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. When does the author believe that "Waldere" was written?

2. Besides "The Wife's Lament," what is the only other Anglo-Saxon poem written by a woman?

3. Who made the weapon with which Beowulf beheads Grendel's mother?

4. In what year was Cuthbert's coffin opened in Durham Cathedral?

5. What is the name of Hrothgar's queen?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the purpose of the "Easter Tables"?

2. Why was Hrothgar forced to close Heorot?

3. What happened on Christmas day in 597 in Anglo-Saxon history?

4. What were the many reasons that Bede was renowned?

5. What is the topic of the six "so-called Elegies"?

6. What did one of King Edwin's men state were the differences between their time and the time of "which we have no knowledge"?

7. Why does the author of the introduction to "The Elegies" state that "The Ruin" is "an antiquarian's delight"?

8. To whom is Grendel related and why is this important?

9. What must Beowulf do to kill Grendel's mother?

10. What did King Edwin say must be done before he would accept the Christian faith?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Beowulf and Grendel. How do each epitomize good and evil?

Essay Topic 2

The history of the Anglo-Saxons was very important for many reasons. Why did the loss of so many documents hurt the history of the Anglos? What was important about the documents that they were able to protect? What were the Anglos able to learn about their own history based upon these texts?

Essay Topic 3

Christianity quickly became the superior religion for Anglo-Saxons. What did Christianity hold for Anglos? Why was it found to be superior to previous religious thought?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 800 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample