Beowulf
Critical Analysis: Supporting a Thesis
Scholars and critics have come to various conclusions about the themes and meanings
of Beowulf. Choose one statement with which you agree or disagree and write an
essay supporting your stand with quotes, episodes, and examples from the text of
Beowulf.
A. Beowulf is steeped in a pagan tradition that depicts nature as hostile and forces of
death as uncontrollable, while simultaneously alluding to faith in a Christian God.
B. Beowulf presents an ideal of loyalty to a thane (King), the failure to live up to this
ideal on the part of some thanes points up the extraordinary faithfulness of Beowulf.
C. Beowulf is a blending of Christian traditions with a folk story that extols virtues of
loyalty, courage, and faith in the face of extreme dangers and even death. It presents a
model of man willing to die to deliver his fellow men from terrifying evil forces.
E. Beowulf exemplifies the virtues of Anglo-Saxon Heroism. His personal attributes
set him above the warriors surrounding him, to include the King he defends.
F. The battles fought in Beowulf have similarities and differences, to include gender
differentiation, weaponry, loyalty, and the attributes of the hero himself.
A Method of Getting Started
1. Underline key words in 2. Find examples in the
the essay question.
text.
ESSAY A:
". . . sometimes they
sacrificed to the old stone
pagan tradition
gods, made heathen vows."
(175-6)
". . . a little-known
country, wolf slopes,
nature hostile
windswept headlands"
(1053)
"seized 30 warriors" (96)
"death comes faster than
fate picks victims
you think, no one can flee
it" (1767-8)
Thesis Support (You must attach this to your Rubric at Turn In)
Thesis Chosen:
Reason You Chose this Thesis:
Introduction: You must introduce your thesis, the version of Beowulf you are using (Raffel version), and
give a general idea of the reasons you believe your thesis to be important. Do not forget to have
transitions. Avoid Firstly, Secondly, etc.
You must have three Body Paragraphs: You must reference at least three supporting ideas in each
paragraph. Remember to Cite.
Paragraph 1.
Support 1:
Support 2:
Support 3:
Paragraph 2:
Support 1:
Support 2:
Support 3:
Paragraph 3
Support 1:
Support 2:
Support 3:
Conclusion:
Restate your thesis, but do not repeat it word for word! Sum up what you have said in order to make
your point.