Critical Thinking Guide:  Beowulf 
Dr. Jim Wohlpart 

The English Concentration 
in the Liberal Studies Degree 


In developing your responses to the following questions, please remember to be concise and to demonstrate strong writing skills.

1.  Because there are many references to both the values of Christianity and the values of the tribe in this text, critics disagree about the theme of Beowulf.  Find one place where the action of the text seems to be in conflict with the overtly stated Christian values in the text.  Describe this scene and the conflict in values.
 

2.  Two central values seem to be emphasized in the text:  sapientia (wisdom) and fortidudo (strength), especially in relation to Beowulf’s journey.  How are Beowulf’s actions paradigms for these two characteristics in the following scenes (in other words, what does he do that demonstrates these attributes):

1555-56  Beowulf and the Danish guard on the coast

1564-67  Beowulf and Grendel

1576-78  Beowulf and Hrothgar

1601, 1603-4  Beowulf and the Dragon
 


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  Contact Information:  Dr. Jim Wohlpart  
        Office:  AB Two 212;  590-7181 
        e-mail:  wohlpart@fgcu.edu  
        homepage:  http://itech.fgcu.edu/faculty/wohlpart/  
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