Grade 9 upa first reading of beowulf will confuse and frustrate any ordinary reader. By comparing a number of translations of beowulf with each other and with the basic poetic elements of old english alliterative verse. Cliffsnotes on beowulf covers the longest and oldest surviving anglosaxon poem, an epic tale of warriors and battles, monsters and magic, treasures, feasts, and heroic action. Beowulf bawoolf, oldest english epic, probably composed in the early 8th cent. This place exists in the graphic novel beowulf by gareth hinds, based on the poem beowulf. Beowulf is an epic poem, a type of poem that includes a long narrative structure and heroic story elements. While beowulf is generally considered the earliest major work of english poetry, it is almost always taught in translation and its verse form and poetic techniques are often unfamiliar. Did britain destroy the world student response i asked several groups if they could think of any positive. More than 3,000 lines long, beowulf relates the exploits of its eponymous hero, and his successive battles with a monster named grendel, with grendels revengeful mother, and with a dragon which was guarding a hoard of treasure. See a complete list of the characters in beowulf and indepth analyses of beowulf, grendel, hrothgar, unferth, wiglaf, grendels mother, and the dragon. Beowulf reading questions reading questions for the epic poem.
Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of beowulf, a scandinavian hero who saves the danes from the seemingly invincible monster grendel and, later, from grendels mother. The monsters and the critics, proceedings of the british academy, xxii 1936, 24595 argued that beowulf is a balance between beginnings and. Feb 07, 2011 set in scandinavia during the late 5th century, this epic poem follows greats hero beowulf as he does battle with several characters including grendel and a dragon. The study of beowulf isnt too early for students to begin considering the impact of british colonialism on the rest of the world. These and other documents sketching some of the cultural forces behind the poems final creation will help readers see beowulf as an exploration of the politics of kingship and the. Beowulf, knowing his death is near, decides to fight the dragon. The monsters and the critics was a 1936 lecture given by j.
Get an answer for 10th grade british literature you get the idea. Beowulf the literary epic poem english literature essay. Ad by two scribes and preserved in the british library in the collection of sir robert cotton. Students read lines from the epic and create a t chart that identifies the diction referring to pagan ideas on one side and those. After suffering mistreatment and several neardisasters, the beowulf manuscript is now safely housed in the british library in london. Using notes on the time period, discuss the function of the written word at the time that beowulf was finally recorded. I tell students that they will explore the top 15 blood feuds in our nations history and draw parallels to beowulf. At this point, beowulf begins a rollercoaster ride of wild emotional ups and. Note, this may vary slightly from the translation found in your textbook. Each chapter begins with a brief summary of its contents followed by an annotated chronology of the most important books and articles on the particular topic it treats. Beowulf is not like a traditional poem, in length, and because of this reasoning we call it an epic. Set in scandinavia during the late 5th century, this epic poem follows greats hero beowulf as he does battle with several characters including grendel and a dragon. Sections options space for short answers in each section.
The synopsis of the story of beowulf which begins the volume is immensely useful for new readers struggling to keep their bearings in an often digressive narrative, as is the people and places index that follows the text. Beowulf lesson plan for 11th 12th grade lesson planet. Students, however, tended to think they could only base their response on the document i provided. Beowulf character list a detailed list of characters from beowulf. As the epic begins, we are introduced to king hrothgar, a revered and successful.
This beowulf lesson plan is suitable for 11th 12th grade. Tolkien on literary criticism on the old english heroic epic poem beowulf. It was first published as a paper in that year in the proceedings of the british academy, and has since been reprinted in many collections. They compile a list of questions about loyalty tests and take turns asking and answering them. Englands oldest surviving epic tells the story of beowulf, a swedish geat, who comes to the aid of the danes to defeat grendel, a monster who has terrorized them for years. Readers handbook supplementary materials 1 reading to learn ongoing te. Created in the oralpoetic mode and probably composed. Beowulf probably was composed in england sometime in the eighth century ad and written down circa ad by a literate scop bard or perhaps a christian scribe who was possibly educated in a monastery.
Beowulf, and related readings mcdougal littell literature connections burton raffel on. Beowulf, and related readings mcdougal littell literature. Inside, a dragon guards a treasure trove left there long ago by the last survivor of an extinct people. Since beowulf is a scary work for some students, getting students excited. This teaching guide is organized in three sections presenting suggestions to be used before beowulf is read, while it is being read, and after.
