E4/WR115: All The Beowulf Stuff

Clips from The Clash of the Gods: Beowulf

• How trustworthy is this as a “documentary”? Support and explain.
• Why might this not be considered a traditional documentary? Support and explain.
• What historical truths did you learn about Beowulf? Support and explain.
• What expectations do you nw have in regards to reading it? Support and explain.
• What are the key qualities needed in a hero of the Middle Ages? Use the “Frame of Reference” packet, support, and explain.
• What can you tell about the story based on these clips? Support and explain.
• What purpose do monsters serve? Define the term monster, support, and explain.
• How is Beowulf a myth? A fairy tale? A legend? Support and explain.

Beowulf versus Grendel

• 86-114: How does the creation story fit with other creation stories you have heard? What purpose does it serve? Support and explain.
• What was the religious result of the “12 years of terror” inflicted by Grendel? Support and explain.
• What “omens” would the Geats have used to cause them to encourage Beowulf to help Hrothgar and the Danes? Support and explain.
• 587-594: What has Unferth done that would cause Beowulf to never respect him? Support and explain.
• Why would a “good king” like Hrothgar have someone like Unferth at his side? Support and explain.
• 677-682: Why does Beowulf choose to go “mano a mano”? Support and explain.
• What was the best section of imagery in the first part of the book? Support and explain.
• 797-804: How do Grendel’s enchantments and spells get circumvented? Did Beowulf already know about them before he made his decision? Support and explain.
• What other pieces of literature or stories have a hero circumventing prophecies or protections that make a monster “unkillable”? Support and explain.
• What purpose do the stories of other kings and heroes serve in this section? Support and explain.

Beowulf versus Grendel’s Mother

• Provide a brief synopsis (chain of events)
• Provide a brief summary (What was this section about? What was its message?)
• Who or what was important in this section? Support and explain.
• What changed? Support and explain.
• How well constructed is the story? Support and explain.
• What other pieces of literature does this section remind you of? Support and explain.
• What other classes reflect the key ideas at play in this section? Support and explain.

Beowulf versus The Dragon

• What evidence is there that Tolkien (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings) borrowed ideas from Beowulf? Support and explain.
• Why does the text drift from the dragon to Beowulf helping the Swedes? Support and explain.
• Why did Beowulf help the Swedes? Support and explain.
• 2625-2628/2694-2687: What do these lines tell us about Wiglaf? Why is this important information? Support and explain.
• 2681-2682/2686-2687: How does this information change your understanding of Beowulf’s choices during his battle with Grendel? Support and explain.
• How can the events in the third part of Beowulf be connected to the legends of King Arthur? Support and explain.