The warrior Beowulf must fight and defeat the monster Grendel who is terrorizing towns, and later, Grendel's mother, who begins killing out of revenge. Take this short quiz over the plot of the epic poem. See how much you can remember!
The fourteenth century, in London
The sixth century in what is now known as Denmark and southwestern Sweden.
The eighteenth century, in Italy
Grendel
Heorot
Hyath
He is going to marry the king's daughter.
Hrothgar once sheltered Beowulf's father during a deadly feud, and he hopes to return the favor while enhancing his own reputation.
He hopes to overthrow the king.
With a brief genealogy of the Scylding (Dane) royal dynasty
With a large battle
With a large banquet
The ogre furiously bursts in on the Geats, killing one and then reaching for Beowulf.
Kills the king and Beowulf.
Retreats in terror.
The king of the hall
The warrior who helped defeat the monster.
A huge man-like ogre and a descendant of the biblical murderer Cain.
The beast suceeds in killing Beowulf.
Beuwulf agrees to let the beast live if he no longer terrorizes the hall.
Beowulf seizes the ogre's claw and does not let go. Beowulf emerges victorious as he rips Grendel's claw from its shoulder socket, sending the mortally wounded beast fleeing to his mere (pool). The claw trophy hangs high under the roof of Heorot.
The king at the beginning of the poem.
A young warrior in Geatland (southwestern Sweden) who comes to the Scyldings' aid, bringing with him 14 of his finest men.
A monster
The aging king who Grendel has menaced for 12 years
The young warrior whose father saved the king
The name of the mead hall where the story takes place.
Another king
A dragon
A war
Naegling
Thatar
Uther
The beast succeeds in killing Beowulf.
Beowulf agrees to let the beast live if he no longer terrorizes the hall.
Beowulf seizes the ogre's claw and does not let go. Beowulf emerges victorious as he rips Grendel's claw from its shoulder socket, sending the mortally wounded beast fleeing to his mere (pool). The claw trophy hangs high under the roof of Heorot.
30 years
40 years
50 years
Wiglaf
Bayar
Thaliat
Beowulf is mortally wounded. Dying, Beowulf leaves his kingdom to Wiglaf and requests that his body be cremated in a funeral pyre and buried high on a seaside cliff where passing sailors might see the barrow. The dragon's treasure-hoard is buried with him.
Beowulf kills Wiglaf and the dragon, and rules for another 50 years.
The dragon kills Wiglaf and Beowulf.
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