Beowulf Questions

Beowulf Questions Group Members: Michelle Arriaga, Katelyn Porraz, Socorro Ramirez, Ruth Sierra, Rocio Reyes, Lizbeth Estrada

[Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation] (Lines 1-85, pp. 33-34)

1. Realize that this prologue introduces the Danes, not Beowulf or his people the Geats. What was unusual about the way Shield came to be ruler of the Danes? What was his funeral like? What relation is Hrothgar to Shield?

A: Shield became king because he had the power to take defeat his enemies. Hrothgar was king thanks to his wealth. When Shield died the Danes buried him and his treasures in the sea. Shield was Hrothgar's grandfather. 

[Heorot is Attacked] (lines 86-188, pp. 34-36)

1. What magnificent work did Hrothgar undertake? Who attacked it, and with what result? How long did the attacks last? What was the response of the Danes?

A: Grendel attacked thirty men while they found themselves resting and kidnapped them. This upset the Danes and their anger spread overseas.

[The Hero Comes to Heorot] (Lines 189-490, pp. 36-42)

1. What does Beowulf do when he hears of Hrothgar's problems with Grendel?

A: When Beowulf hears of Hrothgar's problems with Grendel, he immediately rounded up a boat and his bravest men to go and help the people of Heorot. (Denmark)

2. Whom do the Geats first meet when they arrive in Denmark? What does he do, and what do they do?

A: When the Geats first arrive in Denmark, the meet Hrothgar’s lieutenant who was patrolling along the cliffs. The Geats were questioned and warned about no one passing without permission.. They replied they were there to save the Danes from Grendel.

3. They next meet Hrothgar's herald. Who is he? What does he tell them? What does he tell Hrothgar? What does Hrothgar respond? Are you surprised that Hrothgar knows Beowulf so well?

A: Hrothgar's herald interrogates the Geats about where they've come from and what they were doing. He's impressed by their appearance. Hrothgar is thankful of the men that had come to help even though he did not know them.

4. What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar when he enters? What did Hrothgar do for Beowulf's father?

A: Beowulf tells Hrothgar that his men follow Higelac. Hrothgar knew Beowulf’s father due to his fame as a soldier. 

[Feast at Heorot] (Lines 491-661, pp. 42-46)

1. What does Unferth accuse Beowulf of? How does Beowulf answer him? How is this episode relevant to the poem as a whole? What does Beowulf accuse Unferth of?

A: Unferth accuses Beowulf of losing a swimming match and now must defeat Grendel. Beowulf retaliates by accusing Unferth of drunkenness and describes what happen in the swimming match. Its relevance is seen in that  Unferth may be right. Beowulf would have lost again if it wasn’t for Wiglaf.

2. What is Queen Wealhtheow doing during the feasting?

A: At the feast she offers the men drinkst. She distributes food and drink. She also shows a wanting of peace. 

[The Fight with Grendel] (Lines 662-835, pp. 46-49)

1. Heroic poetry normally has a scene in which the hero arms for battle. What is different about Beowulf's preparations for his fight with Grendel?

A: Beowulf prepares himself differently. He is very prompt in his preparation. He want to rid  himself of the monster as soon as possible. He was prepared to fight without a sword.

2. What happens when Grendel enters Heorot? How does Beowulf fight with him? What happens when Grendel tries to leave? Does Grendel escape? What does he leave behind?

A: He was angry while searching for the warriors until he found them and killed one Geat. While fighting the monster, Beowulf uses his bare hands. Grendel escapes leaving one arm behind. 

[Celebration at Heorot] (lines 836-1250, pp. 49-60)


1.When the Danes and Geats return from following Grendel's tracks to the mere, someone sings in Beowulf's presence, comparing him to Sigemund and saying that he was not like Heremod (lines 883-914). How is Beowulf like Sigemund? How is he not like Heremod? (Be alert for inserted stories such as this one. Beowulf contains many of them, most much more complex that this one.)

A: Beowulf is like Sigemund because he also killed many monsters and was considered a great hero. Heremod didn't protect his people though. 

2.How does Hrothgar respond to Beowulf's deed? What does he offer to do for him? What does Unferth have to say now?

A: He delivers a speech in which he thanks Beowulf for killing Grendel. He claims to now love Beowulf like a son and gives him glory. Unferth stayed silent as everyone saw the proof of Beowulf's power.

3.The singer sings of Finn during the feasting (lines 1070-1158). The exact details of the Finn story are not clear, but in general, what happens? What does it suggest about the wisdom of using a woman as bride to heal enmity between tribes?

A: It mentions someone getting slaughtered so he was killed. It also states 'her land' in the poem so they use women as a way of sharing land or taking it over.

4.When the feasting resumes, what does Wealhtheow ask Hrothgar not to do?

5.Wealhtheow gives Beowulf a necklace. What later happens to it? What does Wealhtheow ask Beowulf to do?

A: Beowulf gives the necklace to his uncle Hygelac, who wore it in battle. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to be good to her sons and respectful to their king.

