Guiding Questions:
Beowulf Syllabus- English IV
Hagburg- Fall 2015
How do literary devices function to create meaning?
How does oral tradition affect literature and literary devices?
Students will know:
● A poem consists of many forms and is composed of many literary devices
● Each part works together to form a whole in tone and meaning
● A poem’s meaning relies on its own specific combination of variables (era, genre, voice,
meter, kenning, alliteration, rhyme, author, etc.)
● Form and function of poetry changes throughout the ages
Mon/Tues, Nov 2/3 –
Terminology- alliteration, kenning, caesura
Solve riddles—identify terms (group work)
Intro to Kennings
Research time- topic selection
Wednesday, Nov 4th
Research paper - Topic Proposals Due!!
Beowulf Background information from text 10-13 & 20-23
Begin “Grendel Attacks…” & “The Coming”
Thursday/Fri, Nov 5/6
Continue “The Coming”
Read “The Battle,” “Battle/Mommy,” “Dragon,”
Assign study questions
Mon/Tuesday, Nov 9/10
Research time-Milk Cart
Continue “Battle/Mommy,” “Dragon”
Cain/Abel Bible Version
Discussion
Time to work on study questions
Wednesday, Nov 11th
Research time- AB with 6 sources due next class!
Thursday/Friday, Nov 12/13
Finish Beowulf
Final discussion and test review!
AB due TODAY!
Review and prepare for test!
Mon/Tuesday, Nov 16/17
Beowulf Test!
Wednesday, Nov 18th
Research day!
Outlines due next class!
Thursday/Friday, Nov 19/20
Research time- outlines due!
Mon/Tuesday, Nov 23/24
Grendel Background- PPT
Distribute Grendel
Read- chapters 1-3
Research time- ROUGH DRAFTS DUE!
Mon/Tues, Nov 30/ Dec 1
Grendel ppt…background
Monster Discussion
Read chapters 4-5
Research Paper Due Thurs/Fri!!!
Wednesday, Dec 2
Research and reading time!!
Thursday/Friday- Dec 3/4
Grendel ppt (astrology)
read 6-7 for next class
Research PAPERS DUE!!!!
Mon/Tues, Dec 7/8
Teach comparative writing techniques
Discuss 6-7
Read 8-10
Wednesday, Dec 9th
Discuss 8-10
Assign comparative paper – in-class essay test
Complete the text
Thursday/Fri, Dec 10/11
Discuss the end of the novel!
Reading Quiz!
Prepare for final exam!!
December 14-18- FINALS WEEK