beowulf questions

I worked with Miranda Gomez (P. 5) and Lauren Lacsina (P. 3) to answer these questions. I was given all the questions regarding Beowulf's return home in part 2, his battle with the dragon, and eventually his death. 

BEOWULF AND THE DRAGON (lines 2200-3182, pp. 79-99) 

[THE DRAGON WAKES] (lines 2200-2509, pp. 79-86)

1.How much later does Part 2 take place? What kings have died in the meanwhile? What danger now exists?

- Part 2 takes place 50 years later, after the deaths of Hygelac and Heardred. A dragon now endangers the Geats.

2.Why is the dragon angry? Why did the man take a cup? How did the treasure come to be there in the first place? (The speech of the lone survivor, the one who put the gold in the barrow, is in a typically Old English elegiac tone.

- A slave stole a goblet that was from a massive treasure left over from an old civilization. The dragon found the treasure and claimed it as his own

3.What did the dragon destroy that evening?

- The dragon destroyed Beowulf's palace

4.Why does Beowulf think his home was burnt? Why does he order a new shield? How will he fight this battle? What will happen to him?

- Beowulf thinks he was punished by the gods. He orders a new shield to use against the dragon, but only uses a group of 11 men to fight the dragon, seeing no need for a large army. 

5.How did Hygelac die? (The description in lines 2354-2379 begins one of several versions of Geatish history and Hygelac's death we will get.) What did Beowulf do after Hygelac's death? What happened when he returned home? Did he accept Hygd's offer to become king?

- Hygelac died in battle, and afterward Beowulf returned home. He denied the offer to be kind in order to protect the bloodline. 

6. What happened to Hygelac's son Heardred? (That's the story in lines 2380-2390.) How did Beowulf plan to revenge Heardred's death (lines 2391-2396)?

- Heardred is killed in a battle with the Swedes. Beowulf then becomes king and makes peace with the Swedes.

7.How many men accompany Beowulf as he goes to meet the dragon?

 - 11.

8.What happened to Hygelac's oldest brother Herebeald? Who killed him? What did this do to his father King Hrethel? (This passage, lines 2425-2509, is the second account of Geatish history and of the death of Hygelac.) What happened between the Swedes and Geats after Hrethel's death? What happened to Haethcyn? How die Beowulf revenge Hygelac's death? 

 - Herebeald accidently died in a fight between the brothers. King Hrethel lived privately and depressed until he died. After his death, war with the Swedes still raged on, killing Hygelac.

[BEOWULF ATTACKS THE DRAGON]

1.What does Beowulf tell his companions to do?

- He tells them to wait while he fights the dragon alone.

2.What happens the first time Beowulf and the dragon fight? What do his companions do? How is Wiglaf different? What does he tell the others? What does he then do?

- The first time, Beowulf's shield melts and his companions flee. Wiglaf basically tells the rest of the companions that they're cowards and then helps Beowulf fight the dragon. 

3.What happens the second time Beowulf meets the dragon? What happens to Beowulf? Who kills the dragon?

- Beowulf is fatally wounded, leaving Wiglaf to kill the dragon. 

4.What does the dying Beowulf ask Wiglaf to do? What happens when Beowulf sees the gold? How does Beowulf want to be buried?

- Beowulf asks Wiglaf to let him see the treasure before he dies. He wants to be buried in the burrow and have it named after him.