Name: _______________________________

Date: __________________ PD: __________

6th 6 Weeks Exam Teacher: _____________________ Student Id #: __________________

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# of Problems Missed and Grade

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-5 = 71

-6 = 65 (Saturday Tutoring Req.)

-7 = 59 (Saturday Tutoring Req.)

-8+ = 53 (Saturday Tutoring Req.)

Parent Signature:

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Teacher Signature:

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Directions: Read the following introduction by Burton Raffel to the Epic Poem Beowulf and answer the questions that follow.

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1. According to Burton Raffel, who or what drives the plot of Beowulf?

A. The plot is energized by its characters who are almost all kings, princes, and heroic followers.

B. The plot is energized by a pair of man-eating monsters and characters who are almost all

kings, princes, and heroic followers.

C. The plot is energized by its characters who are almost all kings, princess, and heroic

followers and a greedy fire-spouting dragon.

D. The plot is energized by a pair of man-eating monsters and a greedy fire spouting dragon.

2. What are the two magical qualities that the hero Beowulf possesses?

F. Beowulf possesses the qualities of looking like a bear and a wolf.

G. Beowulf can swim for days and has the qualities of a bear and a wolf.

H. Beowulf possesses the qualities of being able to swim for days on end and he can breathe for

extended periods underwater.

J. Beowulf looks like a bear and a wolf and can breathe for extended periods underwater.

3. What are three ways that Beowulf’s name tells us that he is no mere human being?

A. His name is a combination of Beo, or “bear” and Wulf, or “wolf” and it does not begin

exactly as his father’s name, Edgetho.

B. His name does not begin exactly as his father’s name, Edgetho; for everyone in Anglo-Saxon

England, this break in tradition would have been a dead giveaway of Beowulf’s extraordinary

character.

C. His name is a mix of two sacred animals that the Anglo-Saxon culture associated with

extraordinary power.

D. His name was uncommon only because it did not begin exactly as his father’s name, Edgetho.

4. According to Raffel, how does the author of Beowulf create suspense at the start of the poem?

F. Beowulf comes and helps the besieged King Hrothgar.

G. Beowulf himself is not introduced at the start and instead, man-eating Grendel takes the

stage.

H. Beowulf travels over deep waves to help the besieged King Hrothgar.

J. Beowulf crackles with wonderfully calculated suspense.

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6. According to Raffel, how does the fire-breathing dragon compare or contrast with a good king

like Beowulf?

F. The fire-breathing dragon contrasts with a good king like Beowulf because, unlike a good

king, and like some of the bad kings in the poem, the dragon fiercely guards and never shares

its treasures.

G. The fire-breathing dragon contrasts with a bad king like Beowulf because the dragon fiercely

guards and never shares its treasures.

H. The fire breathing dragon compares with a good king like Beowulf because, unlike a bad

king, and like some of the good kings in the poem, the dragon fiercely guards and never

shares its treasures.

J. The fire-breathing dragon compares with a bad king like Beowulf because it fiercely guards

and never shares its treasures.

7. What argument(s) does Raffel use to best support his claim that Beowulf is “very much an Old

Testament poem”?

A. Raffel argues that “Beowulf is not a pagan poem.”

B. Raffel argues that “Beowulf’s close identification with ancient Hebraic ways of life marks it

as very much an Old Testament poem.”

C. Raffel argues that “There are no pagan gods, no idols, no wanton human sacrifices.”

D. Raffle argues that “Anglo-Saxon England had long since been Christianized when Beowulf

was composed.”

5. Which of the following sentence(s) from the passage best explains why Grendel’s mother enters

the narrative?

A. “… Grendel’s mother enters the scene, hungry (literally) for revenge. Beowulf promptly

accepts the challenge, diving far down into the water, finding the lady demon, and in the end

killing her in a very close fight.”

B. “Beowulf promptly accepts the challenge, diving far down into the water, finding the lady

demon, and in the end killing her in a very close fight. Loaded with praise and gifts, he

returns to his own king, to whose throne he succeeds.”

