beowulf essay questions pdf

Amy's Wandering

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FREE Beowulf Resources and Study Guides

April 24, 2014 By: amyswandering comment

Can you tell we are tackling Beowulf next week? I am amazed at the number of quality resources available for free! This list includes research pages, writing assignments, history lessons, and literature guides.

Updated 08/12/22

Beowulf Resources

Beowulf: Still a Hero

An Introduction to Beowulf

The Beauty of Anglo-Saxon Poetry: A Prelude to Beowulf

Audio – Stories of Beowulf Told to the Children by H. E. Marshall

The Making of Monsters

Reading Literature in Translation: Beowulf as a Case Study

Beowulf in Hypertext

Beowulf on Steorarume

Beowulf: A Research Guide

Beowulf Quizlet Flashcards

Electronic Beowulf

Beowulf for Kids

Beowulf Literature Guides

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116 Beowulf Essay Topics & Paper Examples

See tips on writing the Beowulf thesis statements and critical analysis of the poem. Also, our experts have prepared a list of ideas and prompts that allow you to explore the archetypal epic hero and more!

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• Beowulf: Role of Women
• Is Beowulf an Ideal Hero and King? The Ideal in “Beowulf”
• The Mead-Hall in “Beowulf” and Anglo-Saxon Society
• The Epic Poem “Beowulf”: Arms and Armor
• Grendel’s Mother in Film “Beowulf”
• The Poem “Beowulf”: Prologue Analysis
• The Poem “Beowulf”: The “Wyrd” Concept
• Traditional Sociocultural Elements of the Germanic Society in the “Beowulf” Poem
• British Literature: Beowulf vs. Macbeth

Beowulf and Grendel Comparison

Make an essay comparing the physical depiction and characters of Beowulf and Grendel in this ancient epic. Point out the monstrous look of the latter and the heroic traits of the titular character. Search for traits these characters share and look for symbolism in their depiction.

Beowulf Christianity vs Paganism

Describe the mix of pagan and early Christian elements in the Beowulf poem. Explain why they mix well or don’t and how the epic’s time of writing influenced the text. Which of the characters represent the old religion and which serve as representatives of the new one?

Main Beowulf Themes: Courage & Heroic Code

Write a compelling essay covering the themes of courage and heroism in Beowulf. Talk about the most courageous characters in this literary work and the things that ultimately make them great warriors, capable of dealing with overwhelming adversity. Explain the physical and mental elements that go behind this mindset.

Beowulf Poem vs Movie

Compare and contrast the original work and the movie of the same name released in 2007. Explain if the adaptation did a good job of telling its story and underlying message. Describe what the movie did properly or not, and if it had any major changes from the source material.

Good vs Evil in Beowulf Epic Poem

Analyze how good and evil are represented in this old English poem. Explain how the epic’s main character represents all of the good in the world and Christianity while the monsters call back to the darker times of paganism, representing evil incarnate. Describe if this clear dichotomy works to the poem’s advantage.

