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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who stays at the lake after the Danes leave?
(a) Grendel.
(b) Beowulf's comrades.
(c) Unferth.
(d) Hrothgar.

2. What kind of boat to Beowulf and his men sail away from Denmark in?
(a) A tern boat.
(b) A swan boat.
(c) A canoe with many oars.
(d) A pirate ship.

3. Who is to receive Beowulf's treasure if he dies?
(a) Wulfgar.
(b) Hrothgar.
(c) Unferth.
(d) Hygelac.

4. Before battling Grendel's mother, what does Beowulf ask the King to do if he should die?
(a) Build him a monument.
(b) Send his men back to their homeland.
(c) Promise to tell stories of his heroism.
(d) Look after his men.

5. What promise does Hrothgar make to Beowulf after Grendel's mother is defeated?
(a) He promises his daughter to Beowulf as his wife.
(b) He promises friendship and trade with Beowulf's people.
(c) He promises him a great treasure.
(d) He promises to leave the throne to Beowulf.

6. What does Grendel's mother take off the wall in the hall?
(a) Grendel's arm.
(b) A sword.
(c) Tapestries.
(d) An axe.

7. Inside Grendel's mother's lair, what upholds the weight of the water?
(a) Huge serpents.
(b) Magic.
(c) Stone walls.
(d) Stout rafters.

8. What happens to the blade of the tremendous sword found in the lair?
(a) Nothing.
(b) It cracks.
(c) It shatters.
(d) It melts.

9. Where is Beowulf when Grendel's mother arrives at Heorot?
(a) Sitting by the fire.
(b) Sleeping in his room.
(c) In the stable with his new horses.
(d) With the King.

10. What is the Grendel lake lined with?
(a) Tall grasses.
(b) Mountains.
(c) Trees.
(d) Fierce dragons.

11. After Beowulf's sword fails to kill Grendel's mother, what does he use to try to fight her?
(a) His bare hands.
(b) An axe.
(c) Rocks.
(d) A rope.

12. At what point does Beowulf decide to enter the lake to search for Grendel's mother?
(a) When Grendel's mother calls out to him.
(b) Immediately upon arrival.
(c) He does not enter the lake.
(d) After blowing his horn for the second time.

13. When Beowulf blows his horn, what rises up out of the Grendel lake?
(a) Sea devils.
(b) Grendel's mother.
(c) Fish.
(d) Grendel.

14. Who promises to come with "a thousand spears and a thousand shields" if the other should be attacked?
(a) Hrothgar makes this promise to Beowulf.
(b) Wiglaf makes this promise to Beowulf.
(c) Beowulf makes this promise to Hrothgar.
(d) Beowulf makes this promise to Wiglaf.

15. What saves Beowulf's life from Grendel's mother's near-fatal attack?
(a) His mailcoat.
(b) Hrunting.
(c) His warriors.
(d) A shield.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the beginning of Chapter 2, who is brooding with grief and greedy for revenge?

2. How does Hrothgar describe the Grendel lake?

3. When Beowulf reaches the bank of the lake, what does he do?

4. How many men does it take to carry Grendel's head?

5. Where does Beowulf see a "tremendous sword" in the lair of Grendel's mother?

(see the answer keys)

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