[Prologue: The Rise of the Danish Nation] (lines 1-85, pp. 33-34) (MEGHAN)
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?
-Shield was first an orphan that ascended to king status. His funeral was very grand, for he was put out in a boat with a lot of treasure as his tomb. Shield is actually an ancestor to Hrothgar.
[Heorot is Attacked] (lines 86-188, pp. 34-36) (MEGHAN)
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?
-Hrothgar decided to build a magnificent mead-hall, but caught the attention of Grendel, a demon ascended from Cain, who attacked the hall, killing 30 men in the first night alone. The attacks lasted for 12 years, and put Denmark and the King in a state of depression.
[The Hero Comes to Heorot] (lines 189-490, pp. 36-42) (MEGHAN)
1. What does Beowulf do when he hears of Hrothgar's problems with Grendel?
-Beowulf decided to come to Denmark and help Hrothgar defeat Grendel, and selects 14 of his bravest men to accommodate him.
2. Whom do the Geats first meet when they arrive in Denmark? What does he do, and what do they do?
- The Geats first meet a Danish guard, who asks them who they are and what they are arrived to do, while shaking his spear. Beowulf responds that they are the Geats, and have came to help Hrothgar defeat the monster 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?
-Hrothgar's herald is Wulfgar, who is known for his great wisdom. He tells Hrothgar about Beowulf's mission, and Hrothgar comments on how well he knew Beowulf's father, and how he remembers him as a child. I'm not too surprised that Hrothgar has a connection with Beowulf because it makes more sense now that Beowulf would come to help him.
4.What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar when he enters? What did Hrothgar do for Beowulf's father?
-Beowulf tells Hrothgar of his past glories and offers to fight Grendel without weapons. Hrothgar mended a feud between Beowulf's father and the Wulfing tribe.
[Feast at Heorot] (lines 491-661, pp. 42-46) (MEGHAN)
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?
-Unferth accuses Beowulf of losing a swimming match to Breca, but Beowulf counters with his own version of the story, and accuses Unferth of drunkenness. This episode shwos truly how confident and likable Beowulf is, and how people tend to believe in him.
2. What is Queen Wealhtheow doing during the feasting?
During the feasting, the Queen brings around a goblet and makes a toast thanking God for bringing Beowulf to defeat Grendel, then sits next to Beowulf.
[The Fight with Grendel] (lines 662-835, pp. 46-49) (MEGHAN)
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?
- Beowulf plans on not using weapons to fight Grendel.
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?
-When Grendel enters Herot he kills one man and tries to swipe at Beowulf but gets his claws caught by Beowulf's string hands. Grendel tries to escape but his arm comes clean off due to the strength of Beowulf's hold on him so he escapes but is fatally wounded.
[Celebration at Heorot] (lines 836-1250, pp. 49-60) (TAYLOR)
1. Beowulf is like Sigemond in that he loves displaying his courage and valor through warring battles. However, he is unlike Sigemond in that he would rather go into battle alone and rely on his own strength, than to do well commanding others and being a leader.
2. Hrothgar is esctatic about Beowulf's deed, and celebrates his victory by awarding him many gifts. Among those gifts is a sword. Unferth is rather quiet after Beowulf succeeded, because he was proven wrong.
3. In the story of Finn the Frisians and the Danes are at war, and until Hildeburgh, a Dane, married Finn, Lord of the Frisians. This idea of using a bride as a way to heal two warring states was proved ineffective, because Hildeburgh's brother was killed when visiting her and Finn was later killed out of vengeance.
4. Wealtheow asks Hrothgar to not give Beowulf the throne, but instead to keep the throne in the bloodline.
5. Beowulf gives the necklace to Hygelac, who later wears it in the battle in which he dies. Wealtheow asks Beowulf to guide and protect her children.
6. So many men remain in the beer hall to sleep because, now that Grendel is dead, they think it is completely safe. This is a mistake because Grendel's vengeful mother comes in the night and takes one of Hrothgar's men and her son's arm.
BEOWULF AND GRENDEL'S MOTHER (lines 1251-2199, pp. 60-79)
Another Attack (TAYLOR)
1. Grendel's mother comes to Heorot to get revenge for her son's death. This is different than Grendel's reason for tormenting the hall. Grendel just enjoyed the thrill of killing the men and stopping their constant celebrations.
2. Hrothgar's response is to ask Beowulf to kill Grendel's mother. Grendel's mother had killed Aeschere who was Hrothgar's close friend and advisor.
3. The mere is a strange swampy lake, where Grendel and his mother live in an underwater cave.
Beowulf Fights Grendel’s Mother (lines 1383-1650, pg.63-68) (HANNAH)
3 In preparation for his battle with Grendel’s mother, Beowulf dresses in his new armor he was given by Hrothgar. Beowulf brings with him a sword borrowed from Unferth.
4. When Beowulf enters the mere Grendel’s mother reaches out and pulls him under with her claws. She pulls him far enough down so that other sea monsters will not interfere with their fight.
5. When Beowulf uses the sword it is unable to cut Grendel’s mother and she remains unscathed.
6. Beowulf is protected from Grendel’s Mother largely due to his armor. To combat her attacks he uses his bare hands to break free.
