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ENGL 2322 Exam 1 Review Questions and answers latest update
- Course
- ENGL 2322
- Institution
- University Of Texas - Austin
ENGL 2322 Exam 1 Review Questions and answers latest update
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ENGL 2322 Exam #1 ReviewWhy does Grendel constantly attack the mead-hall? ANS✔✔ The literal
reason Grendel has for attacking Herot is that he hears the songs of King
Hrothgar's bard, which tell of God's creation of the world, and the sounds all of
the hall's inhabitants engaging in their joyous feast. Grendel despises these
people for their happiness because, through circumstances beyond his control,
he has been condemned to a life of suffering and despair in the shadows, so,
much like his forefather, he is driven by his jealousy to commit violent acts
against those whom he sees as favored by God.
What is the nature of the spell that has been placed on Grendel that makes it
hard for his opponent to beat him? ANS✔✔ Grendel had "bewitched all the
men's weapons, laid spells that blunted every mortal's blade." In other words,
their swords had no effect when they struck Grendel.
Describe the relationship between Beowulf and Unferth. ANS✔✔ -Beowulf
is portrayed as the perfect hero in northern European mythology. He is strong,
brave, and honorable. Unferth is meant to be Beowulf's foil, or opposite. He is
weak, cowardly, and dishonorable.
-Unferth serves two purposes: he is a foil to Beowulf, and he helps build up
Beowulf's achievements in his attempt to undermine them.
(Unferth tries to make Beowulf look bad by telling a story in which the great
hero lost a swimming contest. Beowulf takes this with stride and reveals that
the only reason he couldn't win was because he was too busy fighting monsters
in the waters to keep up)
,Why is Hrothgar further saddened after Grendel's mother attacks the mead-
hall? ANS✔✔ Aeschere was one of King Hrothgar's closest advisors. He was
killed and beheaded by Grendel's mother when she avenges the death of her
son, and Hrothgar is deeply grieved by his loss.
Define kenning ANS✔✔ -a compound expression in Old English and Old
Norse poetry with metaphorical meaning
-a literary device in which a noun is renamed in a creative way using a
compound word or union of two separate words to combine ideas
-ex Beowulf: "whale-road" to mean the sea, "light-of-battle" to mean a sword,
"battle-sweat" to mean blood, "raven-harvest" to mean a corpse, "ring-giver" to
mean a king, and "sky-candle" to mean the sun.
What new trophy do Beowulf and his men bring back to the mead-hall after he
defeats Grendel's mother? ANS✔✔ Grendel's head and the hilt of the magic
sword.
Know the details of Beowulf's battle with the dragon. ANS✔✔ -Before
heading into the dragon's lair, Beowulf tells his thanes that this is his last
battle. Bringing along his sword and special shield, Beowulf enters the lair and
tells the men to wait for him. He shouts as he walks in, and the dragon awakes.
-Immediately, the dragon breathes fire over Beowulf. The shield holds off the
flame, but when Beowulf tries to strike the dragon, his sword fails him, and
Beowulf is left unarmed. At this moment, when their king needs them, ten of
the eleven thanes who had come with Beowulf flee in fright. Only Wiglaf stays.
, -The dragon attacks again, covering Wiglaf and Beowulf in fire. Beowulf
wounds the dragon, but the dragon stabs his neck with his poisoned tusk.
Beowulf is badly wounded. Wiglaf stabs the dragon but is burned in the
process. Beowulf manages to pull out a knife tucked in his belt and stabs the
dragon. Together, the king and his loyal thane kill the dragon. But the wound
in Beowulf's neck begins to burn, and the old king knows he's not long for the
world.
Recall the details of Beowulf's death. ANS✔✔ -Beowulf collapses. Wiglaf
pours water on the wound, but there is not much he can do. Beowulf wishes
aloud for a son, but concludes that Wiglaf will stand in. Beowulf asks Wiglaf to
bring him some of the treasure from the dragon's hoard so he can see what he
is dying for. Wiglaf does, and Beowulf tells him he sold his life for these
treasures and sold it well.
-He asks Wiglaf to build him a tower so he'll be remembered. Then, he gives
Wiglaf a gold necklace and asks him to be the king of the Geat. Then, the
mighty Beowulf dies.
Why is Beowulf considered to be the chosen one who is "permitted to enter the
ring-hall"? ANS✔✔
What do the Geat people worry about now that Beowulf is dead? ANS✔✔ -
Wiglaf foresees that, with Beowulf dead and his warriors disgraced, the Geats
will be attacked by their neighbors and their entire nation will be destroyed.
-Like Wiglaf, the messenger predicts that, with Beowulf gone, the Geats will be
attacked by their neighbors, the Franks and the Frisians.
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