My Portion of the Beowulf Questions

The Dragon Wakes

1.How much later does Part 2 take place? What kings have died in the meanwhile? What danger now exists?  Part 2 takes place fifty years after Beowulf returns home.  Kings Hygelac and Heardred (son of Hygelac),  have died.  The new danger is an awoken dragon.

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.):  

          The dragon is angry because a man has come and taken part of his treasure, a cup, to honor his lord.  The treasures are said to have been left there after an ancient race had been pushed to the brink of death and hidden their treasures in desperation.

3.What did the dragon destroy that evening?: 

              Many buildings and homes had been destroyed by the dragon.

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 it's his fault that his kingdom was burnt because he must have broken some ancient law and offended God.  He wants a steel shield because a wooden one will burn in the flame of the dragon.   He will die and he will bring the dragon down with him.

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 hand to hand combat in Frisia when they ran out of swords.  Beowulf swam away from the battle with thirty coats of mail on.  Hygd offered him the title of king because her ill son could not rule.  Beowulf accepted.

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 died after an attack from the Swedes landed in Geatland and is avenged when Beowulf helps kill Onela.

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

           Eleven and the man who took the cup initially.

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 was accidentally killed by his younger brother Haethkyn.  King Hrethel was forced to send his own son to the gallows.  He became depressed.  When he died Haethcyn was king but he died during the war between the Swedes and Geats.  Beowulf killed the Frisian king.

 Beowulf attacks the Dragon

1.What does Beowulf tell his companions to do?: 

             He tells his companions not to fight the dragon because he knows it will be his last battle.

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 sword Beowulf used to attack the dragon was no use to hurt the dragon and he is engulfed in flame.  His companions run into the forest.    Wiglaf stays because he is grateful of what Beowulf has done for his family.  He tells the others how good a king Beowulf was and that if a king is to fall, his men should fall to.  He enters battle with the dragon. 

These questions were answered as part of the set our group used to complete the questions. These are my partners: Samantha Garrison, Chanel Yamaguchi, Iliana Gutierrez, and Owen Iness.