Vocabulary Words for Beowulf, the Warrior, section 1.
All students are responsible for the following vocabulary list. Following this list is the information input by members of this class as the words were researched for homework. Click Here to read it.
- rune - a character from an ancient alphabet or a magical spell written in ancient characters - Beowulf's armbands were wrought with runes.
- fen - a boggy area often found on the coast, a swamp - Grendel came at night from the fen and moor.
- fiend - an evil being - Grendel is fiend from Hell.
- minstrel - a singer of songs, especially the singers who memorized epics and traveled from Great Hall to Great Hall to sing them - A minstrel wrote a song to celebrate the victory of Beowulf over Grendel.
- grovel - To "kow-tow" or bend down to someone out of fear or desire for attention - Unferth grovels at the feet of his king, Hrothgar.
- puny - weak, undersized - Compared to Grendel, the Danes are puny.
- bounteous - plentiful, abundant, given with generosity - Hrothgar's gifts to the Geats are bounteous.
- clarion - loud and shrill - The trumpet's clarion call echoed off of the hillside.
- lair - den or hiding place of an animal or thief - Grendel's lair was under the dark and boiling waters of a lake.
- stupor - in a sleepy state due to an illicit drug or drink - The Geats lay in a stupor after the banquet celebrating their arrival.
- tranquil - Calm, peaceful - The tranquil entrance of Wealhtheow is in contrast to the violence of the Geats and the argument between Beowulf and Unferth.
- shackled - chained or prevented from moving - The Geats were shackled not by their armor, but by their stupor, so they could not lift their swords against Grendel.
- torrent - a flood of something - Grendel hit the door with a torrent of hairy blow.
- plummet - to dive or fall quickly - Beowulf plummeted into the dark waters of Grendel's lair.
English 6