Beowulf questions

Prologue

1. What was unusual about Sheilds rise to power was that he started off with nothing, he had to build his way to the top. His grandson Hrothgar was born into wealth that brought him to the top. Danes buried Sheild at sea with his most treasured items, when he died.

Herot is attacked

1. Hrothgar created the Heorot. Grendel attacked it. This caused the death of thirty men. The attacks happened for twelve years. The people of Danes were frightened. Many of them left town, leaving Hrothgar to fen for himself.

The hero comes to Herot

1. When Beowulf here's about the problems in Danes he immediately demanded a boat, so he could go slay Grendel.

2. Upon his arrival Beowulf and his army are met by a guard who questions their motive in coming there. Beowulf explains he is there to help, so the guard decides to let him pass.

3. Wulfgar is the Herald.Herald also questions his motives for being there. After a brief discussion Wulfgar tells Hrothgar he must let them help. Hrothgar is happy to see Beowulf, because he knows his father, and had heard stories of Beowulfs triumphs. I was at first surprised that he knew Hrothgar, because it is not necessarily as noble of an act as if he did not know him.

4. Beowulf tells Hrothgar that is confident  he will win this battle. Hrothgar fought with Beowulf's father, who often protected him.

Feast and Herot 

1. Unferth says that he does not believe Beowulf can win, because he once lost a battle in the ocean. Beowulf is insulted. He talks about what a long hard battle it was. He accuses Unferth of being weak.This is relevent, because it gives readers a sense of Beowulf's inflated ego.

2. The Queen is overjoyed that there is hope that the monster may be defeated. She is happy to have the guests.

The fight Grendel

1. What was different about Beowulf's preparations was that he did not do a whole lot of planning. He simply waited weaponless, for the monster to come to him.

2. When Grendel enters the army pretends to be asleep. He kills one man. When he goes to attack Beowulf he surprises the monster by grabbing his claw with great force. They have a loud fight. Beowulf pulls off Grendles arm. He gets away leaving it behind

Celebration at Heorot

1. Beowulf is like Sigemund in that he has not suffered many defeats. He is like Heremod, because he is more worried about his own life than anyone else's.

2. Hrothgar is happy to fulfill Beowulfs deed. He promises he will be given glory. Unferth was just happy that he was saved. He said nothing.

3. Fin is someone who was trying to end a war by marrying a woman. He was unsuccessful, and was killed at the end of the story. This suggests that this is not a good tactic for ending fueds.

4. Hrothgar is asked not to allow Beowulf to be king.

5. He gives the necklace to his uncle who dies in battle. Wealhtheow asks Beowulf to protect her kids.

6. The men sleep there, because after a night of celebration of the monsters defeat they believe it's safe. This is a mistake, because Grendel's mom comes yearning for revenge and kills them.

Another attack

1. Grendel's mom came to avenge her sons death. Grendel on the other had came, because he enjoyed killing.

2. Hrothgar responded by begging Beowulf to help again. He was devastated by the loss of his friend Aeshere to this viscious attack.

3. A gross, swampy lake inhabited by Grendel and his mom.

Beowulf fights Grendel's mom

1. Beowulf tells Hrothgar to prepare for war.

2. Hrothgar finds the head of his beloved friend, before Beowulf enters the mere. This causes him to want to fight the monster even more.

3. Beowulf puts on his new armor(a gift from Hrothgar), and talks about his will to prepare for battle. Unferth gives him a sword to use.

4. Beowulf is dragged by Grendel's mom down into her lair. Upon entering he notices that a dead Grendel is laying in it.

5. Beowulf breaks the sword when he tries to kill Grendel's mother with it.

6. Beowulf escapes Grendel's mother and her knife, because his armor protects him.

7. He kills Grendel's mom using a sword he finds in the lair. He takes Grendel's head back with him. The sword melts in the bloody water.

8. Beowulf happily returns to the surface. The men did not expect his return after seeing all the blood in the water. They gloomily returned home.

Further Celebration at Herot

1. Beowulf gives Heothgar what's left of the sword, and the severed head.

2. Hrothgar warns him not to be an egotistical leader. He talks about how Heremod was banished for being a bad leader, and later murder.

3. Beowulf returns Unferth's sword to him.

Beowulf Renturns Home

1. Hrothgar predicts Beowulf will continue to win battles for a while longer.

2. Hygd is Hygelac's wife. She is unlike Modthryth, because she is not a very violent ruler.

3. Hrothgar wants to marry Ingeld to end conflicts. Beowulf disagrees, because he thinks this may make things worse between Danes and Heathobards. This shows a more practical side of Beowulf.

4. Beowulf did not lie about the way the battles went when he talked about them. He is reports them clearly and proudly.

5. Beowulf gave away most of the treasures he earned. He gave most of it to Hygd and Hygelac.

The Dragon Wakes

1. This takes place 50 years later. Hygelac and Heardred have both died. A fire breathing dragon is the newest threat to those Beowulf loves.

2. The dragon is mad, because a man tried to steal from him. The man wanted to give it to his master to gain his freedom. An old lord left the treasure there.

3. He burned nearly every home in Geats while searching for the man.

4. Beowulf just assumes that his home has been burnt down based on all the homes that have been. He ordered a new Sheild so it wouldn't burn up. He plans on hurting the dragon as much as possible. He also excepts that this will be how he dies.

5. Hygelac was killed during a battle. He is offered a position as king. He refuses saying that Heardred should be king.

6. Heardred is murdered by Orleanna. Beowulf plans to kill him.

7. 11 men go with Beowulf to fight the dragon. He also brought the man who stole from the dragon.

8. Herebald was killed by an arrow while hunting. Swedes and Geats kept fighting. Beowulf avenged the dead by killing Dayraven.

Beowulf attacks the Dragon

1. Beowulf tells his army to wait outside for him so he can fight the dragon alone.

2. During the battle it is clear that Beowulf has clearly underestimated the dragons strength. His army tries to leave. Everyone but Wiglaf. He tries to help Beowulf who is struggling to survive.

3. They both try to kill the dragon Beowulf is badly injured. It is clear he will die, but in the end they defeat the dragon. Wiglaf stabs the dragon. 

4. Beowulf asks Wiglaf to take over for him. He wants him to protect those he cares about. Upon seeing the gold he asks to see it. He asks to be burned at the Headland, and that it be named Beowulf's Barrow.

Beowulf's Funeral

1. They try and fail to save Beowulf. Wiglaf says that he wishes the would have died, because they are so in honorable. He expects Geats will fall apart. 

2. The messenger announces Beowulfs death. Ogentheow threatens Geats. Hygelac saves them by killing Ogentheow. The final image was the dragon.

3. Wiglaf tells the crowd that they owe Beowulf a proper burial, because they were to blame for his death. 

4. Wiglaf's men kill the dragon by pushing him into the ocean. 

5. Beowulf's men mourned him and buried him with gifts during the funeral.

6. The Geats describe him as a kind person. This is strange for a person like this, because he did so much killing in his life time. It's also a great honor, because is show that he achieved his goal to die a hero.