10 questions on plot, characters, and themes. Free to take, so you can see exactly what to review before class.
1. Why does Grendel attack Heorot repeatedly over twelve years?
2. What happens during Beowulf's first fight with Grendel?
3. Why does Beowulf have to fight Grendel's mother?
4. How does Beowulf defeat Grendel's mother in the underwater cave?
5. What does the poem tell us about Beowulf's character as a young man compared to when he becomes king?
6. Why does the dragon begin attacking Geatish villages?
7. What is Wiglaf's role in the dragon fight, and what does it reveal about his character?
8. What does Beowulf's death reveal about the poem's view of heroism and mortality?
9. How does Unferth's behavior toward Beowulf change over the course of the poem?
10. What does the poem suggest about the relationship between loyalty and a warrior's true worth?
0 of 10 answered
How this guide is built
This guide is built from the original text to help you get oriented fast. It is designed for recall, paper planning, and getting unstuck, but it is still a paraphrased guide, not a substitute for the reading itself. Double-check anything important before you turn in formal work.
