Q 01/05

In Beowulf and in John Gardner's Grendel, the monster descends from which cursed biblical figure?

A) Esau

B) Cain

C) Ham

D) Judas

Answer · why

B) Cain

Cain is the ancestor the blind court poet gives Grendel in verses about an ancient feud between brothers. Hearing it, the monster stumbles into the cr...

Q 02/05

What does Grendel call the blind harper whose verses recast King Hrothgar's bloody past as glory?

A) The Weaver

B) The Dreamer

C) The Shaper

D) The Teller

Answer · why

C) The Shaper

The Shaper sings so well that even people who lived through the events come to remember them his way. Grendel knows the tales are lies and is shaken b...

Q 03/05

In John Gardner's Grendel, as in the original poem, how does Beowulf deal the monster a fatal wound?

A) Cuts off his head

B) Stabs his heart

C) Breaks his neck

D) Tears off his arm

Answer · why

D) Tears off his arm

Beowulf tears off his arm at the shoulder after pretending to be asleep among the other warriors. All through the fight he lectures Grendel on how lif...

Q 04/05

Which Danish thane in Grendel follows the monster home to die a hero, only to be carried back alive?

A) Wiglaf

B) Unferth

C) Aeschere

D) Wulfgar

Answer · why

B) Unferth

Unferth tracks the monster to his cave and collapses from exhaustion before he can fight. Grendel carries him back to the hall and spares him in every...

Q 05/05

In John Gardner's Grendel, the monster answers a boastful Danish hero's challenge by pelting him with what?

A) Apples

B) Bones

C) Snowballs

D) Mead cups

Answer · why

A) Apples

Apples are his reply to the hero's fine speech: Grendel pelts him with fruit instead of fighting, then leaves him alive, which shames the man far more...