The Wrath of Grendel, The Coming of Beowulf

Read "The Wrath of Grendel" on pgs. 40 - 43 and answer the following questions:

• 1. What two contrasting images does the author offer at the beginning of the passage?

  2. What are the soldiers singing about in the mead hall and what does this say about them?

  3. What is Grendel's genealogy?

  4. How many are killed in Grendel's first attack?

  5. How does news of Herot's downfall travel?

  6. What object is safe from Grendel's wrath and why?

  7. How does Hrothgar deal with the situation?

  8. Cite evidence from the text that supports the dual existence of Christianity and paganism in this society.

Read "The Coming of Beowulf" and do the exercises below:

A. Answer the questions below:

• 1. What is the mood in Herot before Beowulf arrives?

  2. What is the name of Beouwulf's leader?

  3. What is the name of his people?

  4. What does Beowulf do when he hears of Herot's Grendel's attacks? What does this say about him?

  5. Why might the Danish guard be concerned when he spots Beowulf's ship?

  6. How does the author use indirect characterization to describe Beowulf's appearance?

  7. Who is Beowulf's father? How does Beowulf describe him?

  8. How can we infer that genealogy is important to this society?

  9. What does the Danish officer mean when tells Beowulf that " a soldier should know the difference between words and deeds (lines 200-212)"?

  10. How does the author use imagery to describe Herot?

  11. What evidence of his prowess as a soldier does Beowulf present to Hrothgar when they meet?

  12. What does Beowulf ask Hrothgar to do in the event that Beowulf loses the battle with Grendel?