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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the pool of firesnakes protect?
(a) The dragon's cave.
(b) Grendel's treasure.
(c) A sunken door.
(d) The dragon's treasure.

2. Who is the thane who boldly opposes Grendel?
(a) Unferth.
(b) Ecgtheow.
(c) Hrothulf.
(d) Beowulf.

3. Where does the sunken door lead to?
(a) A treasure cave.
(b) The outside.
(c) The dragon's lair.
(d) Into Hrothgar's hall.

4. What does Grendel want to know that the dragon won't answer?
(a) Why.
(b) Where.
(c) When.
(d) How.

5. What does Hrothgar throw at Grendel in Chapter 3?
(a) A spear.
(b) A battle-ax.
(c) A shield.
(d) A knife.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many tribes does Hrothgar make treaties with?

2. What did Hrothgar build on his hill out of stone?

3. Grendel compares talking to what in Chapter 2?

4. Why does the dragon tell Grendel to stand off to the side?

5. Why is Unferth so weak?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how the men look the very first time Grendel sees them.

2. How does Grendel's meeting with the dragon help him define his role in the world of men?

3. What does Grendel hope his mother will tell him someday? Why doesn't she?

4. How does Grendel's relationship with men change after his visit to the dragon?

5. The dragon talks about fate, free will, and the consistency of time but encourages Grendel to change something. How does the dragon not heed his own advice?

6. Describe the hairless man and his function in the group.

7. Discuss the quote on page 7 where Grendel gives himself alternate names (shadow-shooter, earth-rim-roamer, walker of the world's weird wall). What does this signify?

8. Describe how the bull fights in Chapter 2.

9. What do snakes symbolize in the novel?

10. Discuss the significance of Grendel's speech about heroes existing only in poetry.

(see the answer keys)

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