7. In battle, Beowulf sees the sword of Eoten’s and uses it to slay Grendel’s mother. He then proceeds to cut off her head and a bring it back with him. The sword is melted because of the monster’s blood.
8. The men had been mourning before Beowulf returned because they thought he had failed below. The men rejoiced at the sight of their hero.
Further Celebration at Heorot (lines 1651-1798, pg. 68-71) (HANNAH)
1. Beowulf gives Hrothgar the hilt of his sword as a symbol of his victory.
2. Hrothgar praises Beowulf but tells him that in order to be successful he needs to be a fair ruler and give wealth to the worthy. He tells the story of Heremod who was a cruel ruler who soon lost the support of his followers. The king was murdered by his people. Hrothgar urges Beowulf to not follow in his footsteps.
3. Beowulf returns Unfeth’s sword, Hrunting.
Beowulf Returns Home] (lines 1799-2199, pp. 71-79) ZACH
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?
- Beowulf plans to do this because he wants Hygelac to be aware that Ingeld and Dane may turn against Geat. Beowulf expects the result to be bad because he thinks the peace will be broken by someone bringing up the old violence and feud. Over time with everything he has been through, Beowulf has become focused, confident, and gained courage.
4.How does Beowulf report about his own adventures? Does he report accurately?
- Beowulf reports that his adventures are accurate for the most part, but at times he exaggerates a little.
5.What does Beowulf do with the treasure he was given? What does Hygelac give him?
- Beowulf, out of respect, gives the treasure to Hygelac. In return Hgelac gives him a jeweled sword, 7000 hides, land, a hall, and a throne.
[The Dragon Wakes] (lines 2200-2509, pp. 79-86) ZACH
1.How much later does Part 2 take place? What kings have died in the meanwhile? What danger now exists?- Part 2 takes place 50 years later. The kings that have died in the meanwhile are Hygelac and Heardred. Danger now exists and it is a dragon.
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 dragon is angry because a thief stole a goblet from the treasure trove the dragon was guarding. The treasure got there because an ancient race that was doomed to perish began to bury their treasures there, and the dragon found it.
3.What did the dragon destroy that evening?
- The dragon came out to attack Geat people and destroyed their properties.
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?
- He thinks his house got burnt because he did something that displeased the gods. He orders a new shield that cannot be burned by the dragon. He ends up fighting the battle without a sword or shield, but he is bringing men with him. He is confident about this battle.
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?
- Hygelac died in Friesland during a battle by a Frankish king. Beowulf killed the Frankish king because he killed Hygelac. When Beowulf returned home Hygd offered him to be king, but he refused out of respect for his younger cousin.
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)
- He was killed in battle against the Swedes. He helps Eagils kill Onela, the Swedish king.
7.How many men accompany Beowulf as he goes to meet the dragon?
- Twelve men including himself went with him to meet the dragon.
8.What happened to Hygelac's oldest brother Herebeald? Who killed him? What did this do to his father King Hrethel? What happened between the Swedes and Geats after Hrethel's death? What happened to Haethcyn? How did Beowulf revenge Hygelac's death?
- Herebeald was killed by accident by the Haethcyn with an arrow. His father died for grief over his sons death. Battles broke out between the Swedish and Geats after Herebeald's death. Haethcynwas killed during battle. Beowulf got his revenge for Hygelac's death by killing Dayraven, a Frankish warrior.
Beowolf Attacks the Dragon (BAILEY)
1. What did Beowolf tell his companions to do?
- Beowolf told them to stay back, and let him kill the dragon.
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?
-The first time Beowolf and the dragon fight, Beowolf gets hurt. All of his companions fled except for Wiglaf. He is different because he actually kept the promise they had all made by being brave when their leader needed them, and he tells the others this. He then helps Beowolf defeat the dragon.
3.What happens the second time Beowulf meets the dragon? What happens to Beowulf? Who kills the dragon?
-The dragon bites Beowolf's neck, and he dies. Wiglaf kills 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?
-Beowolf asks Wiglaf to go into the cave and see what treasure he earned. When he sees the gold, he gives his golden necklace, his helmet, rings etc. to Wiglaf. He asks to be buried right where the dragon was killed.
Beowolf's Funeral (BAILEY)
1.What happens when the companions return? What does Wiglaf say to him? What does he expect will happen in the future?
-Wiglaf is angry at them for not helping in a time of need. He believes that the Geats will get destroyed.
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?
- The messenger announces the news of Beowolf's death. The messenger states that the treasure was cursed, and that Beowolf was never greedy. The last image is of the Dragon.
3. What does Wiglaf tell the crowd that comes to see the dragon and Beowulf?
-Wiglaf tells the crowd about Beowolf's incredible fighting skills.
4.What happens to the dragon?
- They pushed the dragon over the cliff, thinking that it didn't deserve to be buried.
5.What happens during and after the funeral celebration?
-The crowd celebrates Beowolf's accomplishments, but are also very sad about his death.
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?
-They said that no better king had lived who is deserving of praise. Yes, because military heroes need to be brave because they put their life in danger for us.
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