by Eddie McPherson
BEOWULF: I am Beowulf, son of Ecgtheow. I have come to destroy the demon Grendel.
1ST POET: The Captain was immediately impressed with Beowulf’s quiet strength and confident demeanor.
CAPTAIN: Grendel has slaughtered many men and fear has paralyzed the kingdom. Allow me to warn you in advance: If you plan to confront the creature, don’t expect to return to your home, for surely Grendel will kill you and all your men. If you have any brains at all, you will go aboard your ship again and return home.
Beowulf, folktale, adapted by Eddie McPherson © This play is reprinted from Plays, The Drama Magazine for Young People with the permission of the publisher Plays/Sterling Partners Inc. 897 Washington Street #600160, Newton, MA 02460
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
What theme is being developed in this passage?
(1 point)
Responses
Confidence is necessary when one is confronted with a difficult task.
Confidence is necessary when one is confronted with a difficult task.
Military might is not always the best way to win a war.
Military might is not always the best way to win a war.
Poetry is more than an artistic response; it is a record of history.
Poetry is more than an artistic response; it is a record of history.
Being a leader means being able to understand the needs of others.
Being a leader means being able to understand the needs of others.
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1 answer
The theme being developed in this passage is:
Confidence is necessary when one is confronted with a difficult task.
Beowulf embodies this theme through his determination to confront Grendel despite the captain’s warning about the dangers he will face. His confident demeanor suggests that he is ready to take on a seemingly impossible challenge.
