The prologue introduces Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, who helps the Danish king Scyld Scefing by defeating threats to the Danes. As Scyld nears the end of his life, his people remain loyal. They send his body off over the sea on a funeral ship, as was his final request, though none know where he ended up. The prologue establishes the heroic culture where a young warrior must prove himself through brave deeds to gain honor and loyalty from his people.

2. abandon -anforlætan; forlætan; ofgiefan (5) abbess -abbudisse, f. abbot -abbod, m. abduct -forwgan abide -anbidian ability -cræft; mæð able, be -magan about -abutan; be (+dat) above -onuppan accept -onfon accomplish -forðian; fremman

4. C call -ceallian; clipian, clypian; hatan; nemnan -call out clipian, clypian -can cunnan; magan -canon canon -cape hoh, m -capital heahburg -captive hæft, m -capture læccan -care reccan -care about gyman; reccan -care for (v) freoþian; gyman -care bisgu; cearo, f.; heord, f careless -recceleas

5. D damage (n) -hearm damn (vb) -awiergan danger -frecennis; pleoh, m dangerous -frecne; pleolic dare -durran daring -gedyrstig; frecne dark -deorc; fealu darken -nipan, genipan darkness -heolstor, m; ge-nip; sceadu dart -onga dejected -hean demon -scynscaþa desirable -lustbære desire -geornfulnes; lust, m; neodlaðu desiring -gelysted desolate -feasceaftig

6. E eagerly -georne; geornlice eagle -earn, n ear -eare earlier -æror early morning -ærnemergen earn -geearnian earnestly -eornoste earth -eormengrund; eorð folde; grund, m; hruse, f; molde, f ease -eðnis easily -eaðe east -east from the east: eastan eat -brucan; etan (5); ge-etan (5); forswelgan eat up -gefeormian; fretan ebb-tide -ebba edge -ecg edit -endebyrdan eel -æl, m. Eight-eahte either -gehwæðer elders -ieldran eleventh -endlyfta Else-elles

7. BEOWULF (Prologue in Old English) Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, 5 monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra 10 ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan. þæt wæs god cyning! Ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned, geong in geardum, þone god sende folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat 15 þe hie ær drugon aldorlease lange hwile. Him þæs liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf; Beowulf wæs breme (blæd wide sprang), Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in.

8. Swa sceal geong guma gode gewyrcean, fromum feohgiftum on fæder bearme, þæt hine on ylde eft gewunigen wilgesiþas, þonne wig cume, leode gelæsten; lofdædum sceal 25 in mægþa gehwære man geþeon. Him ða Scyld gewat to gescæphwile felahror feran on frean wære. Hi hyne þa ætbæron to brimes faroðe, swæse gesiþas, swa he selfa bæd, 30 þenden wordum weold wine Scyldinga; leof landfruma lange ahte. þær æt hyðe stod hringedstefna, isig ond utfus, æþelinges fær. Aledon þa leofne þeoden, 35 beaga bryttan, on bearm scipes, mærne be mæste. þær wæs madma fela of feorwegum, frætwa, gelæded; ne hyrde ic cymlicor ceol gegyrwan hildewæpnum ond heaðowædum,

9. billum ond byrnum; him on bearme læg madma mænigo, þa him mid scoldon on flodes æht feor gewitan. Nalæs hi hine læssan lacum teodan, þeodgestreonum, þon þa dydon 45 þe hine æt frumsceafte forð onsendon ænne ofer yðe umborwesende. þa gyt hie him asetton segen geldenne heah ofer heafod, leton holm beran, geafon on garsecg; him wæs geomor sefa, 50 murnende mod. Men ne cunnon secgan to soðe, selerædende, hæleð under heofenum, hwa þæm hlæste onfeng.

10. BEOWULF (Prologue in Modern English

14. Use the following Old English words in a sentence correctly:

15. anforlætan (abandon)

16. forðian; fremman (acomplish)

17. hearm (damage ) v

18. Identify the MEANING of the italicized Old English words:

19. Sēo sunne is swīðe brād [The sun is very _____ ]

20. His āgen swustor bebyrġde his līċ [His own sister buried his _____ ]

21. Him wæs ġeōmor sefa (Their minds were _____)

22. Ond þā ġeascode hē þone cyning lȳtle werode [And then he learned of the king (being) with a little _____ ]