©THEBRIGHTSTARS 2024
Beowulf Exam Questions With Correct And
Revised Answers.
When was it written? - answer✔✔Between 700 -1000 AD
Who is the author? - answer✔✔unknown
Where does Beowulf take place? - answer✔✔Denmark & Sweden, in Scandinavia
How was the story spread? - answer✔✔Oral tradition
Who actually wrote down the story of Beowulf? - answer✔✔Christian monks
What language was Beowulf originally composed in? - answer✔✔Old English
Beowulf is an example of an _____ hero - answer✔✔epic
What is an epic hero? - answer✔✔the central figure in a long narrative that reflects the values
and heroic ideals of a particular society
What is a common flaw of an epic hero? - answer✔✔hubris
What are two important literary elements in Beowulf? - answer✔✔Alliteration and Kennings
What character is mentioned in the very beginning of Beowulf? - answer✔✔Shield Sheafson, the
king of the Danes
What two religions can be found in the story of Beowulf? - answer✔✔Paganism and Christianity
Beowulf is from what kingdom? - answer✔✔the Geats
Beowulf is the nephew of what Geat ruler? - answer✔✔Hygelac
Who is Beowulf's father? - answer✔✔Ecgtheow
Who was the first Danish ruler? - answer✔✔Shield, grandfather of Halfdane, great grandfather
of Hrothgar
Who is the current king of the Danes? - answer✔✔Hrothgar
, ©THEBRIGHTSTARS 2024
Why does Beowulf help Hrothgar? - answer✔✔To pay back the debt of his father, and to defeat
the terrible monster and gain more fame
Even before Beowulf battles Grendel, how does Hrothgar know about Beowulf? - answer✔✔He
knew his father. He has heard about him, which means that his fame from battles has probably
been sung about
What three things does Beowulf say when he meets Hrothgar? - answer✔✔1. He identifies
himself and his lineage
2. He identifies the problem of the Danes
3. He speaks of his achievements - meaning his past defeats of monsters
Who is the first evil character presented in the story of Beowulf? - answer✔✔Grendel
Who is Grendel? - answer✔✔he is a strong and evil water-monster who lives at the bottom of a
haunted pool with his mother, relative of Cain (Cain killed his brother)
What kind of abilities does Grendel have? - answer✔✔He has sharp claws, he can lift and
devour many men, he can hunt at night and lives in the water
What does Grendel represent? - answer✔✔evil, fear of the unknown, AND the outsider/outcast
Grendel and his mother had a curse put on them which entails that what cannot hurt them? -
answer✔✔Man-made weapons
Beowulf decides to fight Grendel with what? - answer✔✔his bare hands
Why are the Danes reluctant to accept Beowulf? - answer✔✔Because they want their own
warriors to fight Grendel and they feel threatened by the Geats coming in to defeat the monster
for them; it makes them feel weak
Who questions Beowulf's ability in battle? - answer✔✔Unferth
What story does Unferth bring up to embarrass Beowulf? - answer✔✔the swim race
Who did Beowulf race in a swimming competition when he was younger? - answer✔✔Breca
What happened in the swimming race? - answer✔✔Beowulf and Brecca made a bet to see who
could swim faster, Beowulf lost because he was attacked by sea monsters after a storm and had
to defeat them, Brecca was pushed ahead by the storm and won
What did Brecca and Beowulf swim with? - answer✔✔Full armor and swords
How long did Brecca and Beowulf race? - answer✔✔7 days
Beowulf Exam Questions With Correct And
Revised Answers.
When was it written? - answer✔✔Between 700 -1000 AD
Who is the author? - answer✔✔unknown
Where does Beowulf take place? - answer✔✔Denmark & Sweden, in Scandinavia
How was the story spread? - answer✔✔Oral tradition
Who actually wrote down the story of Beowulf? - answer✔✔Christian monks
What language was Beowulf originally composed in? - answer✔✔Old English
Beowulf is an example of an _____ hero - answer✔✔epic
What is an epic hero? - answer✔✔the central figure in a long narrative that reflects the values
and heroic ideals of a particular society
What is a common flaw of an epic hero? - answer✔✔hubris
What are two important literary elements in Beowulf? - answer✔✔Alliteration and Kennings
What character is mentioned in the very beginning of Beowulf? - answer✔✔Shield Sheafson, the
king of the Danes
What two religions can be found in the story of Beowulf? - answer✔✔Paganism and Christianity
Beowulf is from what kingdom? - answer✔✔the Geats
Beowulf is the nephew of what Geat ruler? - answer✔✔Hygelac
Who is Beowulf's father? - answer✔✔Ecgtheow
Who was the first Danish ruler? - answer✔✔Shield, grandfather of Halfdane, great grandfather
of Hrothgar
Who is the current king of the Danes? - answer✔✔Hrothgar
, ©THEBRIGHTSTARS 2024
Why does Beowulf help Hrothgar? - answer✔✔To pay back the debt of his father, and to defeat
the terrible monster and gain more fame
Even before Beowulf battles Grendel, how does Hrothgar know about Beowulf? - answer✔✔He
knew his father. He has heard about him, which means that his fame from battles has probably
been sung about
What three things does Beowulf say when he meets Hrothgar? - answer✔✔1. He identifies
himself and his lineage
2. He identifies the problem of the Danes
3. He speaks of his achievements - meaning his past defeats of monsters
Who is the first evil character presented in the story of Beowulf? - answer✔✔Grendel
Who is Grendel? - answer✔✔he is a strong and evil water-monster who lives at the bottom of a
haunted pool with his mother, relative of Cain (Cain killed his brother)
What kind of abilities does Grendel have? - answer✔✔He has sharp claws, he can lift and
devour many men, he can hunt at night and lives in the water
What does Grendel represent? - answer✔✔evil, fear of the unknown, AND the outsider/outcast
Grendel and his mother had a curse put on them which entails that what cannot hurt them? -
answer✔✔Man-made weapons
Beowulf decides to fight Grendel with what? - answer✔✔his bare hands
Why are the Danes reluctant to accept Beowulf? - answer✔✔Because they want their own
warriors to fight Grendel and they feel threatened by the Geats coming in to defeat the monster
for them; it makes them feel weak
Who questions Beowulf's ability in battle? - answer✔✔Unferth
What story does Unferth bring up to embarrass Beowulf? - answer✔✔the swim race
Who did Beowulf race in a swimming competition when he was younger? - answer✔✔Breca
What happened in the swimming race? - answer✔✔Beowulf and Brecca made a bet to see who
could swim faster, Beowulf lost because he was attacked by sea monsters after a storm and had
to defeat them, Brecca was pushed ahead by the storm and won
What did Brecca and Beowulf swim with? - answer✔✔Full armor and swords
How long did Brecca and Beowulf race? - answer✔✔7 days
