We are skipping ahead by a handful of pages to the next section of Beowulf; avoiding the excrutiatingly long description of the feast that is thrown in Beowulf’s honor after Grendel’s death. You’ll pick up at line 1251: everyone has gone to bed for the night, full of food and wine, not aware that another monster haunts the swamps who is none too happy about the death of Grendel…
Reading Guide for Part 3 — lines 1251-1491
How is Grendel’s mother’s attack on Heorot different than Grendel’s attacks? How are they similar? (L2)
How does the concept of weregild (death price) apply to Grendel’s mother’s attack?
Who does Grendel’s mother take from Heorot and why is his death so significant?
Paraphrase the advice that Beowulf gives to Hrothgar in lines 1384-1388.
Describe the swamp in which Grendel’s mother lives. Which element of epic poetry does this fit into best?
Identify Unferth’s weapon that Beowulf takes into battle. Why doesn’t Unferth use it himself? What do you think this reveals about both of the men?
Name two things Beowulf asks Hrothgar to do if he dies in battle with Grendel’s mother.
Why is Beowulf taking this risk, knowing how dangerous it is, when he has already been rewarded for the job he came to Heorot to do?
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