Unit of Study: The Anglo-Saxon Era and Beowulf
Big Question: What makes a Hero?
OBJECTIVES
I can recognize information about the following topics and their place in Anglo-Saxon history:
 Culture and effects on:
 Anglo-Saxon values /ideas regarding:
o People
o Leadership
o Literature
o Wealth
 Anglo-Saxon leaders and
o Generosity
invasions (449 AD)
o Character
o Influence on land and
 Heroic
people
 Monstrous
o Fate
o Fatalism
 Anglo-Saxon literature
The epic and the epic hero: I can
 define epic poem
 identify the following epic hero traits with specific textual evidence from Beowulf:
1. superior in degree to other
3. strives for honor and fame
men and his environment;
4. possesses Christian characteristics of:
virtuous
a. kindness
2. although epic action is larger
b. valor
than life, the hero is:
c. loyalty
a. decidedly human
d. gentleness
b. capable of error
c. vulnerable
d. not immune to death
Beowulf and the media: I can
 watch selections clips to connect epic hero traits with modern day heroes
ASSESSMENTS
TEKS


Background quiz
Section on unit
test

Students will
understand how
the history and
culture influence
an author’s work
and can support
their opinion with
evidence from the
text.

Short answer and
multiple choice
questions on unit
test

Students can relate
characters, setting,
and theme to
historical and
social ideas of the
time.
Students will make
and defend their
own ideas on the
epic hero and how
the hero is
developed in the
story.


Class discussion
and reflection

Students can see
how messages
change dependent
on culture and
evaluate the
different messages
and their meaning.
Unit of Study: The Anglo-Saxon Era and Beowulf
Beowulf and other literary pieces: I can
 read the following pieces to make connections to the hero Beowulf
o “Do Not Go Gentle Into that Good Night”
o Modern heroes articles
 Male and female heroes
Key terms: I can identify and recognize the following
 alliteration
 epic
 kennings (metaphor)
 scop
Vocabulary: I can identify and recognize the following
 25 SAT vocabulary words (list
 skulked
given on 9-2)
 solace
 hoard
 vexed
 scruples
Analysis: I can
 analyze and dissect selects passages from Beowulf for
o thematic ideas
o characterization
o epic hero traits
o plot development
o literary devices

Short answer and
multiple choice
questions on unit
test

Students will
compare and
contrast themes
across multiple
works.

Section on the
unit test

Student will know
the meaning of the
literary devices
and key terms and
how their use
affects the telling
of the story.


Quiz (9-16)
Section on the
unit test

Students will
determine meaning
of words using
multiple sources


Class discussion
Section on unit
test

Students will be
able to dissect
short passages to
determine meaning
and the effect on
the overall
meaning of the
story.
Students will
formulate their
own interpretation
of the passages
and be able to
defend their
findings.
