Beowulf Study Guide

Beowulf

Study Guide

A. Shield Shiefson:

1. Foundling of the Danish Royal line (orphan)

a. Sent to Denmark on a small boat (think Moses)

2. Grows from being a fighter/rebel to a well -respected, “good king” 3. Dies suddenly (cause, unknown)

4. Sent out in a small boat filled with treasure.

B. Beow

1. Son of Shield

2. Has a child named Halfdane

a. Possibly in reference to his mother being a Swedish princess

C. Halfdane

2. Has 4 children

a. Three sons (Heorogar, Hrothgar, and Halga) b. One daughter (unnamed, and married off)

D. Hrothgar

1. Middle son of Halfdane

2. Inherits the throne (because of battle that kills his older brother) 3. Builds Heorot

a. Meade Hall (a social meeting place for food, drink, and government) b. Known to be the brightest and best hall anywhere

c. Contains bits of gold

II. Heorot Is Attacked: A. Grendel:

1. Demon Creature

a. Descendant of Cain

i.(Bible story) Cain killed his brother, and lied to God about it

ii. Punished by God, not “worthy” and banished

iii. Grendel will not approach the throne at Heorot for this reason

2. Bothered by the noise in Heorot

3. Attacks at night

4. Attacks keep going

a. He does not want to make peace

b. Will not pay the “man price” or “debt price” to stop the feud c. Lasts 12 winters (years)

5. People try to keep him away by praying to “Pagan gods and goddesses”

a. Narrator states God is punishing them using Grendel because they are not praying to the Christian God.

III. The Hero Comes to Heorot A. Beowulf

1. Family

a. Geat ancestry

b. Mother (name unknown) was married off to Beowulf’s father (Ecgtheow)

c. Father started a feud, Hrothgar pays debt to help stop the feud (same feud killed Hrothgar’s older brother)

2. Arrives in Denmark (unannounced)

a. Hrothgars sea watcher asks about him, then helps him get to Hrothgar

b. Hrothgar’s messenger then gives the message to Hrothgar (knows of Beowulf)

3. Beowulf offers to help rid Hrothgar of Grendel a. Heard about Grendel from traveling sailors

B. Fighting Grendel (The Plan)

a. Without Weapons b. Bare handed c. No shields/armor d. To the death

IV Feast at Heorot A. Unferth

1. Picks on Beowulf (after drinking too much) about the match with Breca a. Breca- Childhood friend of Beowulf

b. Breca challenges Beowulf to a swimming contest

c. Beowulf loses, but only (Beowulf says) because he was killing sea monsters

2. Beowulf tells Unferth that he isn’t a good fighter because: a. Never celebrated for his swordsmanship

b. Has killed his own family

c. If he were good, Grendel would be dead already

B. Wealtheow

1. Hrothgar’s wife (Queen)

2. Passes around a cup/goblet at dinner

B. Beowulf Surviving= Anything he wants

V. The Fight with Grendel A. Grendel

1. Strength: Strong Fighter

2. Weakness: No formal fighter training

3. Beowulf says he is as dangerous as Grendel

B. The Fight

1. Grendel kills a guard (torn to pieces)

2. Weapons are used by others (unsuccessful)

a. Grendel immune to metal weapons (magical pendant) b. Grendel’s immunity not known at first

3. Grendel’s Arm

a. Beowulf rips off Grendel’s Arm (victory trophy) b. Grendel limps away with a fatal wound.

VI. Celebration at Heorot (skipped)

VII. Another Attack A. Grendel’s Mother

1. Lives underwater (banished as a descendant of Cain) 2. Looks less like a monster, more like an Amazonian Woman 3. Avenges Grendel’s Death

a. Attacks Heorot, killing people

b. Beowulf in another hall (hall was rewarded to him) c. Takes back Grendel’s arm

B. Grendel’s Family

1. Grendel (unnatural birth) 2. No father for Grendel

1. Full of reptiles and sea monsters 2. Underwater cave

B. Beowulf

1. Does not feel mourning should occur

a. Suggests honoring the person in a positive light 2. Helmet

a. Boars carved into it b. Pieces of gold c. Wears into battle

C. The Fight

1. Grendel’s Mom pulls Beowulf Underwater a. Fight lasts over half of a day

2. Tries to use a sword borrow from Unferth

a. Sword ends up not working (water currents) b. Sword partially damaged

3. Steal Grendel’s mom’s sword. a. Sword from time of giants b. Considered the “ideal weapon” 4. Grendel’s Mom Dead

a. Decapitates her (takes head as a victory trophy) b. Cuts off Grendel’s head as well (post-mortem) c. Sees treasure, but only takes back a war sword

i. Sword damaged from Mother’s acidic blood

V. Another Celebration at Heorot (skipped)

VI. Beowulf Returns Home

A. Beowulf returns Unferth’s sword B. Hrothgar

1. Cries

2. Gives Beowulf a friendly kiss goodbye 3. Admits a “brotherly love” for Beowulf 4. Gives Beowulf Treasure

5. Honors the guard who saw Beowulf leave a. Golden sword

b. Respect at the table

C. Queen Hygd

1. Story of Queen Modthryth (bad queen)

a. Killed people for “imaginary offenses” or “strange looks” b. Story told to contrast Hygd

D. King Hygelac

3. Is given treasure by Beowulf

E. Beowulf

1. Says people in Heorot love to drink meade. 2. Describes battle with Grendel

3. Talks briefly about his childhood (was “poorly regarded”)

VII. The Dragon Wakes

A. King Hygelac Dies

1. Killed in battle

a. Sword fight in Friesland

2. Beowulf inherits throne (rules for 50 years)

a. Hygelac’s queen does not know at first if Beowulf would accept the

position as king.

B. The Thief

1. Describe as being a “slave” 2. Does not have an heir

3. Never meant to disturb the dragon

a. Steals a goblet from the dragon’s barrow i. Beowulf later gets the cup from the thief

C. Beowulf’s Childhood

1. Father leaves him with Grandfather (7 years old) 2. Herebeald (Beowulf’s uncle) dies

a. Accidently killed in a hunting accident (shot by arrow) b. Shot by brother Haethcyn (Beowulf’s Other Uncle) c. Beowulf’s grandfather (Hrethel) dies of grief as a result

i. He “chooses God’s light” ii. Possible Suicide?

d. Building and lands left to king’s sons e. Feud results after the prince’s death

VIII. Beowulf Attacks the Dragon

A. Beowulf’s thoughts on the dragon

1. It’s his responsibility alone

2. Originally, wants to fight with only a shield and armor a. Eventually decides to bring a sword

B. Wiglaf

1. Beowulf’s right hand man

2. Owes loyalty to at least two families (including Beowulf’s) 3. Helps protect Beowulf

b. Burns his fighting hand helping Beowulf after Beowulf is injured

C. Beowulf’s Death

1. Bitten in the shoulder by the dragon

a. Dragon venom causes a slow and painful death b. Stabs dragon and kills it

2. Chooses Wiglaf to be his heir a. Beowulf never fathers a child

b. Passes on shield and armor to Wiglaf

IX. Beowulf’s Funeral A. Wiglaf

1. Sits by Beowulf’s side during the funeral 2. Feels responsible for Beowulf’s death

B. The Funeral

1. Pyre built for Beowulf

a. Contained Shields, Helmets, and Armor (per Beowulf) b. Lit on fire

c. 10 days later: Ashes put into a memorial

d. Geat Woman cries during funeral (possibly Mary Magdalene allusion?)