Anglo-Saxon
Web Quest
Background – Read with your group!
What is Beowulf - the oldest surviving epic in British literature
What is Beowulf about? What battles does he go through?
How/when was Beowulf written?
How many copies of the original manuscript are there?
What is an epic poem?
Task 1 – Investigate the manuscript
1) Read about the history of the manuscript http://www.awesomestories.com/flicks/beowulfgrendel/source-of-the-story and make a list of 5 important historical facts about the
Beowulf manuscript, where it is, how it got there, what it is LIKE. (in other words,
DESCRIBE the manuscript)
1)___________________________________________________________________________________
2)___________________________________________________________________________________
3)___________________________________________________________________________________
4)___________________________________________________________________________________
5)____________________________________________________________________________________
Task 2 – View an actual copy of the Beowulf manuscript here: http://ebeowulf.uky.edu/
Write about what you think about it VISUALLY. (3 things)
1)___________________________________________________________________
2)___________________________________________________________________
3)___________________________________________________________________
Task 3 – Looking at Anglo-Saxon Era
Answer all questions on your paper with complete sentences.
You CAN NOT copy word for word from the websites!!! Write in your own words!
Anglo-Saxon Culture
Explore the websites on culture. Imagine yourself living in this
culture.
1. Write a description of what your typical life would be like
in the Anglo-Saxon time period.
http://www.britainexpress.com/History/anglosaxon_life.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G8VYGBpN4E
2. Describe your clothing, your food, and how you spend
your time if you are a woman or a man.
http://mahan.wonkwang.ac.kr/link/med/england/anglosaxon/culture/dress.html
3. Look at these 2 topics:
Religion – Describe Anglo-Saxon religious Beliefs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/
anglo-saxon_beliefs/
Fun Facts – Find 5 FUN facts on this web page (look for
Fun Facts)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/
anglo-saxon_beliefs/
4. Old English Poetry
How was Old English poetry composed? Describe 3
special things about it.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2237514_appreciate-anglosaxonpoetry.html
5. The Characters of Beowulf
Read about The Geats, The Danes, and Grendel.
In complete sentences, identify each group/person.
6. The Old English Alphabet
What are some of the different letters used by Anglo-Saxons that are no
longer used today?
7. The Domesday Book
What is the Domesday Book and what is the problem with trying to read it,
even if you know Latin?
8. The Anglo-Saxon Lifestyle
Look at this section and write three sentences about three different things
you learned.
9. Anglo-Saxon Doctors
How did the Anglo-Saxons practice medicine?
THE END. You're Done. Proof read your work,
making sure your name and period are on the top of
the page and turn in your work.
IF YOU FINISH THE WEB-QUEST begin reading Beowulf in your textbooks:
Beowulf: Prelude
Beowulf I
And then answer/complete the following questions for class on Monday:
Summarize the story in the Prelude and Section 1.
What is Beowulf's ancestry? (NOTE: the first Beowulf mentioned in the Prelude is an ancestor of
the
Beowulf who is the protagonist of the poem. Follow this line of ancestry until you come back to
Beowulf.)
What is Grendel? Who are his relatives? Why is he evil?
What are the traits/characteristics of a good Anglo-Saxon leader from this section of the poem?
If you want to hear some Old English Beowulf, go to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K13GJkGvDw and hear how absolutely bizarre
Old English is.