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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 third child?

2. What does the old woman tell the children about in Chapter 10?

3. What does Grendel's mother do each time he returns home?

4. In Chapter 7, who calms the argument between Unferth and another thane?

5. What course of action does Red Horse suggest to Hrothulf in Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the lead Stranger. How does he act? What does he look like?

2. Discuss Wealtheow's life at Hart and her unspoken feelings about her position as queen.

3. Compare the bowsman hunting the hart to the priest coming to Grendel in the ring of gods.

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

5. What similarities do you see between the brief account of Finn and Hnaef and Hrothgar and Wealtheow's brother?

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

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

8. Discuss the people's view of religion after years of Grendel's oppression.

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

10. 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?

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

What has caused the people's faith to falter? Why do they continue to believe in their gods/statues? Is this a natural cycle for religion to take?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the meeting between Unferth and Grendel in Grendel's cave and Grendel and the Stranger in Hrothgar's hall. Which encounter do you feel is more heroic? Why did Unferth fail while the Stranger succeeded?

(see the answer keys)

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