BEOWULF STUDY GUIDE 2024 QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS

What evidence of Christianity is there in this largely pagan poem? - CORRECT ANSWER First, the explanation that Grendel is a descendent of Cain is an obvious allusion to the early chapters of Genesis. Likewise, the bards of Heorot sing songs and tell tales taken directly from Genesis: tales of "how the Almighty fashioned the earth ... [and] ... set the sun and moon as lights ... [and] ... adorned the earth's expanses with tree limbs." Both firmly establish Christian influences on this AngloSaxon work. How does the poem blend Christian and pagan myth? - CORRECT ANSWER According to the narrator, after his banishment for the murder of his brother, Cain became the father of "all those dire breeds: ogres, elves, and phantoms that warred with God a lengthy while," which are not accurate retelling of the account from Genesis. How does the oral tradition help to attract Beowulf to the Danish shore? - CORRECT ANSWER Grendel wreaked destruction on the Danish tribe for more than a decade. His ferocious deeds become known to other Scandinavian tribes through "ballads of lament" sung by bards throughout the Germanic world. Thus, Beowulf and his kinsmen hear about the desperate situation the Danes are facing and decide to come to Hrothgar's aid. What is a kenning, and what does it contribute to the overall effect of the poem? - CORRECT ANSWER A kenning is a compound noun that provides an indirect, but descriptive way to identify a person or thing. For example, Grendel is called a "manhater" and the "deathshadow." The use of these descriptive combinations creates a more vivid impression in the mind of the hearer (or reader) and makes the character referred to more memorable. How does the Danes' response to Grendel evince a clash of culture between pagan and Christian cultures? - CORRECT ANSWER While in the hall of Heorot, the bards sang songs clearly alluding to the book of Genesis, but in their tribulation, they resort to sacrifices and rites to pagan gods for help with Grendel. The phrases "waverider" and "swanroad" are examples of what poetic device? - CORRECT ANSWER kennings Why don't the "wise men" protest the hero's desire to undertake his adventure? - CORRECT ANSWER It is important for a young hero to seek adventure and begin to establish his reputation. How and why does the Beowulf poet use simile to describe Beowulf's sea journey? - CORRECT ANSWER The Beowulf poet uses a simile to describe Beowulf's journey across the ocean: "Over the waters did the ship move by the