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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 many horses does Hrothgar give Beowulf and his men?

2. Who does Unferth claim Beowulf lost a swimming match to?

3. How tall is Grendel?

4. When Beowulf and his men reach Heorot, what are they heavy with?

5. How long does Unferth say Beowulf wallowed at sea?

Short Essay Questions

1. Once the Queen leaves Heorot, where do the Danes go?

2. Where does the watchman see the "glint of death" in Beowulf's party?

3. How does Beowulf feel about his dying to defeat the dragon and win the treasure for his people?

4. What is Wiglaf armed with?

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

6. What do Beowulf's people do with the dragon's treasure and why?

7. What spoils does Grendel's mother take with her from Heorot?

8. Why are Hrothgar and his men surprised when Beowulf returns to Heorot with Grendel's head?

9. What does Grendel look like?

10. When do Beowulf and his men learn of the attack of Grendel's mother on Heorot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the difference between sympathy and empathy? Do you think Grendel's mother is a sympathetic or an empathetic character? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Why isn't Hrothgar able to defeat Grendel without the aid of Beowulf? Formulate a theory and use examples from the book to support your theory.

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?

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This section contains 426 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample