View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Grendel find in the woods while circling the hall in Chapter 4?

2. What Biblical stories does the harper sing of?

3. What does the Chinaman keep caged?

4. How old is Hrothgar when Grendel decides to destroy him?

5. Grendel compares talking to what in Chapter 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the firesnakes guard the sunken door?

2. 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?

3. How is the dragon’s appearance described?

4. What does Grendel do when Unferth falls asleep in his cave in Chapter 6?

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

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

7. Why do you think Grendel is so offended by the Shaper's words?

8. Who proves to be more heroic during the encounter between Unferth and Grendel in Grendel's cave?

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

10. Discuss the futility of Unferth coming to Grendel's cave and what the action says about Unferth's character.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you think Grendel means when he says that it was inevitable that a blind man came to Hrothgar's hall? Why is the man's blindness significant to the story or his role within the hall?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss what Grendel comes to realize while hanging in the tree. Why is this realization important? How does this realization shape Grendel’s actions?

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think that Grendel continues to update the reader on the dragon? Why does Grendel refer to the dragon by smell? How does Grendel’s relationship with the dragon evolve in the narrative?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,108 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample