one of the most magnificent and
noteworthy for a king because he was laid to rest on a ship covered in gold and
treasure. Shield is Hrothgar’s great grandfather.
[Heorot is Attacked] (lines
86-188, pp. 34-36)
1. Hrothgar undertook the
responsibility to construct Heorot, it was a mead-hall, the greatest the world
had ever seen. Grendel attacked the Heorot everynight for 12 years killing many
men which brought sorrow to Hrothgar and the Danes. The Danes lost hope in God
and went to temples, idols, and even tried praying to the Devil to rid Grendel
from their land.
[The Hero Comes to Heorot]
(lines 189-490, pp. 36-42)
1. When Beowulf learned of
Grendel he gathered soldiers and set sail for the Danish nation that Grendel
terrorized.
2. When the Geats first
arrive in Denmark they encounter the sea-guard of the Danes. The sea-guard
warns the Geats not to raid the Danes, however, Beowulf informs the guard that
he has come to help Hrothgar slay Grendel.
3. Hrothgar’s messenger is
named Wulfgar and he tells Beowulf and his men that he has never seen braver
strangers as them. Wulfgar tells Hrothgar to exchange words with Beowulf because
of his flabbergasting bravery and stature. Hrothgar tells Wulfgar to bring
Beowulf to him so that they may discuss about Grendel. I am surprised Hrothgar
knows so much about Beowulf.
4. Beowulf tells Hrothgar
that he will slay Grendel if Hrothgar in return provides shelter and food to
his men during his time in Denmark. Hrothgar paid off Beowulf’s father’s feuds
and now Beowulf has returned to repay an old favor.
[Feast at Heorot] (lines
491-661, pp. 42-46)
1. Unferth accuses Beowulf of
vanity and losing to Breca in a contest. Beowulf explains that he was busy
killing nine sea monsters, and declares his strength. Then he accuses Unferth
of being responsible for the death on his family. This does indeed show
Beowulf's arrogance and will to prove himself to others.
2. During the feast Queen
Wealhtheow greeted everyone including Beowulf, and she thanked god he had come.
[The Fight with Grendel]
(lines 662-835, pp. 46-49)
1. Instead of arming for
battle Beowulf disarms for battle, removing his armor and putting away his
sword.
2. Grendel kills a man
grotesquely when he enters the room then goes after Beowulf. Beowulf grabs
Grendel and Grendel thrashes around trying to break free. Beowulf tore off
Grendel's arm as he tried to escape. He does escape, but loses his arm, a fatal
wound.
[Celebration at Heorot]
(lines 836-1250, pp. 49-60)
1. Beowulf is like Sigemund
because he is a hero who saved others from a monster and he's not like Heremod
because Heremod was a selfish king who never protected his people, unlike
Beowulf.
2. Hrothgar considers Beowulf
as a son, and gives him a sword, a shield, a golden set of armor, and a helmet.
Unferth has nothing more to say as Beowulf is clearly a hero.
3. Finn's (leader of the
Frisians) step brother (leader of the Scyldings) dies in battle, and his second
in command makes truce in the war with the Frisians. With the truce the
Scyldings stayed with Finn over winter, eventually killing him and leaving back
with his sister Hildeburh. Using a woman to heal relations is not a good idea.
4. Wealhtheow asks Hrothgar
not to give the throne to Beowulf.
5. The necklace Beowulf is
given, Beowulf eventually gives to his uncle Hygelac. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf
to look after and care for her sons.
6. So many men remain in the
beer hall because they don't know the danger to come, that Grendel's mother is
soon coming to find revenge.
[Another Attack] (lines
1251-1382, pp. 60-62)
1. Grendel's mother has come
to Heorot because she is angry about the death of her son. It is not for the
same reason that Grendel had, she has come in anger and vengeance for her son.
2. Hrothgar is in great
sorrow after Grendel's mother takes the kings advisor and close friend,
Aeschere. Hrothgar offers Beowulf chests of gold and riches to slay the evil
monster and free them yet again from evil.
3. The mere is like a lake, except it has water
that boils and is full of sea serpents and dragons. No man has ever reached the
bottom of the mere and very few have ever gone near it. It is where Grendel and
his mother have their den.
[Beowulf Fights Grendel's
Mother] (lines 1383-1650, pp. 63-68)
1. Beowulf tells Hrothgar to
respond to Grendel's mother by sending Beowulf and his men to slay her so that
they can be free from the demons.
2. Before Beowulf enters the mere, he shoots one of the
serpents with an arrow that lives within the dark waters of the mere.
3. Beowulf prepares for battle by dressing in “noble
garments”. Unferth gives Beowulf the
sword popularly known as Hrunting. It is
a sword which has failed no man in battle.
4. When Beowulf enters the mere he spends the majority of the
day swimming to the bottom. When he
finally reaches the bed of the mere, Grendel’s mother feels Beowulf’s presence
and grabs him. Grendel’s mother lives in
a cave at the bottom of the mere which is engulfed with the blood and gore of
humans that the giants have killed.
5. The sword that Beowulf borrowed from Unferth becomes useless
when trying to penetrate the skin of Grendel’s mother.
