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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 sickens Grendel about the battles?

2. Where does the dragon live?

3. The dragon encourages Grendel to do what with his life?

4. What language do the men speak in Chapter 2?

5. What do the men think Grendel's blood is in Chapter 2?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What do snakes symbolize in the novel?

4. How does Grendel's existence hinge on Hrothgar's survival?

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

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

7. What entices Grendel to Hrothgar's hall? Why is a part of him swept up in the merriment?

8. 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?

9. How is the dragon’s appearance described?

10. Describe the firesnakes. What sort of creature do you think they are?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss Hrothgar's rise to power. What did it do to the land? How did it alter the outlying villages? How are Hrothgar’s subjects’ lives changed?

Essay Topic 2

Use what you know of Grendel's mother and her relationship to her son to speculate about what she will do when she discovers the harm done to her son. Do you think she would be upset? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

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