BEOWULF
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| Identify the following terms or people from the
reading |
| Beowulf |
| Thanes |
| Heorot |
| Grendel |
| Grendel’s Mother |
| Hrothgar |
| Aeschere |
| Wiglaf |
| Geats |
| Danes |
| Wealtheow |
| Healfdene |
| Wergild |
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| 1. Who built Herot? |
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| 2. What are some things the monster dislikes? |
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| 3. How long was Herot empty? |
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| 4. How many men did Beowulf take to Hrothgar’s |
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| 5. How is Higlac related to Beowulf? |
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| 6. Is Beowulf of noble birth? Explain. |
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| 7. What does Hrothgar tell Beowulf the problem is? |
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| 8. In what kind of contest did Brecca and Beowulf
participate? Who won? Explain. |
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| 9. What is mead? |
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| 10. Who sleeps in Herot before Grendel comes? |
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| 11. Who killed Grendel? How? What does he do with
specific body parts? |
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| 12. Which character boasts of his battles and
often quarrels with Beowulf? |
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| 13. What reward is Beowulf given for slaying the
dragon? |
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| 14. How is Grendel’s Mother killed? |
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| 15. What special weapon is used. Explain what you
think is the significance of this. |
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| 16. What do the Danes think has happened to
Beowulf. |
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| 17. Who did Beowulf give the sword to? |
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| 18. What are some of the gifts Beowulf brings back
from his journey? |
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| 19. What special power did the jeweled cup have? |
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| 20. How long did Beowulf wear the crown? |
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| 21. Did he have any heirs? |
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| 22. How did Beowulf want to be buried? |
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| 23. What happened to the dragon? |
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| DISCUSSION |
| What are leadership qualities identified in this
epic poem? What are we told in the Prologue about Dane leadership? |
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| Does Beowulf control his actions by choice or is
he driven by some other force? |
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| What can we learn about society through this poem? |
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| Although the poem seems confusing at times, there
are some aspects of it which tell us about legends and history, identify
some examples. |
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| How are the fights against the monsters different
from the fights against humans? |
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| What Biblical character is Grendel related to and
explain this implication. |
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| What role do women play in this society? How is
this different or similar to the Odyssey? |
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How does the poet feel about treasure? Why does Beowulf want the dragon’s
treasure? Why is it buried with Beowulf? |
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WORLD LITERATURE
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MRS.
KING
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REACTION
PAPER (1 ½-2 PAGES)
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Choose
on of the following questions.
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1.
Compare
and contrast women depicted in The Odyssey, The Epic of
Gilgamesh, Beowulf, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
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2.
What
makes Beowulf a traditional epic and the hero a typical epic hero?
How is the hero similar to other heroes in other epics studies in
class?
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3.
People
describe Beowulf as a Christian epic.
How are the values of Christianity reflected in this work?
Are there any similarities in Beowulf and Sir Gawain and
the Green Knight?
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Reading
for next session.
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One
Thousand and One Nights
Pp. 1586
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The
Heptameron
Pp. 1854
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| Those needing extra points
may attend the following mini courses: The Panama Canal (October 16),
Marbury vs. Madison (October 30), Doors of Perception (Sept. 30, October 28,
November 18) at 7:00 PM in the PCC Fine Arts Center. |