6. Grendel’s mother cannot penetrate the armor of Beowulf which
allows Beowulf enough time to escape from yet another blow of her knife.
7. Beowulf kills Grendel’s mother by slicing at her neck with a
sword made for giants. When Grendel’s
mother dies a light appears guiding Beowulf out of the cave. Yet before he leaves he cuts off the head of
Grendel’s body, and brings it to the surface.
The blood of Grendel melts the sword he used to kill Grendel’s
mother. The hilt of the sword is still
intact however so he brings it to the surface along with Grendel’s head.
8. He finds his small group of Geats awaiting his return. His men did not expect him to return.
[Further Celebration at
Heorot] (lines 1651-1798, pp. 68-71)
1. Beowulf gives to Hrothgar the head of
Grendel and the sword hilt he used to kill Grendel’s mother.
2. Hrothgar tells Beowulf that he will provide protection for
him and that Beowulf must be good to his people. Hrothgar tells us that Heremod was a terrible
king who searched only for death and destruction. He tells us this so that Beowulf understands
how to be a just and fair leader.
Heremod dies alone because of the pain he beset on his people. Hrothgar teaches us the example of how to
lead when given an overwhelming source of power.
3. Unferth receives the sword he let Beowulf borrow when trying
the kill Grendel’s mother.
[Beowulf Returns Home] (lines 1799-2199, pp. 71-79)
1. He will be the king of Geats,
receive many treasures, and make peace with other nations. It’s a very hopeful
future.
2. Hygd is very young and beautiful.
She is wise while Modthryth is very evil and merciless.
3. He wants to end the feud between the
Danes and Ingeld. Ingled will devoice the daughter and attack Hrothgar. An old
warrior will convince Ingeld to fight. No because hero’s are supposed to be
always act with honor.
4. He reports his adventures in a very
exaggerated way. He’s honest about the story but he explains it in a way that
builds himself up more. It’s not that expected because he’s supposed to a noble
hero but he is concerned about glory so it makes sense.
5. Beowulf gives most of his treasure
to Hygelac and Hygd and in return Hygd gives him treasure and land for himself.
[The Dragon Wakes] (lines
2200-2509, pp. 79-86)
1. Part 2 takes place forty
winters (forty years) later. Hygelac has died and there is now a dragon.
2. Thief has stolen his gold
(cup). The man was poor and hungry. It was left there by a man from an ancient
race who realized he like his ancestors would die and therefore buried the
treasure.
3. The dragon just rampaged
through the land trying to find the thief and destroys his throne hall.
4. He believes he has angered
God. He makes a new shield to fight the dragon. He will fight it alone. He will
die.
5. He dies against the
Frisians. Beowulf was able to get away but he mourned for his death. He was
offered the thrown. He did not out of respect for Hygelac.
6. Heardred is killed while fighting
the Swedes. Beowulf avenges him by
killing Onela, the Swedish king.7.
Beowulf brings eleven men (he is “one of twelve”) with him to meet the
dragon.
8. Hygelac’s oldest brother Herebeald
was killed by a relative (Haethcyn). An
arrow missed its target and him Herebeald, killing him. King Hrethel was devastated. There is a lengthy portion detailing his
lamentations. War breaks out between the
Swedes and the Geats. Beowulf avenges
Hygelac’s death by defeating Daeghrefn in front of “the legions”.
[Beowulf Attacks the Dragon] (lines 2510-2820,
pp. 86-92)
1.
Beowulf tells his companions to wait back while he fights the
dragon. He reasons that he is the only
one among them that has any hope of killing it.
2.
The first time Beowulf faces the dragon, his shield, helmet, and sword
fail him, and he is wounded. His
companions all flee the dragon, except for Wiglaf, who stays to help. He tells the others that Beowulf chose them
as his companions because he believed them to be great warriors, and that they
should not abandon him now in his time of need.
He rushes in to aid Beowulf.
3. The second time Beowulf meets the
dragon, the dragon bites him on the neck—leaving a mortal wound. Wiglaf ultimately impales the dragon.
4.
Beowulf tells Wiglaf to bring the dragon’s treasure to him. Beowulf thanks God for the treasure. Beowulf wants to be buried in tower on a high
cliff by the water. He wants sailors to
see the tower and remember his name.
[Beowulf's Funeral] (lines
2821-3182, pp. 92-99)
1. The warriors see Wiglaf trying to
reviveBeowulf. Wiglaf gets mad at them for leaving Beowolf. Wiglaf expects the
Geats to be attacked and their nation destroyed.
2. The messenger announces that Beowulf
is dead. Ongentheow and his men make fun
of the Geats. Hygelac comes to the Geats with reinforcements. Ongentheow retreated once he saw more men.
Ongentheow was cornered by Hygelacand was killed. The messenger says that the
treasure is cursed. Beowulf can’t be cursed because he had never been greedy.
The final image is of a dragon.
3. Wiglaf tells the crowd how great
Beowulf was at fighting.
4. The dragon was pushed off the edge
of the cliff into the ocean because it was evil.
5. The Geats mourned and sung and
everyone was sad during the ten day burial.
6. The Geats say that Beowulf was a
kind man. It is not something you would usually call a war hero who is killing
a lot of people.
No comments:
Post a Comment