Beowulf Questions

I worked in a group with Amara Sharp, Breanna Timmons, Connor Albright, Rachel Nolan, and Whitney Houg. We divided the questions into 6 sections and each took one to complete and share with the group.

[Further Celebration at Heorot] (lines 1651-1798, pp. 68-71)

1.What does Beowulf give to Hrothgar?

• Beowulf presents Grendel’s head to Hrothgar and the jewel-inlaid hilt sword.

2.What message does Hrothgar have for Beowulf? What and why does he tell us about Heremod? Why and how did Heremod die? What lesson does Hrothgar teach with the Heremod example?

• The message that Hrothgar has for Beowulf is he needs to be a loving king. What we are told about Heremod is that he was distracted by many material things which turned him into a horrible, greedy king. The lesson that Hrothgar teaches with Heremod's example is to not let having power go to your head.

3.What does Beowulf give to Unferth as he leaves?
• Beowulf gives the sword to Unferth as he leaves.

[Beowulf Returns Home] (lines 1799-2199, pp. 71-79)

1.What future does Hrothgar predict for Beowulf?

• Hrothgar predicts Beowulf will become over confident and arrogant.

2.Who is Hygd and why is she not like Modthryth?

• Hygd is the queen of the Geats and is not like Modthryth because she is would torture and kill anyone offending her.

3.Beowulf reports to Hygelac that Hrothgar may marry his daughter Freawaru to Ingeld. Why does he plan to do that? What does Beowulf expect the result will be? (Remember the Finn story, lines 1070-1158.) How does Beowulf think the peace will be broken? Is this the type of report we expected from the hero Beowulf, or are we seeing a new side of him?

• The marriage plan is to bring the two tribes together and create peace. Beowulf expects the result to be the tribes hating each other more than now and years of war. This is a new side of Beowulf since he is always confident and positive.

4.How does Beowulf report about his own adventures? Does he report accurately?

• Beowulf exaggerates what he is going against so he does not report accurately. 

5.What does Beowulf do with the treasure he was given? What does Hygelac give him?

• Beowulf presents King Hygelac with the treasures he was given and King Hygelac presents Beowulf with; a jeweled sword, 7,000 hides, land, a hall, and a throne.