6.Why do so many men remain in the beer hall to sleep? Why is it a mistake?

A:  They are there to guard and protect in case of danger. It's a mistake because Grendel's Mother comes for revenge and takes one of the men as well as Grendel's arm.

BEOWULF AND GRENDEL'S MOTHER (lines 1251-2199, pp. 60-79)

[Another Attack] (lines 1251-1382, pp. 60-62)

1.Why has Grendel's mother come to Heorot? Is it the same reason Grendel had?

A: Grendel’s mother comes to Heorot for revenge and takes Grendel's arm .

2. What is Hrothgar's response? Whom has Grendel's mother killed?

A: Hrothgar was thankful that the Danes grief ended and the arm hanging was proof of victory. He hoped that Beowulf could stop Grendel’s mother from destructing Heorot again. Grendel’s mother killed Hrothgar’s closest friend

3.What sort of place is the mere?

A: The mere was under water. It was muddy and dark.

[Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother] (Lines 1383-1650, pp. 63-68)

1. How does Beowulf tell Hrothgar to respond?

A: Beowulf agrees to fight again for the Danes. He feels it is an honor and the last battle gave him confidence.

2. What happens at the mere before Beowulf enters it?

A: Before Beowulf enters the mere, he sinks for hours into the water.

3. How does Beowulf prepare for the battle? What sword does he take with him?

A:Beowulf prepared for battle by telling Hrothgar to look after his men were he to die. Beowulf took his ring-marked blade.

4. What happens when Beowulf enters the mere? What is surprising about where Grendel and his mother live in the mere?

A: When he finally lands, Grendel’s mother grabs him, but his armor protects him. It is not surprising that the monsters reside in a dark place but it is strange that it takes half a day to get down there.

5. What happens to the sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth?

A: Beowulf strikes at Grendel’s mother with the borrowed sword, but the blade has no effect and breaks

6. At one point Beowulf is on the floor, with Grendel's mother sitting on him and drawing her knife. How does Beowulf escape?

A: Beowulf escapes Grendel’s mother by having the strength and faith to defeat her and using his strength to get off the ground.

7. How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother? What weapon does he use? What happens when she dies? What does Beowulf take with him from her home? What happens to the sword he used to kill her?

A: Beowulf drew a sword he had  seen hanging on her wall to cut right through her neck. After her death the light shone very bright. Beowulf beheaded Grendel's mother. He took the head with him and what was left of the sword.

8. What happens when Beowulf returns to the surface? Did his men expect him to return?

A:When Beowulf returns from the surface nobody is there. They all thought Grendel’s mother had killed him.

[Further Celebration at Heorot](lines 1651-1798, pp68-710

1. What does Beowulf give Hrothgar?

A: The sword of the giants which he used in the battle against the beasts.

2.What message does Hrothgar have for Beowulf? What and why does he tell us about Heremod? Why and how did Heremod die? What lesson does Hrothgar teach with the Heremod example?

A: He tells Beowulf to seek virtue since Hermond had become too proud. He died because he didn't see the signs the Gods were giving him. His lesson teaches not to be to prideful because it result in failure.

3.What does Beowulf give to Unferth as he leaves?

A: He gives him his sword.

[Beowulf Returns Home]lines 1799-2199, pp71-79)

1. What future does Hrothgar predict for Beowulf?

A: A good future since he is strong and bold.

2. Who is Hygd and why is she not like like Modthryth?

A: Hygd is Hygelac's wife. She isn't like Modthryth because Modthryth would have any man killed for looking at her directly.  

3.Beowulf reports to Hygelac that Hrothgar may marry his daughter Freawaru to Ingeld. Why does he plan to do that? What does Beowulf expect the result will be? (Remember the Finn story, lines 1070-1158.) How does Beowulf think the peace will be broken? Is this the type of report we expected from the hero Beowulf, or are we seeing a new side of him?

A: He expects wedding to go bad since there is a possibility that someone might remember the old feud and start the violence again. Something like was prone to happen since Beowulf has seen and been through a lot. The fact that he's gained knowledge about others and their ways doesn't surprise this comment coming from him.

4. How does Beowulf report about his own adventures? Does he report accurately?

A: It seems accurate. Maybe he exaggerates at times but that's only because the story is being repeated and not everything is going to be exact. 

5. What does Beowulf do with the treasure he was given? What does Hygelac give him?

A: Beowulf offers his treasure to his lord as a form of respect, but also gives other treasures away to other people. Hygelac gives the most glorious sword of the Geats to Beowulf, some land and a house. 

BEOWULF AND THE DRAGON (lines 2200-3182, pp. 79-99)

[The Dragon Wakes] (lines 2200-2509, pp. 79-86)

1.How much later does Part 2 take place? What kings have died in the meanwhile? What danger now exists?

A: It was fifty years later and King Hygelac and King Heardred died. A dragon now causes danger among Beowulf's land. 

