Beowulf: A New Verse Translation (By Seamus Heaney)

Reading Guide #1
Kenning an Anglo-Saxon literary device, very common in Anglo-Saxon poetry,
in which a new noun or noun phrase is coined to replace a more familiar noun.
Essentially, they are metaphorical, describing a well-known noun in a new way
that gives information about its qualities and characteristics. Many kennings
end with er, but they do not have to.
Here are some examples:
whale-way" = the sea
"wave-horse" = ship!
Alliteration a pattern of sound that includes the repetition of consonant
sounds. The repetition is located at the beginning of words within a phrase,
sentence, or paragraph. Poets often use alliteration to audibly represent the
action that is taking place. EX: Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed.
Caesura- a pause or a break in a line, often indicated by punctuation (usually
associated with enjambment). EX: There was SS, scourge of many tribes,
Enjambment- The continuation of a sentence beyond the second line of a
couplet. Also applied less restrictedly to the carrying over of a sentence from
one line to the next. EX: There was SS, scourge of many tribes, / a wrecker of
mead-benches, rampaging among foes.
!Euphemism used when writing about matters such as sex, violence, death,
crimes and "embarrassing" topics. The purpose of euphemisms is to substitute
unpleasant and severe words with more genteel ones in order to mask the
harshness. EX: A garbage collector is a sanitation engineer.!
Synecdoche a type of figurative language in which the whole is used for the
part or the part used for the whole. EX: He has too many mouths to feed. 
Introduction of the Danes
1.

In lines 7 12, find two kennings.

2.

In lines 12 20, find three examples of text probably added by monks.

3.

In lines 18 23, find examples of alliteration.

4.

In line 27, what does the euphemism crossed over into the Lords
Keeping mean?

5.

In lines 30 35, a ____________________ ____________________ is being

described.

6.

In line 36, ring giver is a kenning for

7.

In lines 59 63, Halfdanes heirs are discussed. What two things do you
notice about the female heir? !

8.

Summary Question: What kind of king is Hrothgar? Explain your answer.

Grendel Attacks Heorot

9.

In line 157 163, find an example of synecdoche.

10. In line 160 163, find a kenning for Grendel. What does it suggest about him?

11. In lines 164 169, find an example of alliteration. In lines 175 180, discuss

the pagan ritual they perform.

12. Summary Question: Who is Grendel, and what does he do?

Beowulf Guide #2
A Hero Arrives
13.

In line 258, what do you think the kenning word-hoard refers to?

14.

In lines 275 278, find the kenning that refers to Grendel.

15.

Summarize what Beowulf has said in lines 260 285.

16.

In lines 410 415, find examples of alliteration.

17. In lines 415 426, give your opinion of Beowulfs speech. Is he arrogant or confident?
Explain.
18.

Beowulf says he only has one request, what is it?

19.

In lines 433 440, how does Beowulf say that he will fight Grendel? What is his reason?

20. In lines 440 441, Beowulf refers to the Anglo-Saxon belief in

__________________________ (hint: fate)
21.

If Beowulf dies, what does he want?

22. In lines 499 527, Unferth speaks to Beowulf and calls him out. Summarize Unferths
version of the !swimming match between Beowulf and Breca.
23.

What is Unferths prediction?

24.

When Beowulf begins to reply in line 528, what does he say about Unferth?

25. In line 573, Fate spares the man it has not already marked. This is again referring to
________________
26.

Summarize Beowulfs version of the swimming match.

27.
In lines 582 606, what does Beowulf say Unferth has or has not done? What does he
say will happen because of it?

Personification a metaphor in which a nonhuman thing or quality takes on human

characteristics or capabilities. (The sun kissed her cheeks or Time crawled.)
Fight with Grendel
28.

In lines, 702 705, find two kennings and determine what they mean.