C. “Offering himself as a potential sacrifice to Grendel, he fights with and tears an arm off the

monster, who flees back into darkness. Everyone is overjoyed, there is much celebrating-until

Grendel’s mother enters the scene, hungry (literally) for revenge.”

D. “Loaded with praise and gifts, he returns to his own king, to whose throne he succeeds.”

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Directions: Read the following selection About Beowulf and answer the questions that follow.

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Geat'

'8. Which'of'the'following'reasons'is'not'true'for'why'the'story'of'Beowulf'was'orally'told'in'

Old'English?'Few'people'were'able'to'read.'Movies'weren’t'created'yet.'Movies'of'the'time'were'boring'because'they'didn’t'have'sound.'It'was'the'language'spoken'by'the'AngloWSaxons'of'England.''

9. Based'on'the'passage,'what'can'we'infer'the'word'Geat'means?''Use'the'image'below'to'help'you'figure'out'the'answer.'''''

Definition:'''

A. A'great'person'that'shows'tremendous'strength.'B. A'wimpy'man'or'woman.'C. A'place'whose'name'has'been'changed'to'Sweden.'D. One'of'the'greatest'monsters'that'Beowulf'ever'faced.'

'10. Grendel,'in'this'passage,'is'describe'to'be'a/an'

…terrifying'swampland'creature.'…abominable'snowman'who'lives'in'the'high'Alps.'…Danish'King'known'as'Hrothgar'…young'warrior'of'great'strength'and'courage.'

11. According'to'legend,'for'how'long'did'Grendel'terrorize'Herot'before'Beowulf’s'arrival?'A. For'5'centuries'B. For'11'centuries'C. For'500'to'1100'years'D. For'12'Years'

According'to'this'passage,'the'battle'of'Beowulf'vs.'Grendel'is'one'of'three'mortal'battles.''What'does'mortal'probably'mean?'

A'weapon'that'fires'explosives'into'the'air'with'the'purpose'of'exploding'on'the'ground'from'a'distance.'That'someone'will'end'up'dead'at'the'end'of'the'battle.'A'competition'in'which'two'characters'face'each'other,'both'with'magical'abilities,'to'defeat'one'another'to'the'death.'A'type'if'poem'that'is'lengthy'but'powerful'and'epic'in'content.'

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F. G. H.

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' What'do'you'call'a'person'who'captivates'an'audience'with'long'narrative'poems?'

An'author'A'speaker'A'poet'A'scop ''

What'century'was'the'epic'poem,'“Beowulf”'written'on?'

A.

The'eleventh'century'

B.

The'twelfth'century'

C.

The'Thirteenth'century'

D.

The'Fourteenth'century''

15. In'the'passage,'it'is'summarized'for'us'that'Beowulf'seized'what'from'Grendel?'A. His'leg'B. His'arm'C. His'toe'D. His'tongue'

'16. The'poem'of'“Beowulf”'became'symbolic'for'the'AngloWSaxons'in'what'manner? '

They'learned'to'display'bravery'and'loyalty'to'friends'with'the'heroism'needed'to'fight'off'metaphoric'monsters.'They'learned'to'display'viciousness'and'savagery'towards'enemies'while'keeping'friends'at'bay.'They'learned'nothing,'as'the'AngloWSaxon'race'is'now'thought'to'be'extinct'and'irrelevant'in'today’s'modern'society.'They'learned'that'with'persistence'and'perseverance,'everything'can'be'accomplished.'

'17. How'has'Beowulf'affected'modern'media'today?'

A. It'hasn’t'affected'anything,'nobody'today'knows'who'or'what'a'“Beowulf”'is.'B. There'is'a'video'game'called'“Beowulf”'and,'though'very'violent,'it'is'very'accurate'to'

the'poem.'C. It'has'been'translated'to'modern'English,'turned'into'a'movie'with'popular'and'relevant'

actors/actresses,'and'been'made'into'a'comic'book.'D. A'TV'miniWseries'has'spawned'to'great'success,'and'Beowulf’s'myth'has'been'expanded'

to'create,'what'to'date'is,'8'seasons'of'content.'

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