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Literature book

Beowulf study guide

Oral TraditionStrong rhythm

Repetition of sounds

Repetition of words and phrases

Repetition of ideas

Parallel grammatical structures

Beowulf- Grendel Introduction

Hrothgar, king of the Danes, has built a wonderful mead hall called Herot, where his subjects congregate and make merry.

As this selection opens, a fierce and powerful monster named Grendel invades the mead hall, bringing death and destruction.

GrendelDo you think the opening lines of this

passage are gripping? Why?

Grendel- Line 17Moors

Broad, open regions with patches of bog

Grendel- Line 19Spawned—

born

Grendel– Line 21Cain–

The eldest son of Adam and Eve. According the Bible, he murdered his younger

brother Abel.

GrendelWho were Grendel’s earliest ancestors?

How did he come to exist?

Oral TraditionStrong rhythm

Lines 1-7Repetition of sounds

alliterationRepetition of words and phrases

Line 3Repetition of ideas

Line 16Parallel grammatical structures

Lines 76-78

Grendel– Line 40Lair

The den of a wild animal

Grendel- VocabLament

… and in that gray morning broke their long feast with tears and laments for the dead…

Lament n: an audible expression of grief; wail

Sentence?

GrendelWhat is meant by “The beginning might not

be the end”?

GrendelIn what way has hate triumphed?

GrendelWhat is meant by 12 winters?

Grendel What does the phrase “hell-forged hands”

suggest about Grendel?

Grendel– Line 73Reparation

Something done to make amends for loss or suffering.

Grendel- VocabRelish

… How the monster relished his savage war on the Danes, keeping the bloody feud alive…

Relish v: to enjoy keenly

Sentence?

GrendelWhat people does Grendel attack for 12

years?

GrendelWhat is Grendel’s attitude toward the Danes?

GrendelWhat universal idea does Grendel stand for?

GrendelWhat does Grendel’s inability to know God’s

love suggest about him?

Grendel- VocabAffliction

…Hoping for Hell’s support, the Devil’s guidance in driving their affliction off…

Affliction n: a cause of pain or distress

Sentence?

BeowulfIntroductionBeowulf hears about

Grendel.He was willing to go to

Hrothgar and “save the day.”

Beowulf brought 14 of the strongest men and brought them to help the Danes.

BeowulfIntroductionBeowulf and his men sail over the sea to the land of the Danes to offer help to Hrothgar.

They are escorted by a Danish guard to Herot, where Wulfgar, one of Hrothgar’s soldiers, tells the king of their arrival.

Hrothgar knows of Beowulf and is read to welcome the young prince and his men.

Beowulf- VocabPurge

That I, alone and with the help of my men, may purge all evil from this hall.

Purge v: to cleanse or purify

Sentence?

BeowulfWhy do you think it is so important to

Beowulf to fight Grendel without a sword?

Beowulf- VocabGorge

…His plan will be what it has been before, to invade this hall and gorge his belly with our bodies…

Gorge v: to stuff with food

Sentence?

BeowulfWhat service did Hrothgar perform for

Beowulf’s father?

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