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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the Chinaman keep caged?
(a) A bird.
(b) A spider.
(c) A cricket.
(d) A snake.

2. What is the downside of Grendel's new power?
(a) His mother wants to come along.
(b) He is alone.
(c) He is always hungry for more.
(d) He has not fun.

3. What does Grendel see for the first time the night he hangs in the tree in Chapter 2?
(a) A bear.
(b) The gods.
(c) His mother hunting.
(d) Men.

4. How many tribes does Hrothgar make treaties with?
(a) Four.
(b) Six.
(c) One.
(d) Five.

5. In Chapter 6, Who is the first to realize Grendel can talk?
(a) A priest.
(b) Wealtheow.
(c) Unferth.
(d) Unferth.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens when Grendel strikes the ground in Chapter 4?

2. What is the dragon sitting on?

3. Who is Grendel’s only friend?

4. How old is Hrothgar when Grendel decides to destroy him?

5. How many days after their first meeting does Unferth seek out Grendel's cave?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the significance of Grendel's speech about heroes existing only in poetry.

2. How does Grendel feel about the brainless ram?

3. What does Grendel hope his mother will tell him someday? Why doesn't she?

4. What do snakes symbolize in the novel?

5. What does the dragon say that changes Grendel's mind about approaching men? How does the dragon feel about Grendel's change of heart?

6. Discuss what the dragon tells Grendel about the thoughts of men. Who brings connectedness to these thoughts?

7. Who proves to be more heroic during the encounter between Unferth and Grendel in Grendel's cave?

8. Describe the firesnakes. What sort of creature do you think they are?

9. Discuss Grendel's mother and how she differs from her son.

10. Discuss Grendel's personal transformation during and as a result of his first raid.

(see the answer keys)

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