Questions for Beowulf, the Warrior, section 3.
Read the assigned pages carefully before answering the questions. We will read some of this out loud in class.
Interlude: Add to your Hero document a poetic description of the "revenge" taken by a relative or friend of your antagonist upon your hero's family or friends. This must include a description of the antagonist, the act of revenge, its discovery by your hero, and a speech by your hero about what he/she aims to do about it. All this should take a least a page on your laptop.
Page 37-break at top of page 39: Beowulf's life in Geatland, the Fire Dragon is aroused.
1. How long does Beowulf rule the Geats? What are these years like for the Geats?
2. Quote the simile in the first stanza on page 37. Explain it fully (how the comparison works and why the poet selected this image).
3. What epithet is used to describe the dragon on page 37?
4. What does the Dragon notice immediately upon waking up?
5. What lines and images associate the Dragon with evil? Underline these in your book.
6. On the top of line 38, what lines connect Beowulf to the Dragon? Underline these in your book.
7. Why does Beowulf have an iron shield made?
8. In your own words, write down what Beowulf was thinking about in the long passage on page 38. It begins with "...while over his troubled mind" and ends "he pondered upon death."
9. Add to your Hero document a similar passage to be inserted before his/her final battle.
10. What metaphors does Beowulf use on the top of 39 to describe the eyes of his warriors? What do these metaphors mean?
11.. What specific image does Beowulf use to describe the most terrible weapon of the Fire Dragon on the top of page 39
12. What does Beowulf say about Fate on page 39?
13. Add to your Hero document a speech to be made by your hero before his/her battle with the last antagonist.
Page 39, center, to bottom of page 42: Beowulf battles the Fire Dragon and is joined by Wiglaf.
14. What stops Beowulf as he walks to fight the Dragon?
15. Add to your Hero document a description of the setting of the last battle.
16. What is the alliteration in the poet's description of how the Dragon awakes? Why is this alliteration effective (How does it help you understand what is happening?)
17. What is the simile on the bottom of page 39? How is it reinforced by the use of the word "pygmy" at the top of page 40?
18. Add to your Hero document a description of the confrontation (meeting) of your hero and his/her final foe.
19. What do 10 warriors do and why? What does Wiglaf do and why?
20. Put into your own words Wiglaf's speeches on page 40. What does Wiglaf do after giving this speech?
21. What metaphor does Wiglaf use to try to make the warriors feel they are deserting Beowulf? Why is this a good metaphor for the situation?
22. Add to your Hero document a character to comes to fight next to your hero. Provide a good motive for this.
23. List the plot steps in the fight with the dragon. Try not to omit any important details.
24. Add to your Hero document the final battle. I'm afraid you hero will have to be injured in some way. Remember his/her weakness - you described this in the very first assignment.
Page 43 to the end: Death and burial of Beowulf
25. What kills Beowulf?
26. In what ways are Beowulf's eyes "distant" when he looks at Wiglaf?
27. Rewrite Beowulf's speech on p.43 in your own words. You may shorten it.
28. What is meant by "lavish litter of goblets"? Look up the word "lavish."
29. What simile is used to describe the jewels on the bottom of page 43? Underline it in the book and explain it.
30. What is meant by "the aged eyes, from crowding shadows Peering"?
31. Explain why Beowulf sends Wiglaf to gather the treasure.
32. Describe the monument Beowulf commands be built for himself. Explain his reasons for wanting this monument.
33. What judgment does Wiglaf pass on the cowardly warriors?
34. What words, images and actions describe the emotions of the people after Beowulf's death? Underline these in the book and summarize the emotions in the margin.
35. Explain the metaphor toward the bottom of page 47 that begins "an aged wife..."
36. What is the curse upon the wealth buried with Beowulf? What had Beowulf wanted done with it?
Ending: It is time to end your Hero document. Add the last two parts:
A dying speech by your hero. This should contain most of the elements in Beowulf's dying words and it should contain more.
A description of the burial or other final departure of your hero. Some heroes simply disappear, some ride away while mortally wounded. Some are carried off to an afterlife. You decide.
Elizabeth Sky-McIlvain 1/25/03
Least
Tern 