2.Why is the dragon angry? Why did the man take a cup? How did the treasure come to be there in the first place? (The speech of the lone survivor, the one who put the gold in the barrow, is in a typically Old English elegiac tone.

A: The dragon is angry because someone stole its treasure though the man only took the cup because he was surprised by the dragon and ran. The treasure was left there by an ancient lord who had it all except the treasure itself.

3. What did the dragon destroy that evening?

A: He destroyed everything inside and he searched for the thief.

4. Why does Beowulf think his home was burnt? Why does he order a new shield? How will he fight this battle? What will happen to him?

A: Beowulf thinks that the Gods were punishing him for something he had done wrong. He orders a new shield because he has decided to go up against the dragon but fight with only a few men by his side.

5. How did Hygelac die? (The description in lines 2354-2379 begins one of several versions of Geatish history and Hygelac's death we will get.) What did Beowulf do after Hygelac's death? What happened when he returned home? Did he accept Hygd's offer to become king?

A: Hygelac died going up against a monster and after Beowulf swam through the sea wearing 30 sets of armour. Queen Hygd offered beowulf to become king but instead he offered Heardred.

6. What happened to Hygelac's son Heardred? (That's the story in lines 2380-2390.) How did Beowulf plan to revenge Heardred's death (lines 2391-2396)?

A: Herald was killed in battle after the Sweds came looking for the exiles, but he avenged Heardred by killing Onela.

7. How many men accompany Beowulf as he goes to meet the dragon?

A: Fourteen of Beowulf’s bravest men accompany him to fight the dragon.

 8.What happened to Hygelac's oldest brother Herebeald? Who killed him? What did this do to his father King Hrethel? (This passage, lines 2425-2509, is the second account of Geatish history and of the death of Hygelac.) What happened between the Swedes and Geats after Hrethel's death? What happened to Haethcyn? How die Beowulf revenge Hygelac's death?

A: His brother, Heathcyn, accidently killed Herebeald with an arrow which was a bad scene for their father since he couldn't avenge the death. Then many wars started between the Swedes and Geats and Haethcyn was killed in combat. Beowulf fought by his side and was always in the front. 

[Beowulf Attacks the Dragon] (Lines 2510-2820, pp. 86-92)

1. What does Beowulf tell his companions to do?

A: Beowulf tells his companions to stay on top of the barrow in safety where they could watch the fight instead of actually fighting. 

2. What happens the first time Beowulf and the dragon fight? What do his companions do? How is Wiglaf different? What does he tell the others? What does he then do?

A: The first time Beowulf fights the dragon his “brave” companions flee the scene. With the exception of Wiglaf. They went for help afterwards.

3. What happens the second time Beowulf meets the dragon? What happens to Beowulf? Who kills the dragon?

A: Beowulf’s sword fails and this frightens him. The dragon hits Beowulf with more fire. Beowulf took the final swing but both men, Beowulf and Wiglaf, killed the dragon.

4. What does the dying Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do? What happens when Beowulf sees the gold? How does Beowulf want to be buried?

A: Beowulf asks Wiglaf to get him the treasure so he may see it. Then Beowulf thanks God for getting rid of the dragon. He asks to be burned at the coastal headland and it be known as Beowulf’s Barrow.

[Beowulf's Funeral] (Lines 2821-3182, pp. 92-99)

1. What happens when the companions return? What does Wiglaf say to him? What does he expect will happen in the future?

A: Wiglaf tells them that they will now lead a shameful life. It would have been better if they had died.

2. What does the messenger tell the city? (This passage, lines 2900-3027, is the third account of the history of the Geats and the death of Hygelac. These are the enemies that will attack the Geats when they learn of Beowulf's death.) What happened overnight in Ravenswood after Ongentheow killed Haethcyn? What happened the next morning? What happened to Ongentheow? What does the messenger say to do with the gold? What is the final image (animal) of the messenger's speech?

A: The messagenger tells the city that Beowulf has been killed alongside the dragon that lay dead as well. He says chaos will emerge from this and enemies will take advantage of their loss. Onegentheow's men surroundthe Geats but then morning came and Hyglac's men saved their kinsmen. Ongentheow was killed in battle and the men decided to burn all the treasures with Beowulf's body. The final image of the speech was a wolf.

3. What does Wiglaf tell the crowd that comes to see the dragon and Beowulf?

A: To build a memorial mound for Beowulf since he knew what he was getting himslef into but that didn't stop him from trying. 

4. What happens to the dragon?

A: The body was pushed of the cliff and it sunk into the sea.

5. What happens during and after the funeral celebration?

A: During the funeral, Beowulf's body collapsed into the fire. They then build a mound and buried the treasure within the mound, praising their lord by singing.

6. What did the Geats say about Beowulf in the last three lines of the poem? Are these the terms one would expect to be used to describe a military hero?

A: They mention his passing and how he excelled in his rule. You're supposed to praise him through demonstrations of respect. They praised Beowulf through emotions and said he was a loving king. One of the best.