List of books and articles about beowulf online research. When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Choose from 500 different sets of english 12th beowulf literature flashcards on quizlet. In the beginning of the book beowulf enters as the prince of a far away land he has come to free hrothgars great hall from the beast grendal. Choose from 500 different sets of english honors grade 12 beowulf literature flashcards on quizlet. Ask the students to contemplate how the story was remembered before that time and why. The thief steals a cup, but the dragon discovers the theft and burns the land, including beowulfs meadhall. One thing that supports beowulf as a literary work is the fact that the author uses fictitious characters such as grendel, grendels mother, and the dragon. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. The poem was created in the oralformulaic tradition or oral poetic method, probably developing over a period of time with roots in folk tales and.
In it, tolkien speaks against critics who play down the monsters in the poem, namely grendel, grendels mother, and the dragon, in favour of using beowulf solely as a source for anglosaxon history. Beowulf fights and narrowly defeats grendel, aided by god and by his valiant decision to meet grendel in handtohand combat. It was first written in the anglosaxon era, but was probably part of. The classic story of beowulf, hero and dragonslayer, appears here in a new translation accompanied by genealogical charts, historical summaries, and a glossary of proper names. Free beowulf study unit worksheets for teachers to print. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. Thomas hardy is the lineal descendant in literature of the author of beowulf when he says. Though, along with the long narrative other traits of an epic must include. Book report form beowulf book report form pdf file customize the beowulf book report beowulf. Katie novak teaching channel lesson plan beowulf auditory,andhandsonlearnerstoaccessalessononimagerywhilealsopromotingengagementandcollaboration. Some see it as an early celebration of christianity. Survivor the sole surviving copy of beowulf dates from about the year. Printable literature guide for teachers 9th12th grade. Like the anglosaxon poems, beowulf was written in the middle ages roughly around ad, it is old english with a german influence.
Oct 17, 2003 grade 9 upa first reading of beowulf will confuse and frustrate any ordinary reader. With this statement, streissguth puts himself squarely on the students side. Beowulf by gareth hinds meet your next favorite book. This version translated by francis barton gummere 18551919. The introduction is a wonderful orientation to the text and to old english poetry in general, and it is to be hoped that. And closely allied to this sense of destiny is the sombre view of life that is characteristic of the teutonic peoples. The monsters and the critics, initially delivered as a lecture in 1936, is regarded as a formative work in modern beowulf studies. Beowulf explains his mission and the coast guard accepts his story, acknowledging beowulfs impressive stature as a complete warrior, and points him to herot. It is the work of christian monks who preserved the literature of the past by copying manuscripts. This lesson is the first literature lesson in a new trimester. A teacher can be aware throughout the book of the implied points as well as the explicit ones for a richer understanding of the book. Beowulf, and related readings mcdougal littell literature connections.
See more ideas about beowulf, teaching and anglo saxon. Understanding great literature understanding beowulf. This teaching guide is organized in three sections presenting suggestions to be used before beowulf is read, while it is being read, and after the reading is completed. In beowulf s old age, a thief finds a passageway into an old barrow. Beowulf is a piece of literature, not a historical document. Free beowulf worksheets and literature unit for teachers. Student edition grade 12 british literature 2012 as want to read. Beowulf is an epic poem written sometime around 900 a. In beowulfs old age, a thief finds a passageway into an old barrow. But just when beowulf seems to have narrowly avoided death, he must fight a second demon, grendels mother. Number of keys select the number of different printables. Learn english honors grade 12 beowulf literature with free interactive flashcards. Beowulf is the longest epic poem in old english, the language spoken in anglosaxon england before the norman conquest.
Beowulfmacbeththe pilgrims progresspride and prejudiceivanhoegreat expectationsjane eyrethe. Hrothgars family tree a visual of hrothgars family dynamics. Course summary this beowulf study guide is the simplest way to master information about the language, characters, literary devices and other elements of this piece of old english literature. I have a whole new group of seniors and like to ease them into the year w an activity. Students read the epic, beowulf and examine the nature of good and evil. Learn english 12th beowulf literature with free interactive flashcards. Heres where youll find analysis about the book as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to. The individual chapters by eighteen scholars offer both a rapid survey of scholarly trends in the study of beowulf and a more sustained exploration of selected problems. The thief steals a cup, but the dragon discovers the theft and burns the land, including beowulf s meadhall. Also, i like to set the stage for active learning and performance pedagogy. He then convinces them of the epics value as historical artifact, narrative, and literary work.
1140 984 543 310 1002 240 1063 277 1315 356 1279 1481 546 841 577 1087 937 1178 1414 253 610 1395 1391 552 783 854 781 358 14 666 1007 650 626 132 750 871 1140 605 1006 1072 424 288