Beowulf and Grendel: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Beowulf and Grendel · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “The Hall”; Part Two, “The Hero Comes” (pages 1–4, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 4, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why did Beowulf take off his armor before the fight?
   The story's answer: Since the monster carried no weapons, he would use none himself
2. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
3. The part we just read is called "The Hero Comes". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Beowulf and Grendel · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Grapple”; Part Four, “The Mother” (pages 5–8, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 8, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. How did Grendel escape from Beowulf's grip?
   The story's answer: He tore himself loose, leaving his arm behind
2. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
3. The part we just read is called "The Mother". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Beowulf and Grendel · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Five, “Beneath the Lake”; Part Six, “The Journey Home” (pages 9–13, about 6 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 13, the end of the story.

1. What does the story suggest makes a hero?
   The story's answer: Facing danger to help others, even far from home
2. What does the line "she had been listening as well" suggest?
   The story's answer: The mother heard the celebration and would soon seek revenge
3. Why did Beowulf's first sword fail in the cavern?
   The story's answer: It bounced off the creature's skin like a wooden spoon
4. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
5. The part we just read is called "The Journey Home". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
6. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. What makes the main character a hero? Would you want them as a friend?
   Listen for: Heroes of legends are brave but not always kind; ask for both sides.
2. Which part of this could have really happened, and which part grew in the telling?
   Listen for: Legends often start from a real person or place.
3. How would the story change if someone else told it?
   Listen for: Try the villain's side.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.