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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What kind of boat to Beowulf and his men sail away from Denmark in?
(a) A pirate ship.
(b) A canoe with many oars.
(c) A swan boat.
(d) A tern boat.

2. How far is Grendel's mother's lair from the windy cliffs?
(a) A mile.
(b) Three miles.
(c) Fifty yards.
(d) A week's journey.

3. Where is Beowulf when Grendel's mother arrives at Heorot?
(a) In the stable with his new horses.
(b) Sitting by the fire.
(c) With the King.
(d) Sleeping in his room.

4. What is the Grendel lake lined with?
(a) Tall grasses.
(b) Mountains.
(c) Fierce dragons.
(d) Trees.

5. How does Hrothgar kill the first monster at the Grendel lake?
(a) With his bare hands.
(b) With his sword.
(c) With an arrow.
(d) With a rock.

6. Who promises to come with "a thousand spears and a thousand shields" if the other should be attacked?
(a) Beowulf makes this promise to Wiglaf.
(b) Beowulf makes this promise to Hrothgar.
(c) Hrothgar makes this promise to Beowulf.
(d) Wiglaf makes this promise to Beowulf.

7. Who is to receive Beowulf's treasure if he dies?
(a) Unferth.
(b) Hygelac.
(c) Wulfgar.
(d) Hrothgar.

8. When Beowulf enters Heorot, what two things does he present to Hrothgar?
(a) Jewels and gold.
(b) A knife and a goblet.
(c) Grendel's head and the remains of the giant sword.
(d) Grendel's mother's head and her sword.

9. What does Grendel's mother use to try to kill Beowulf?
(a) Beowulf's sword.
(b) Her hands.
(c) An axe.
(d) A knife.

10. Who does Grendel's mother kill during the night?
(a) Aeschere.
(b) Grendel.
(c) The Queen.
(d) Unferth.

11. What happens to the blade of the tremendous sword found in the lair?
(a) It cracks.
(b) Nothing.
(c) It melts.
(d) It shatters.

12. How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother?
(a) He stabs her through the heart.
(b) He strangles her.
(c) He throws her to the sea serpents.
(d) He cuts off her head.

13. When Beowulf blows his horn, what rises up out of the Grendel lake?
(a) Sea devils.
(b) Fish.
(c) Grendel's mother.
(d) Grendel.

14. What is Hrunting?
(a) Grendel's mother's hall.
(b) A shield.
(c) Hrothgar's hall.
(d) Beowulf's sword.

15. Who leads Beowulf to the Grendel lake?
(a) Hrothgar.
(b) Aeschere.
(c) A warrior who isn't named.
(d) Unferth.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Beowulf see a "tremendous sword" in the lair of Grendel's mother?

2. Inside Grendel's mother's lair, what upholds the weight of the water?

3. When Grendel's blood turns the lake red, what do Hrothgar and his men assume?

4. After Beowulf's sword fails to kill Grendel's mother, what does he use to try to fight her?

5. What promise does Hrothgar make to Beowulf after Grendel's mother is defeated?

(see the answer keys)

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