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

2. Hrothgar refuses treasure so Hygmod offers what as a sign of the truce?

3. Who is the young king?

4. Grendel thinks that the Stranger is what in Chapter 11?

5. What is the name of Hrothulf's old companion?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. Describe the effect Wealtheow has on Hrothgar's hall.

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

10. Describe Grendel's reaction to the Strangers. How does he feel about the lead Stranger?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss the role of the dragon. Why did the author use this particular creature to teach Grendel? Do you find the scenes with the dragon necessary? Does the dragon's intelligence reduce Grendel to the level of the bull he mocked earlier?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Unferth's character. Is Unferth a protagonist or an antagonist in the novel? Why? What traits does Unferth exhibit?

(see the answer keys)

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