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Beowulf Study Questions (Donaldson translation page numbers)
By Thad Curtz

Some Things to Think About

1. Early kings of the Danes - Scyld and Heremod

The poem begins with Scyld; Heremod appears on p. 16 and p. 30. What can you figure out about the culture's ideals of lordship by comparing these two figures?

How does kingship get passed on... or fail to be passed on?

2. Marriage

What are the functions of marriage in the culture? How well does it fulfill the social work it's supposed to do? (Consider Modthryth - p. 34; Freawaru's marriage to Ingeld - p. 35, p. 3; Hildeburh and the fight at Finnsburg - p. 19 seq.)

3. Kinship and kinstrife

What do you make of what Wealhtheow says at the feast - p. 21, and what Beowulf says as he's leaving - p. 32? What happens later to her sons Hrethric and Hrothmund, and to their cousin Hrothulf?

How about Unferth's relations to his kin - p. 11? How about Hygelac's brothers and their father?

What sorts of kin ties does Grendel have? How about the dragon? How about Sigemund - p. 16? How about Beowulf?

4. How about the functioning or malfunctioning of these other potential sources of social solidarity?

• Hospitality (like guest-friendship in Homer)... See what Hrothgar says after Beowulf announces why he's come to Heorot - p. 9
• The comitatus (the group of warriors and their lord) - what holds it together?
• Gift-giving...
• Ceremonial feasting...
• The obligation to revenge one's kin...

5. The Swedes and the Frisians

At the close of the poem, Wiglaf laments the problems that the Geats will face without Beowulf - difficulties with the Franks, and the Frisians, and the Swedes. Sorting the history of these out is probably the most complicated piece of detective work in reading the poem. (It's also the only part of the poem that contains an episode we can actually locate historically from other evidence - Hygelac's raid on the Frisians in 521 A.D., which led to his death.) Take a particular look at Beowulf's role in these feuds (with the Frisians, p. 41 and 44; with the Swedes, p. 43 and 45 and 42); also check out Wiglaf's father's history, p. 45 seq.)

6. More generally, you might think about this image of a hero's life and world in comparison with The Odyssey or with Things Fall Apart.