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 is the name of Hrothgar's third child?

2. In Chapter 10, what do Finn and Hengest pledge to each other?

3. In Chapter 10, why does Hengest kill Finn?

4. Who is Hygmod the lord of?

5. What is the name of the priest who comes and speaks to Grendel after the ceremony in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Wealtheow's words to the sleeping Hrothulf mean?

2. Discuss Ork's behavior as he talks about the King of Gods.

3. Discuss the priests' reaction to Ork's tale of speaking with the Great Destroyer.

4. Discuss the sentiment that bread-thieves die while murderers go free. What is meant by this statement?

5. Describe the behavior of Grendel's mother. How are her actions altered by Grendel's increase in power?

6. In Chapter 12, who are Grendel's final words directed toward? What foreshadowing do his words provide?

7. Discuss the statement, "By deeds worth praise a man can, in any kingdom, prosper!" (112). How do these words from the Shaper contradict what the dragon told Grendel?

8. What does Grendel mean by saying that it is just as pointless to kill Wealtheow as to let her live?

9. Does the Finn tale function only to foreshadow what will befall Hrothgar? Who else could suffer a similar fate?

10. How do the Danes respond to the arrival of the Geats?

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

Describe Grendel's relationship with his mother when he is young. How does she treat him? How does this affect his adulthood? How does their relationship shift as he grows older?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the Stranger's arrival at Hrothgar's hall. How does this scene embody the idea of the "hero on the beach" as discussed in class?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,113 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample