Question

check your understanding
answer these questions before moving on to the analyze the text section on
the following page.
1 why does grendel hate humanity?
a he is an outcast member of the nobility.
b he is cursed and envious of the danes’ celebrations.
c the danes had persecuted and exiled him.
d his home had been destroyed to make way for people.
2 where does the final battle take place?
f hrothgar’s mead hall
g grendel’s cave lair
h beowulf’s castle
j wulfgar’s beach
3 beowulf defeats grendel by —
a using a magic sword
b setting fire to his lair
c chasing him out to sea
d fighting without weapons

Explanation:

1. In the epic Beowulf, Grendel is a cursed descendant of Cain, and he is filled with envy and rage at the joyful celebrations of the Danes in Heorot, which drives his hatred of humanity.
2. After Grendel's death, Beowulf travels to Grendel's underwater cave lair to face Grendel's mother, and this is the location of the final major battle in this part of the epic.
3. Beowulf chooses to fight Grendel without weapons because he knows no sword can harm the monster, relying instead on his immense strength to overpower Grendel by tearing off his arm.

Answer:

1. B He is cursed and envious of the Danes’ celebrations.
2. G Grendel’s cave lair
3. D fighting without weapons