Beowulf
p. 24-40
Characteristics of Hero
Archetype
Hero of High Status
Fateful Actions (determines fate of nation/group of people)
Courageous Deeds
Supernatural Complications
Large-scale Setting, long journey
Formal Speeches
Universal Ideas (good and evil, life and death)
Literary Qualities of
Beowulf
Earliest written English epic
Epic Poem
Alliteration
the repetition of beginning consonant sounds in a
sentence/line
Example: Peter Piper picked a pack of pickled peppers.
Oral tradition
Character Development
Group Analysis
Group 1: Slides
4-5
Group 2: Slides 67
Cheyenne
Sandra
Justin L
Justin T
Ciara
Robert
Tyler
Johnny
Greg
Amber
Part I: Grendel
What was it that caused Grendel so much pain as he
waited? What does this reveal to us about his
character?
How did Grendel come to exist?
What was it that Hrothgar feared about Grendel’s
attack on Herot?
How does Grendel feel about killing? Find a line that
aptly describes how he feels.
Part I: Grendel
Grendel
Physical
Emotional
Lines
Revelations
Part I: Beowulf
What does Beowulf mean when he says “Light
and life fleeing together” to describe the state of
Hrothgar’s hall?
Find at least four lines that talk of Beowulf’s
heroism.
Do you think that Beowulf’s choice to face
Grendel unarmed was prideful or foolish?
Part I: The Battle with Grendel
Find an example of alliteration.
What did Grendel feel when he was seized by Beowulf?
How do Beowulf’s men show themselves to be different from Hrothgar’s
during the battle of Grendel and Beowulf?
Why don’t weapons work against Grendel?
How did Beowulf win the battle? What was Grendel’s fate?
What happened to Grendel’s arm? Why do you think Beowulf chose to
do this?
What did the battle with Grendel do for Beowulf’s reputation as warrior?
Assignment
Homework: Complete Beowulf
Fill in remaining slides in the notes portion of this presentation. (DUE 9/21)
Study for ACT Vocab Quiz
Classwork: Draw Grendel as he would appear to you from the details within the
text.
Effort
Color
Select a quote from Part I that you felt best captured Grendel’s character. Place
this quote on your drawing somewhere legibly.
Write 3-4 complete sentences on back of drawing that explain the
significance of the quote that you’ve selected.
Part II: Beowulf’s Last Battle
Looking at lines 265-270 and 272-289, what do Beowulf’s
remarks reveal to us about his personality?
Identify at least one instance of alliteration.
Describe the battle between Beowulf and the Dragon.
How did the two foes feel? What was the turning point in
the battle?
How do Beowulf’s men react to seeing him fall?
How is Wiglaf unique?
Part II: The Death of Beowulf
Examine Beowulf’s speech, lines 362-383. Identify three lines that
reveal to you something significant about Beowulf’s personality or life.
What does the speaker’s attitude of gold as expressed in the following
line? “So gold can easily/ Triumph, defeat the strongest of men,/ No
matter how deep it is hidden!”
When Beowulf explains that he sold his life, do you think that he sold
it well?
What was Beowulf’s ultimate goal in life?
What is the attitude of Beowulf’s men after his death?
Beowulf: Heroic
Characteristics
Heroic Qualities
High Status
Fateful Actions
Courageous
Deeds
Examples from the Text
Beowulf: Heroic
Characteristics
Heroic Qualities
Supernatural
Large Setting
Formal
Speeches
Universal Ideas
Examples from the Text