Saint Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500
Name: Anog, Christian Anthony B.
Course/Section: BSED-ENG/SED 3
Instructions
Answer the following:
1. Who are the main characters? Describe
each in one sentence.
 Beowulf
Beowulf is the protagonist of the
epic poem and demonstrates traits of
heroism and extreme physical strength.
 King Hrothgar
King Hrothgar is brave, generous
and honest and has won battles to bring
peace in his land.  where you live faces adversity in life. How
 Grendel
Grendel is a monster and descendant
of Cain, from the Bible and capable of
thinking and acting like a human being.
 Grendel’s Mother
Grendel’s mother is a three of these “forces” challenge Beowulf
second antagonist in the epic story and
she doesn’t have a name but is commonly
addressed as a monster and Grendel’s
mother.
 Dragon
The dragon is the last antagonist in
the epic, Beowulf, who becomes the
reason for Beowulf’s death and almost
destroys the Geats race.
2. What are the main events in the epic?
a. Grendel attacks Herot.
b. Beowulf fights and kills Grendel.
Teacher: Marites S. Tenedor
Subject: Survey of English & American
Literature
c. Grendel's mother takes Grendel's arm, and
kills Aeschere.
d. Beowulf fights and kills Grendel's
Mother.
e. King Hrothgar praises Beowulf as King.
f. Beowulf, with the assistance of Wiglaf,
fights and kills the dragon.
g. The death of Beowulf.
3. How did Beowulf resolve the problems he
encountered?
 Everyone, no matter who you are or
people respond is the real question. Beowulf
faces the same adversity that challenges his
character just in different forms than we
might today. In the story Beowulf faces 3
main “forces” in his life being Grendel,
Grendel’s mother, and the Dragon. The
representation of Grendel, Grendel’s mother,
and the dragon is the adversity of life. All
and his courage. All three challenge is
strength, his courage, and his loyalty
throughout his life and the story.
4. What is the theme of the epic?
There are many themes that the epic can
give us readers, but I think the main theme is
all about:
 Heroic Code
The honorable behavior and manners have
dominated the Anglo-Saxon culture.
Courage, bravery and the will to fight were
considered basic norms of that heroic code.
Beowulf sticks to these norms from the very
 Saint Paul University Philippines
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan 3500

beginning as he comes across the Danes. He

fights against Grendel and kills him after
pledging that he will “settle the outcome in
single combat.” These words resonate again
when he goes to find Grendel’s mother.
When he is older, he proves his bravery
again when fighting the last enemy, the
dragon. He becomes a dragon slayer but at
the cost of his own life. Wiglaf, his young
companion pays tribute to him saying,
“vowed you would never let your name and
fame/be dimmed while you lived.” This
heroic code lasts until Beowulf’s death.