Alliteration

Same sound multiple times in a line

Kenning

Two-words that describe 1 word or thing

Scop

Person who tells a story through song

Wyrd

Anglo-Saxon fate or personal destiny

Mead

Alcoholic beverage drank by the pagans, similar to a sweet beer

Barrow

Ancient burial mound

Pyre

Burning heap for funeral rite

Anglo Saxon time frame and religious belief

410-1066, Polytheistic (Pagans converted to Christianity)

Beowulf

Mighty hero of Poem, strength of 30 men, seen as christ figure

Hrothgar

King of Danes, can't be killed on throne

Grendel

Cain's son, tormented Danes for 12 years, enormous monster

Grendel's Mother

Lives in cave beneath lake/swamp, battles Beowulf but head is ultimately chopped off

Hygelac

King of Geats, uncle to Beowulf

Unferth

Hrothgar's top retainer, insults Beowulf, lends Beowulf a sword (Hrunting)

Wiglaf

Only one to aid Beowulf in fight against dragon, Geat's future king

Brecca

Raced against Beowulf in swimming competition

Heorot

Mead hall of the Danes

Beowulf's Barrow

Burial ground/site for Beowulf

Explain how Grendel is killed

Beowulf grabs their arm and eventually rips it off, monster goes back to cave to bleed out inevitably

Explain how Grendel's mother is killed

Head is chopped off by Giant's sword

Explain how the Dragon is killed

Stabbed in the stomach by Wiglaf initially, then Beowulf finishes them off w/ a dagger

To what extent is Beowulf a Christ figure, and what is the point of making him a Christ figure?

He sacrifices himself to save the Geat's when he is king, just like Jesus did to free every one of sin. By making the hero a Christ figure, this enforces the Christian propaganda that was going on at the time.

Where does Beowulf believe he will go after death?

He believes he will go to Heaven, because even though he has killed monsters and sinned, he did it with good intentions so God won't blame him.

Where does the dragon come from? Why does it attack the Geats? Is the dragon a greater or lesser threat than Grendel? Why does Beowulf want to fight it?

He lives in a local lair near the Geats, a slave takes a cup from the Dragon which enrages the dragon to burn down the Geat's kingdom, the dragon is a greater force than Grendel because it ultimately kills Beowulf, Beowulf wanted to fight the dragon because it was test for him to test his strength/fighting ability

According to the poet, Grendel is descended from the Cain. In the Bible, Cain murders his righteous brother, Abel. Why does the poet choose Cain as the forefather as Grendel? What about Grendel's actions, motivations, and relationships make him similar to Cain?

The poet chooses Cain because it is another reinforcement of Christian propaganda. Grendel watches the Danes and becomes envious and fueled with hate, just as Cain was with his brother.

How does Beowulf become King? How does he select the next king to rule the people? What does the poet suggest are the qualities of a good king?

Queen Hygd offered the king position to Beowulf once Hygelac died instead of her son Heardred, but Beowulf became Heardred's 1st hand man instead until Heardred died and Beowulf took over. Beowulf gives the king position to Wiglaf because he is the only one to aid him in the fight against the dragon. Good qualities of a king include intimidating, strong, not starting unnecessary fights, good intentions, and not timid