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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. Who is the young king?

2. What does Grendel observe an archer killing in Chapter 9?

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

4. Who do the priests ask the gods to deliver them from in Chapter 9?

5. When Grendel begins to fight the Stranger he considers him what?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 is the relationship between Hrothgar and Wealtheow? Are they a happy couple?

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

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 the name "Shaper" as applied to the hall poet or bard. Why is the title significant? What does the singer shape whenever he sings?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Grendel's state of mind in the twelfth year of his war. Is he going crazy? Has his power over Hrothgar overwhelmed him? What does Grendel make of the war at this point?

(see the answer keys)

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