Search all of SparkNotes
Search
Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
A Tale of Two Cities
As You Like It
Frankenstein
Romeo and Juliet
The Scarlet Letter
Menu
No Fear Shakespeare
Literature
Other Subjects
Teacher
Blog
Search
Help
Search all of SparkNotes
Search
Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.
A Tale of Two Cities
As You Like It
Frankenstein
Romeo and Juliet
The Scarlet Letter
No Fear Shakespeare
Literature
Other Subjects
Teacher
Blog
Help
Beowulf
Literature
Study Guide
NO FEAR
Translation
Study Guide
NO FEAR
Translation
Summary
Plot Overview
Five Key Questions
What Does the Ending Mean?
Summary & Analysis
Lines 1-300
Lines 301-709
Lines 710-1007
Lines 1008-1250
Lines 1251–1491
Lines 1492–1924
Lines 1925–2210
Lines 2211–2515
Lines 2516–2820
Lines 2821–3182
Characters
Character List
Beowulf
Grendel
Hrothgar
Unferth
Wiglaf
Grendel’s Mother
The Dragon
Main Ideas
Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
Is Beowulf a hero?
Quotes
Important Quotes Explained
Quotes By Theme
Heroism
Mortality
Treasure
Evil
Christianity
Quotes By Section
Lines 1–300
Lines 301–709
Lines 710–1007
Lines 1008–1250
Lines 1251–1491
Lines 1492–1924
Lines 1925–2210
Lines 2211–2515
Lines 2516–2820
Lines 2821–3182
Quotes By Character
Beowulf
Hrothgar
Grendel
Wealhtheow
Wiglaf
Further Study
Context
Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England
The Poetry of Anglo-Saxon England
Movie Adaptations
Full Book Quiz
Section Quizzes
Character List
Analysis of Major Characters
Themes, Motifs, and Symbols
Lines 1-300
Lines 301-709
Lines 710-1007
Lines 1008-1250
Lines 1251-1491
Lines 1492-1924
Lines 1925-2210
Lines 2211-2515
Lines 2516-2820
Lines 2821-3182
Study Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Companion Texts
Writing Help
How to Write Literary Analysis
Suggested Essay Topics
Sample A+ Essay
How to Cite This SparkNote
Teacher's Handbook
Further Study
Lines 1251-1491 Quiz
Further Study
Lines 1251-1491 Quiz
1
of 5
From whom is Grendel descended?
Lot
Thor
Cain
Hades
2
of 5
What happens when Grendel's mother comes to Heorot seeking revenge?
She kills Hrothgar's advisor and steals Grendel's arm.
She kills everyone in the main hall and steals Grendel's arm.
Beowulf ambushes her and cuts off her head.
Beowulf traps her in a net and feeds her to sea monsters.
3
of 5
What does Hrothgar beseech Beowulf to do?
Leave Grendel's mother alone to end the bloodshed
Lure her back to the castle and set a trap for her
Go to Grendel's mother's watery lair and kill her
Bring Hrothgar with him when he fights her
4
of 5
What does Unferth give to Beowulf for the batte?
An enchanted ring that will make him invisible
A precious sword called Hrunting that has never been in a losing battle
A scroll with the legend of Sigemund inscribed on it
A hand-forged shield tempered with dragon's blood
5
of 5
What do they find when the reach the cliff above the monster's swampy home?
Unferth armed and ready to compete with Beowulf to see who slays Grendel's mother first
A young boy playing dangerously close to the cliff's edge
A furious dragon seeking revenge for treasure stolen from him
Aeschere's head at the edge of the cliff and sea monsters down below
Previous section
Lines 1008-1250 Quick Quiz
Next section
Lines 1492-1924 Quick Quiz
Popular pages:
Beowulf
No Fear Beowulf
NO FEAR
Character List
CHARACTERS
Beowulf: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS
Is Beowulf a hero?
MAIN IDEAS
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES
Themes
MAIN IDEAS
Review Quiz
FURTHER STUDY
Take a Study Break
Every Shakespeare Play Summed Up in a Quote from
The Office
Every Marvel Movie Summed Up in a Single Sentence
A Roundup of the Funniest Greek Mythology Memes on the Internet
11 Quotes That Sum Up the Entire Book
60 YA Movie Adaptations, Ranked
QUIZ: Can You Guess the Book from a Bad One-Sentence Summary?
Pick 10 Books and We'll Guess Whether You're an Introvert or an Extrovert