Beowulf Questions

1. Before Beowulf enters the mere, the group of warriors he is with gathers around the lake and shoot a sea monster dwelling in the water. They drag it out and stab it to death and look at its enormous body in amazement.
2. To prepare for the battle, Beowulf put on his chain mail armor and his golden helmet. He takes an ancient sword called the Hrunting which has never lost a battle according to legend.
3. When Beowulf enters the mere, he swims all the way to the bottom only to be seized in the clutches of Grendel's mother. She takes him to a battle arena where all kinds of sea beasts have gathered to watch the battle. It is surprising how they live in a cave which is underwater.
4. The ancient sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth could not hurt Grendel's mother because her demonic body could not be sliced by any sword. Beowulf throws it aside and wrestles with her instead.
5. Beowulf is saved by his chain mail armor from the dagger Grendel's mother attempted to stab him with.
6. Beowulf spots a giant sword that was made by giants and cursed with magic. He grabs it and cuts off Grendel's Mother's head with it. When she dies, the light from heaven illuminates the lair and he sees Grendel's dead body. He cuts his head off and takes it with him as a trophy to the surface along with many other treasures. The sword he killed Grendel's mother with melted like water, "disappearing like ice."
7. When Beowulf surfaces, his group of warriors are overjoyed because they thought he died when they saw the blood from Grendel's mother as they thought it was his.
8. Beowulf gives to Hrothgar the hilt of the sword he killed Grendel's mother with which was bejeweled, and the head of Grendel.
9.  The message Hrothgar has for Beowulf is that he is very wise and strong and he shouldn't let his power be his weakness. The comparison of him to Heremod was to make him realize that sometimes power can cause people to make dumb decisions. Heremod died because he let his power and success take control of him and died by taking on a battle he couldn't win. The lesson is to not let your power get the better of you and to stay humble and wise.
10. Beowulf returns the sword Hrunting that he borrowed to Unferth.

Beowulf Reading Notes

Chapter 9

• Unferth speaks about how he wishes he could be as heroic as Beowulf
• Unferth continues to talk about how big of an ego Beowulf has because of him going out to fight Breca in the stormy winter sea
• He says that if you couldn't beat Breca, then he won't stand a chance against Grendel
• Beowulf replies to Unferth by saying that his version of the story is much different and says that he is getting drunk
• Beowulf retells the story but in much greater detail
• Beowulf and Breca raced each other in the ocean but the storm was too violent and sea monsters attacked Beowulf
• He fended them off with his sword and was protected by his chain mail armor
• Eventually, he made it to shore in one piece