[Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother] (lines 1383-1650, pp. 63-68)

My group consisted of Amara Sharp, Sarah Stevens, Rachel Nolan, Breanna Timmons, Connor Albright and myself. For the exact work divisions, you can go to Amara Sharp's blog.

[Beowulf Fights Grendel's Mother] (lines 1383-1650, pp. 63-68)

1.How does Beowulf tell Hrothgar to respond?

He tells Hrothgar to respond as though a blood feud has been started. He told him that he should be revengeful and not feel sorrow.  Beowulf tells him that killing Grendel’s mother is the only way to truly avenge Aeschere.

2.What happens at the mere before Beowulf enters it?

Beowulf and his men kill a sea monster in the water, and then Hrothgar and his men find Aeschere’s severed head on the shore. Hrothgar now is completely for Beowulf killing Grendel’s mother.

3.How does Beowulf prepare for the battle? What sword does he take with him?
 
He put on his new armor from Hrothgar. Unferth, the man who doubted Beowulf’s abilities, gives Beowulf his sword called, Hrunting, to fight with.

4.What happens when Beowulf enters the mere? What is surprising about where Grendel and his mother live in the mere?
 
Grendel’s mother grabs him and pulls him down as other monsters are trying to attack him. They do no harm to him, because of his armor. It’s surprising where Grendel and his mother live because it takes half a day to arrive there.

5.What happens to the sword Beowulf borrowed from Unferth?

As Beowulf strikes Grendel's mother, the sword borrowed from Unferth breaks.

6.At one point Beowulf is on the floor, with Grendel's mother sitting on him and drawing her knife. How does Beowulf escape?

Beowulf’s armor saves him from the knife Grendel’s mother has. He was able to use his strength to throw Grendel’s mother off of himself.

7.How does Beowulf kill Grendel's mother? What weapon does he use? What happens when she dies? What does Beowulf take with him from her home? What happens to the sword he used to kill her?

Beowulf uses the sword of Eotens, that was forged by giants long ago, and cuts the mother’s throat. Beowulf brings the decapitated head home for vengeance of those killed by Grendel. Beowulf's sword melts from the Grendel's mother’s acidic blood leaving only the hilt.

8.What happens when Beowulf returns to the surface? Did his men expect him to return?

Beowulf swims back to the surface safely, but none of his men are there because they doubted his ability to beat Grendel’s mother.