Beowulf 5

Study Guide Questions for Lines 1651-1913

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Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)

Justice, Virtue, Vice, Death, Happiness, Kindness, Loyalty, Peace, Friendship

Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)

1. What “relic” did Beowulf give to Hrothgar and what was engraved upon it?

2. Which virtues did Hrothgar ascribe to Beowulf?

3. Which vices did Hrothgar ascribe to King Heremod?

4. What did Hrothgar say “Almighty God in His magnificence favours” mankind with?

5. What did Hrothgar tell Beowulf he should “choose?”

6. How long had Hrothgar been defending his people?

7. What did Beowulf give to Unferth and what did he say to him?

8. What pledge did Beowulf make to Hrothgar if ever “people on your borders are threatening battle?”

9. What did Hrothgar says Beowulf had accomplished between “the Geat nation and us neighboring Danes?”

10. What made Hrothgar break “down in sudden tears?”

11. What made the coast guardsmen “a respected man at his place on the mead-bench” in “future days?” 

Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)

1. Why did Hrothgar compare and contrast Beowulf with King Heremod? 

2. What does the poet mean when he refers to “the soul’s guard?”

3. What does the poet mean by saying “because of good things that the Heavenly Powers gave him in the past he ignores the shape of things to come?”

4. How does Beowulf’s various interactions with Unferth throughout the story highlight the virtues of his character?

5. Hrothgar said that Beowulf’s actions have brought the Geats and Danes into a “shared peace and a pact of friendship.” What repeated theme in the story does this run contrary to? Why is this important to the story?

Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)

1. Beowulf said in his speech, “I have wrested the hilt from the enemies’ hand, avenged the evil done to the Danes; it is what was due. And this I pledge, O prince of the Shieldings: you can sleep secure with your company of troops in Heorot Hall…” Reflecting on these words, what is the relationship between justice and peace? Offer some justification for your conclusion.

2. Define the concept of happiness. What does the Beowulf poet tell us about the nature of happiness and how it is acquired? Do you agree or disagree with the perspective of the poet as to what makes a person happy? Explain why you think as you do.

Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)

1. Read Ecclesiastes 3 and compare/contrast it with Hrothgar’s speech to Beowulf. What points of commonality and difference do you see? What are we to take away from these things?