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beowulf test 1

Terms in this set (126)

mythology
old anglo saxon religion persisted despite influence of christianity (religious influences from germany)
warfare
the order of the day
what was everyone concerned with?
being attacked by some other group
the law and order of any group was the responsibility of who
the leaders of that group
strict loyalty to whom
leaders
houses were built
Close to each other and protected by a fence
mead hall
building in middle. Place for council meetings and storytellers. Place of safety in event of an attack
warrior gods
similar to Norse mythology
ethics
held in high esteem and important: bravery, loyalty, generosity, friendship, etc
bards
(also called scops) Anglo Saxon storytellers, poets
bards were considered to be just as important as
warriors
bards sang and told stories about
gods and heroes
creating poetry was as important as
fighting, hunting, farming, and loving
the historical background of beowulf occurred
around 6th century AD
beowulf was kept alive in the
oral tradition of many cultures
beowulf was written down by
anglo saxons on the British isles
when was beowulf written down
perhaps the 8th century, or maybe later by some scholars estimates
what is the language of beowulf
old English
the hero beowulf is referenced by other cultures such as
various Scandinavian societies
beowulf is
Scandinavian
the events of the poem beowulf took place in
Scandinavia during the 6th century
Beowulf's boasts
drove 5 giants into chains and chased all of that race from the earth
hunted and killed one by one of the monsters of the ocean
Beowulf's request of hrothgar
he alone with the help of his men would rid the evil (Grendel) from the mead hall and he will do it without a weapon
Grendel is the seed of
Cane
Where does Grendel live?
marsh in a cave
the Danes wouldn't have to sew shrouds for the geats if Grendel triumphs because
Grendel will carry their bloody flesh to the moors, crunch their bones, and smear torn scraps of skin on the walls of his den. (There would be nothing left to bury)
shrouds
clothes to cover dead bodies before burial
when does Grendel arrive at Herot
that night
from where does Grendel come
out of the marsh from the foot of misty hills and bogs
beow
Son of Shield Sheafson, father of Halfdane, 2nd king in lineage. better king bc he provided the people with more then 1 son so if anything were to happen they have a king
grendel's grudge
he was cast out to live amongst the demons because of Cain, and he was mad that other men got to enjoy their lives and he didn't
hrothgar
danish king, builder of Herot, descendant of beowulf
what did Grendel do to hrothgar?
with his attacks, Grendel lessened his pride
Grendel could not be
seen
where did hrothgar get his power?
God
For how many years did the mead hall stay empty?
12
What does Grendel being invisible stand for?
evil can not be seen, but you know it is there
Hrothgar's mead hall
Herot
Why did Herot lay empty for 12 years?
Grendal attacked all the warriors at night
Who was Grendel taking his grudge against god out on?
Hrothgar and his men
Why did the people start worshipping other gods?
The people had lost all hope and were desperate for help
Beowulf
A hero who fights Grendel, Grendel's Mother and a fire breathing dragon; protagonist
Why did Beowulf go to help Hrothgar?
to be proclaimed a hero, build his reputation, Hrothgar needed help, to win the admiration of his men
It was said that beowulf was
High born and powerful (born with the right to rule)
Hygelac's thane
Beowulf
Hygelac
Beowulf's uncle, king of the Geats
What was the emotion of hrothgars men when they first saw beowulf and his men coming?
Suspicious
Why did beowulf have to prove his intentions were good
Because no one had come to where hrothgar was in a long time and they were suspicious, he had to prove he was valient
Lord of the danes
Hrothgar
Ecgtheow
Beowulf's father
Why did Grendel attack mortals?
He knew he could not defeat god so he made them switch to paganism from Christianity by making them give up on god, which boosts Grendel's ego and lessens gods power
Why doesn't Grendel dare touch the throne
The king was picked by god
Wulfgar
Messenger to the king (hrothgar)
Wulfgar allows Beowulf to meet Hrothgar under one condition. What is it?
Beowulf and his men may not carry their shields and spears.
Why is wulfgar a good messenger?
Wulfgar is wise and brave, so if he has a good impression then there is nothing wrong
Beowulf has the strength of how many men
30
Grendel has the strength of how many men
30
Why are beowulf and his men's weapons taken away
Until hrothgar knew their intentions were 100% truthful and good and in case they try something they don't have weapons
Why are Beowulf's men's swords useless against Grendel?
"no blade on earth, no blacksmith's art could ever damage that demon opponent." Grendel cursed them
Why does Beowulf help Hrothgar?
To pay back the debt of his father, and to defeat the terrible monster and gain more fame
Why does Beowulf boast about his previous successes to hrothgar?
To show that he can get rid of Grendel
What is Beowulf's one request of hrothgar?
That he will not refuse him and that he lets beowulf do it (kill Grendel) with only his men
Beowulf will fight Grendel
Hand to hand
Beowulf believes that what deadly sin will overtake Grendel?
Gluttony
what are Beowulf's instructions for after his death if he loses the battle?
send his armor back to hygelac; it will be an awful sight
What do the men do the night before the battle with Grendel?