• Beowulf, the Hero of the Epic Poem Wisdom in Beowulf’s life is evident in his journey to Denmark and his reign over the Geats. At this time, all he had in his mind were the battles he was going to engage in […]
• Feudalism in Europe in the “Beowulf” Poem The Old English epic poem Beowulf presents a good illustration of the relations and obligations of lords and vassals. God defines the rights and obligations in feudal society.
• Depiction of Heroism in “Beowulf”, “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” and “Le Morte D’Arthur” In Le Morte D’Arthur, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Beowulf, the central characters in the tales appear to represent their own unique description of heroism.
• Female Superhero: Beowulf and “Wonder Woman” Film The central argument of the essay is that Beowulf inspired Wonder Woman and led to the creation of a story that asserts the ability of females to be superheroes.
• The Poem “Beowulf”: Linguistic Analysis In old English, as is the case with the poem, there is an addition of the suffixes such as as in elingas in weak verbs.
• Beowulf Character in Historical and Cultural Contexts After reading the poem, a lot can be learned about Beowulf as a warrior and his challenges, as well as the historical and cultural context of the literature of that period.
• “The Poem of Beowulf” in the Anglo-Saxon Culture The first part is the legend of Beowulf and Grendel; the second is about Beowulf and the dragon. He is ready to sacrifice himself and his courage for the sake of justice.
• Reading Between the Lines: The Monster That Haunted Heorot To start with, it is so ancient that one cannot help gasping in awe; second, “Beowulf” is the first written and, therefore, the most treasured British poem; third, the poem is truly epic from beginning […]
• Heroism in Beowulf He was welcoming and showed this feature by accepting Beowulf’s assistance and aiding in the development of Beowulf into maturity, as indicated in the first section of the narrative.
• Gender Roles in “Beowulf” Poem Women are portrayed as belongings for the advantage of the men throughout Beowulf and are made to support the male characters.
• Tales of Beowulf: Theme’ Analysis Considering the peculiarities of Beowulf, the paper aims at exploring particular themes such as family, fame and shame, changes and cycles, and the theme of religion present in the poem to show how the interpolated […]
• Heroes’ Noble Intentions in Epic Poems: Sundiata, Beowulf and Gilgamesh The monster was killed, and later Beowulf had to protect his people from the vengeful mother of the beast, although even the hero’s original sword refused to harm a woman.
• Dragon-Fight in “Beowulf” Epic Poem My armor is blazing in the hot rays of the old sun. He defeated the beast, I must admit it, and and saved the kingdom.
• Ancient Works of Literature According to the author, the king is “given such glory of war, such honor of combat, that all his kin obey him gladly till great grow his band of youthful comrades”.the character of the king […]
• The Poem “Beowulf”: Character Analysis The poem depicts the heroic deeds of the warrior Beowulf and captures the Anglo-Saxon culture of the medieval period. Next, in the part of the poem which depicts Beowulf’s battle with Grendel’s mother, the character […]
• A Life Lesson from Shakespeare’s Macbeth Play vs. Beowulf Poem In Macbeth, the consequences of ambition are seen through the pain and suffering of Macbeth, his wife, and the people of Scotland.
• Main Idea and Literary Devices of Beowulf Poem Furthermore, in the third part of the text, which focuses on Beowulf’s last battle, the author introduces a different point of view to the story.
• Beowulf Among Ancient European Poems The poem describes the glorious life and deeds of a hero, Beowulf, who was regarded as a person sent by heaven for people.
• “Beowulf” in Contemporary Culture The title of this literary work is the name of the main character. In addition, a key factor contributing to the plot of the heroes’ destinies is the presence of an enemy, on whose destruction […]
• Beowulf Defeats Grendel: Relationships With Family, Women, and His Own Gender A battle with the monster’s mother was going to be even harder for our hero. Nevertheless, a few days after, I was extremely happy to see Grendel’s arm and claw exhibited in Herot as a […]
• The “Beowulf” Anglo-Saxony Epic Poem The willingness to save the opponent’s head describes the main hero’s braveness, which is one of the central features that is explained during the poem.
• Classical Epos of Beowulf and Gardner’s Work Connection This paper is dedicated to the study of the connection between classical epos of Beowulf and Gardner’s work through the analysis of Gardner’s toying with the conventions of the warrior code, the place of heroes […]
• Thematic Concepts in Beowulf and Divine Comedy (Inferno) The tension is not resolved because this exploration does not factor in the causes of the evil meaning that the reinforcement of the doctrinal message overrides critical thinking. In paradise, the issue of God’s Justice […]
• Treasured Objects in Beowulf, Milton’s Paradise Lost, and Pope’s “Rape of the Lock” This piece of literature is not a work of so to say, an eternal value that can be explained by the transient nature of the life experience addressed in it.
• “Beowulf” by Seamus Heaney Review Through the story telling of the poem it becomes evident that its main character is somehow corrupted by the glory, power and money he acquires for his acts of bravery; still, his main qualities are […]
• Heroism and Characters in the “Beowulf” Epic Poem The central figure of any heroic epics is the character who represents the interests of his people and serves as the embodiment of the human qualities which are considered to be the best in their […]
• Role of Women in the Poem Beowulf However, from a careful analysis of the context of the poem and the society in which it is set in, it is evident that women also played a key role in the poem.
• Why the Story of Beowulf Focuses on the History of the Main Character as a Hero Rather Than a King The story of Beowulf, to a great extent, focuses on the history of the main character as a hero as opposed to a king.
• Comparison of Heroes in Early English Literature As a recap, to the thesis of this essay, the representation of a hero in early literature was closely linked to the culture that produced it. The above portrayal of a hero is slightly distinct […]
• Heroes in English Literature From the above mentioned epic heroes, we find that the aspect of heroism is differentiated mostly to suit the time in which they were written and also to meet the expectation of the audience and […]
• Beowulf: Grendel’s Mother Viewpoint This essay demonstrates the linguistic, thematic, and cultural importance of Beowulf from the eyes of Grendel’s mother, an antagonist in the novel.

Is Beowulf a Villain or a Hero?

Beowulf is without a doubt the hero of the epic, exhibiting many virtuous qualities: bravery, loyalty, and strength. But, some of the character’s traits seem negative. As the character grows older, he becomes more focused on personal wealth and glory. It contrasts Beowulf’s selfless and helpful nature at the story’s beginning.

What Makes Hrothgar a Good King?

Several characteristics make Hrothgar a good king. He displays great leadership skills, generosity, and diplomacy. Hrothgar also cares about his thanes, distributing treasure and land between them according to the heroic code. The king warns Beowulf about becoming too prideful and blind to the dangers of fame.

How Are Kennings Used in Beowulf?

In this poem, kennings have the same role as in other pieces of old English literature. They are a special kind of metaphor used during that period and are considered a powerful literary device. Kennings are a metaphoric compound that replaces simple nouns. In Beowulf, their examples include a storm of swords (war) and a peace-bringer among nations (queen).