Beowulf Final Projects
Procedure for Work to Supplement Grade:
1) Read at least THREE exemplars on my website: http://aos-english.squarespace.com/handouts/english-10handouts-and-downloads/beowulf/beowulf-final-project-exemplars/
2) Take notes on the three you’ve read. Write down a few examples of what worked well and note how you
can do the same thing in your own work. Note a few things that didn’t work and relate to your project.
3) Do a very careful and thorough read of your work and my comments.
4) Type out all of my comments and discuss how they relate to your work.
5) Select ONE aspect (i.e. one “box” on the rubric: Grendel (in the Allegory), Ubi Sunt (in Beowulf as King and
Hero).
6) Develop this single aspect as detailed below . . . (Class time later + instructions + high lighting time.)
1st Period Notes:
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Single greatest lack: NO Development. Quotes are very sparse and are NOT used. Here’s the formula:
o Set the scene/Context (If necessary, and most of the time, it is).
o Make your point. I.e. “Beowulf also symbolizes the value of loyalty in holding a civilization
together.”
o Lay the quote down. Cite the line number.
o Interpret/Explain the quote.
o Comment on the quote and its interpretation—bring it back to the main point/show how this
quote and its development support the point you are making.
“Outcast” is a NOUN. NOT a VERB! Someone cannot be “outcasted.”
Sheez. If a SONG required THREE QUOTES with FULL development, what makes you think your teacher
will be satisfied with ONE QUOTE and ONE FACET of character/symbolic representation/etc.??
o Think a MINIMUM of THREE QUOTES for each block on the rubric. If the rubric discusses TWO
things (i.e. Beowulf as symbolic of the “forces” necessary to hold civilization together + Heorot as
symbolic of civilization) then SIX QUOTES would be the minimum.
 Yes. Full development for EACH quote.
 Yes, again. That IS a lot of work. Welcome to Honors. 
5th Period Notes:
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Many of you did not grasp the full nature of what an ALLEGORY is. Here is the Merriam-Webster
definition, lifted off of their web page:
o ALLEGORY
o 1: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations
about human existence; also : an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression.
Thus:
o Beowulf is symbolic of the “forces” necessary to hold civilization together.
 You can’t just say that.
 You have to DEVELOP which “Forces” we’re talking about, i.e. loyalty, strength,
courage, courtesy, pride, willingness to die for something larger than himself
(his own glory), allegiance/buy-in to all the concepts of the Warrior’s Code (as
he understands it), his concept of kingship, etc.
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YOU CAN’T CUT AND PASTE TEXT FROM A DICTIONARY OR OTHER WITHOUT CITING IT!!!! THAT IS CALLED
PLAGIARISM AND IT WILL EARN YOU AN “F” ON YOUR PAPER!!!
Outlines REALLY help. With an outline you can see what your main argument is and how you support that.
Each paragraph is about one thing. Etc.
o Use outlines. Either before you write, or after.
 Really.
 Do it.
o Please.
6th Period Notes:
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YOU CAN’T CUT AND PASTE TEXT FROM A DICTIONARY OR OTHER WITHOUT CITING IT!!!! THAT IS CALLED
PLAGIARISM AND IT WILL EARN YOU AN “F” ON YOUR PAPER!!!
See the discussion above about the whole “Allegory” thing . . . . Many of you failed to address the main
point. 
o Way too many vague responses. “Beowulf is symbolic of the forces necessary to hold civilization
together.” See the above. Again.
Many times, stuff like; “Grendel’s Mother wanted revenge for her son’s death.” Then a detailed account
of her revenge.
o Fine, but what’s the POINT of the summary? We’ve all read the book. Why do we need to be
reminded?
 Main point: Grendel’s Mother’s desire for revenge symbolizes the violent nature of man
and how this tears at the forces holding civilization together. Grendel’s Mother perfectly
personified the concept of Wergild that Beowulf himself adhered, as we saw when he
counseled Hrothgar not to grieve, but to seek vengeance. (Add the quote + I/E + Comm,
etc.) THEN, you need to talk about how this tears civilization apart. A good thing to
discuss here is Beowulf’s gloomy report to Hygelac about Hrothgar’s plan to marry a
daughter off to heal a rift/feud between the Danes and the Heathobards. . . .
Here’s one possible way of approaching Characters as Symbols:
o First, establish a character AS a symbol. State your position: “Beowulf is a symbol of the forces
necessary to hold civilization together: loyalty, strength, courage, and the willingness to make
sacrifices for the greater good.”
o You have just created a “thesis statement” of sorts. Treat it as such. EACH of the highlighted
values requires evidence.
 Find the best QUOTE you can for each of the values (more than one, even better, but
we’re not trying to write a graduate thesis here . . .).
 INTERPRET/EXPLAIN your quote.
 Make C OMMENTARY on your quote (re. SHOW/EXPLAIN how your quote proves your
point (on “loyalty,” etc.)).
o DISCUSS THE LARGER MEANING of the SYMBOL. HOW DOES “LOYALTY” “hold civilization
together?” (In Beowulf’s times and with his value system.)
 Develop your argument:
 FESQADD + I/E + COMM
o GIVE EQUAL TIME TO PRESENT-DAY CIVILIZATION.
 Ouch. Yes, this hurts. Yes, this is a lot of work. Next year, I might only require one facet
of development, ‘cause, boy, howdy: this is a major undertaking.