Have a big feast in the mead hall
Unferth
A Danish warrior who is jealous of Beowulf, Unferth is unable or unwilling to fight Grendel, thus proving himself inferior to Beowulf.
Ecglaf
Unferth's father
What mortal sin fell upon unferth?
Envy
What are the 2 undoings of unferth?
Envy and pride
Why did beowulf tell the people the real story of his feats after unferth tried to ruin his reputation?
To reassure the people that he could do this because they were already unsure
Why did beowulf feel he was dangerous?
He had prowess, he was dangerous to grendel
The fate was up to
God
Beowulf's men during the fight
Scared but willing to die for this because they believed in beowulf
Beowulf gave his men
Bravery
Beowulf did not possess
Fear
Why did beowulf have an edge on Grendel?
He has no fear
What did Grendel not expect the night of the fight?
Someone to be awake. He was expecting to find fear but he didn't find it
What does hard fortune suggest?
Grendel fails and Beowulf wins
Grendel was consumed with what mortal sins?
Gluttony and pride
Beowulf attacked Grendel using
The element of surprise
Through the element of surprise, beowulf made Grendel feel
Fear, a weakness, something he wasn't used to
Where did Grendel die?
his lair surrounded by the demons
How did Beowulf kill Grendel?
Ripped his arm off
Where did beowulf hang Grendel's arm?
In the mead hall
How did Hrothgar become king? What is the past relationship to the Geats?
Hrothgar's older brother, Hergar, was king and died, making Hrothgar king. Hrothgar worked with Beowulf's father, Edgetho, to secure an earlier peace.
Welthow
Hrothgar's wife, queen of the Danes
What is Hrothgar's declaration to Beowulf at the end of Chapter 9?
hrothgar pledges his life-long friendship to Bewoulf, declaring that "wheresoever you go, wheresoever I am, should you need help, my friend, I will be there."
What gifts does hrothgar give to Beowulf's men?
Gold and treasures
How were the bodies of the dead disposed of in Anglo-Saxon times?
burned over a pyre
Who are the two sons of hrothgar and welthow?
Hrethric (elder) and hrothmund (younger)
What gifts does welthow give to beowulf at the feast?
A necklace
What are welthows words to beowulf about her sons?
Protect them
Why did the Danes sleep with their armor on?
So they are ready to battle any time
How long had Grendel's mother dwelt in the cold, murky, subterranean lake?
1000 of years
What is Grendel's mothers motive in coming to Herot?
Getting revenge for Grendel
Whom does Grendel's mother abduct and decapitate?
Aeschere
What individuals had witnessed the two fiends prior to the time of the attacks on Herot?
Hrothgar
Describe the location of the place where Grendel lived with his mother?
It was placed in a swamp that was underground
According to beowulf, what is the only thing that survives death?
reputation
What do Hrothgar's men discover on their search for Grendel's mother?
Aeschere's head
Describe the lake that serves as the entrance to Grendel's mothers lair?
It's soaked with blood and there's many monsters
What equipment does Beowulf adorn as he goes in pursuit of Grendel's mother? How is this different from what he worse in his battle with Grendel?
He's wearing full body armor, while he's fighting Grendel he's basically naked
What is the significance of the sword hrunting?
Hrunting is the name of the sword that Unferth, one of the Danes, gives to Beowulf when he goes to fight Grendel's dam (mother).
How does Beowulf eventually slay Grendel's mother?
He uses the sword of the giants and slices her throat
What does Beowulf do with the body of Grendel that he finds lying in the corner of the lair
He be heads grendel and brings it back as a trophy
What is happening on the surface with hrothgars men while beowulf is fighting under the lake?
They're losing faith in beowulf and everyone leaves besides Beowulf's men
What happens to the "magnificent sword"
It breaks down due to all the blood from the sea monsters
What does Beowulf take with him as souvenirs of his victory over the demons?
Grendel's head and the hilt of the magnificent sword
What trophy does Beowulf give to hrothgar as a symbol of his victory over the demons?
Grendel's head
To what does Beowulf attribute his victory over Grendel's mother in his audience with hrothgar?
God
Describe Hrothgars reaction to what is written on the hilt of the sword? what is it?
The sword hilt was ancient artifact, and engraved on the sword was the origin of the prehistoric conflict when the flood and rushing oceans destroyed the race of giants. The sword was made of magnificent gold and all around it was a runic verse, for which the serpentine ornamented sword, best among blades, was designed in ancient blades.
Alliteration
Repetition of initial consonant sounds in a line of poetry
Allusion
A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art
elegy
a poem for the dead
epic hero
the brave, bold, champion-like character in an epic poem
Hyperbole
A gross exaggeration
Imagery
The words an author uses to create mental pictures in the mind of the reader
Kenning
A short (usually two-word) phrase used to restate a noun (whale-road for sea)
Metaphor
comparison not using like or as
Personification
giving human qualities to non-human things
Scop
an Old English bard or poet
Symbol
something that stands for or represents something else
Tone
The authors attitude about his subject
Wyrd
Scandinavian belief related to fate or karma
oral tradition
Spoken story. Told over and over through verbal storytelling
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