Beowulf Comprehension Questions

[Prologue]*

[Heorot is Attacked]*

[The Hero Comes to Heorot]*

[Feast at Heorot]*

[The Fight with Grendel] *

[Celebration at [Heorot] *

Beowulf and Grendel's Mother

[Another attack]

1. Grendel's mother comes to Heorot to avenge her son's death, she comes with an intent to kill and murders one of Hrothgar's closest friends. This is much different then Grendel's reason for killing, because he was so angry at all the noise and celebration.

2. Hrothgar's response is to tell Beowulf all about the two monsters and their lair, he is so upset because Grendel's mother killed his friend.

3. The mere (or lake) was a terrible place and Hrothgar was barely able to get through his description. It was a dark, cold place where the "heavens weep", however the moonlight shines on the lake to make it appear that it is on fire.

[Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother]*

[Further Celebration at Heorot]

1. Beowulf gives Hrothgar the sword.

2. Hrothgar tells Beowulf about a hauteur king that let his pride in his own wealth lead to his demise. He tells Beowulf about this king, named Heremod, to warn him about the danger of trusting in your own power and that Beowulf needs to be concerned about the afterlife and not about this world.

3. He remembers at the last second that he needs to give back the sword named Hrunting back to Unferth before he leaves.

[Beowulf Returns Home]*

Beowulf and the Dragon

[The Dragon Wakes]

1. Part 2 takes place 50 years later. Hygelac and Heardred have died.  Now there is the danger of a dragon.

2. The dragon is angry because a cup was stolen from its treasure.  A man stole the cup to exchange it for his freedom.  The dragon was protecting the treasure for an ancient civilization that had died out.

3. The dragon destroyed the homes of the kingdom.

4. Beowulf believed his home was burnt because he angered God.  He orders a new shield because he knows wooden ones would be useless against the fire-breathing dragon.  He fought this battle armed and felt no shame in doing so.  He will bring the dragon with him to the end of his days.

5. Hygelac died fighting the dragon.  Beowulf swam home after his death.  When he returned home, he was offered to be king and he served as a regent.

6. Heardred was killed by Onela.  Beowulf planned to avenge him by assembling an army to hunt down Onela.

7.  Twelve other men accompany Beowulf.

8. Herebeald was killed accidently by his brother Haekythn.  This depressed King Hrethel and made him focus less on the kingdom and more on his sorrow.  After his death, the Swedes and the Geats waged war.  Haethcyn was killed in battle.  Beowulf avenged Hgyelac’s death by killing the dragon.

[Beowulf Attacks the Dragon]*

[Beowulf's Funeral]*

*Done by  Kylie Sagisi, Edmond Yi, Jacob Fowler, Taylor Duguran, Lesther Valenzuela, or Miranda Nillowulf avenged Hgyelac’s death by killing the dragon.