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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. What is the name of Hrothgar's hall?

2. What does the pool of firesnakes protect?

3. How does Grendel discover that he cannot be harmed in Chapter 6?

4. What does Grendel discover after leaving the dragon?

5. What adjective does Grendel use to describe his war?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the dragon’s dictum? How does he play out this dictum?

3. How does the story of Finn foreshadow what could happen with Hrothgar's truces with Hygmod and Ingeld?

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

5. Does Grendel have delusions about his own intelligence?

6. What do snakes symbolize in the novel?

7. Discuss Grendel's personal transformation during and as a result of his first raid.

8. Describe how the men act/talk in the mead halls. What is the function of this behavior?

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

10. What does the dragon say that changes Grendel's mind about approaching men? How does the dragon feel about Grendel's change of heart?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the use of the word "theories" in the book. Grendel refers to theories and the dragon refers theories also. What theories do they propose? How are the dragon and Grendel theories themselves?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's choice to include the opening lines of the original Beowulf poem in his own retelling on pages 41 and 42. How does this technique affect the story? How significant is it that the harper sings the song as it would have been done in Beowulf's time?

Essay Topic 3

Why does the author suddenly begin using italics and telling the action from inside Grendel's head? What reasons do you think the author has for switching narrative techniques? Does the technique enhance or confuse your understanding of the story?

(see the answer keys)

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