1) Describe how we find King Hrothgar and his response to learning that Beowulf has come to his kingdom.
A. The king is sad and depressed that his kingdom has fallen into such a state of disrepair. He is overjoyed to learn that Beowulf, whom he knows from stories and his father, Ecgtheow, has come to fight Grendel. Hrothgar promises Beowulf treasure if he can defeat the monster.
2) In the beginning of “Beowulf,” King Hrothgar’s hall has been deserted for twelve years. In a short essay, tell why the hall has been deserted. Be sure to include specific examples from the text. What happened to those who ventured into the hall during those 12 years? What was the cause of this? At what time of day did these events take place? Explain.
A. A. …show more content…

A. agree may refer to themes that always are relevant to human life: good vs. evil; the glorification of generous rulers who try to do good for others; the importance of dedication, bravery, and fairness.
11) Is good a more powerful force than evil in the modern world? Explain your opinion.
A. I would argue that good is a stronger power than evil today because most people live lives that are fairly happy. Compared to other times in world history, we are much less likely to be killed by rampaging armies. We are very unlikely to be enslaved. In most countries of the world, we are unlikely to be persecuted for our religious or political views.
12) The pagan Germans, Greeks, and other ancient peoples believed that fame and glory are the only things that will survive a human being’s death. What evidence do you find in Beowulf of the importance placed on a person’s public reputation? Write an essay in which you use examples from the poem to support your answer.
A. one of Beowulf’s main goals is to win glory by killing Grendel. His deeds have given him a reputation for heroism and support from his people to help the Danes. When he goes into the lake to fight Grendel’s mother, the bystanders fear he has lost his life—and fame: here, death equals defeat equals loss of glory. Even when old, Beowulf wants to seek fame by fighting the dragon. He doesn’t wish to die at the end, but when he sees that it is inevitable, he asks his warriors to build a tower that