Question

beowulf questions #2

1. using the vocabulary word list, where does the monster live? describe it.
2. what did hrothgar have built for the danes? what was it used for?
3. what did god do which prevented grendel from co-existing with the danes?
4. who is grendel a descendant of? describe the character/s.
5. what identifies beowulf as a supernatural being?
6. who is higlac?
7. what is an epic?
8. who is wulfgar?
9. what is an alliteration?
10. what is the tone of this epic?

Explanation:

1. In Beowulf, the monster Grendel lives in a murky, desolate swamp. It is a place filled with mist, cold, and an eerie atmosphere, far from human habitation.
2. Hrothgar built Heorot for the Danes. It was a great mead - hall used for feasting, celebration, and as a symbol of the king's power and the community's unity.
3. God placed a curse on Grendel. This curse was likely due to Grendel's descent from Cain (as per the text's religious undertones), making him an outcast and unable to co - exist peacefully with the Danes.
4. Grendel is a descendant of Cain. Cain, from the Bible, is known as the first murderer. Grendel, like Cain, is an outcast, filled with anger and jealousy, and has a violent nature.
5. Beowulf's superhuman strength (such as when he battles Grendel with his bare hands and defeats him) and his ability to perform seemingly impossible feats (like surviving the underwater battle with Grendel's mother for an extended period) identify him as a supernatural being.
6. Higlac is Beowulf's uncle and the king of the Geats.
7. An epic is a long narrative poem that typically recounts the deeds of a heroic figure (like Beowulf) and often reflects the values, beliefs, and history of a particular culture.
8. Wulfgar is a herald and a diplomat in the court of Hrothgar. He is known for his wisdom and his role in facilitating communication between different groups.
9. Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant sounds in a series of words. For example, in Beowulf, phrases like "bold warrior" use alliteration.
10. The tone of the epic Beowulf is often solemn and heroic. It has a sense of grandeur when describing Beowulf's deeds, but also a somberness when dealing with themes like death, fate, and the transience of human achievements.

Answer:

1. The monster lives in a murky, desolate swamp (description as above).
2. Hrothgar built Heorot for feasting, celebration, and as a symbol of power and unity.
3. God placed a curse on Grendel (due to his Cain - like descent).
4. Grendel is a descendant of Cain (Cain is the first murderer, an outcast).
5. Superhuman strength and ability to perform impossible feats.
6. Beowulf's uncle and king of the Geats.
7. A long narrative poem recounting heroic deeds and cultural values.
8. A herald and diplomat in Hrothgar's court (wise, facilitator of communication).
9. Repetition of initial consonant sounds.
10. Solemn and heroic.