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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Grendel enter the hall?

2. When does Hrothgar say he previously knew Beowulf?

3. What does the Queen give Beowulf and his men to drink?

4. How many serpents did Beowulf slay in his story of the swimming competition between he and Breca's?

5. According to Beowulf, in the story of his swimming competition with Breca, who cried out for help?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where is Grendel's mother's lair located?

2. What hope does Beowulf have for his future as Chapter 3 begins?

3. After Grendel's mother fails to kill Beowulf with a knife, how does Beowulf break free of her?

4. When Beowulf agrees to battle Grendel's mother, what does Hrothgar offer him as a reward?

5. How does Beowulf plan to show Unferth what courage is?

6. Why is Wiglaf the only one of Beowulf's men to come to Beowulf's aid as he battles the dragon?

7. What item lights Beowulf's way as he dives through the Grendel lake?

8. Why does Beowulf say he needs his mailcoat and shield to fight the dragon?

9. What does Grendel look like?

10. What does Beowulf tell Hrothgar in an attempt to convince him to accept Beowulf's bid to slay Grendel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The foes Beowulf faces represent three emotions that sometimes result in violence. What are those emotions? Which foe represents each of these emotions? How do they represent the emotion? What actions do they take and why?

Essay Topic 2

Why is Grendel's mother's lair so much like Heorot? What is the significant difference between the two?

Essay Topic 3

There is some question as to whether or not Wiglaf will make a good king. What does this uncertainty say about the author's view of the stability of his changing world?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 524 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample