ENGLISH IV
Anglo-Saxon Unit: Beowulf Layered Curriculum Unit
NAME: __________________________________
SCORE SHEET
Directions: In a layered curriculum unit, each student is responsible for
 completing activities by the designated date
 turning in completed activities with score sheet
 turning in completed score sheet at the end of the unit
Standards:
RL1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says.
RL2: Determine two or more themes or central ideas of a text and analyze their development through the text.
RL7: Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, evaluating how each version interprets the source text.
W1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of texts, using valid reasoning and relevant evidence.
SL1: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.
L4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases.
REQUIRED ACTIVITIES:
1. View PowerPoint “Introduction to Beowulf” and take Cornell Notes. (PowerPoint is located on my website. Cornell Notes
must be complete with notes in lined section, questions in blank section, and a summary at the end of the notes in the summary
section.) (100 points)
__________ Introduction to Beowulf Cornell Notes
Due: November 18
2. Read Beowulf following the reading schedule below. Complete reading guide questions for each scheduled reading. (20 points
each-100 points total)
__________ “The Wrath of Grendel” pages 41-43
Due: November 19
__________ “The Coming of Beowulf” pages 43-48
Due: November 20
__________ “The Battle with Grendel” Page 48-50
Due: November 24
__________ “The Monster’ Lair” Page 51 and
“The Battle with Grendel’s Mother” Page 52-55
Due: December 1
__________ “The Last Battle” pages 56-59, “The Spoils”
pages 60-61, and “The Farewell” pages 61-62
Due: December 2
5. View Beowulf video (shown in class 12/3 & 12/4) and complete Beowulf video viewing guide. (100 points)
__________ Beowulf Viewing Guide
Due: December 4
LAYERED ACTIVITIES:
Layer C: Basic Knowledge and Understanding. You must complete one (1) activity from Part 1 and one activity from Part 2
before you may move on to Layer B. Most activities may be completed traditionally or online.
Part 1: Due December 7
__________ Using the 10 literary terms from this unit, create a Jeopardy game. Include a definition for each term and an example
from the story for each term. (The game should have at least 20 Jeopardy “answers” in all.) (100 points)
__________ Create a poster titled “What is an Epic?” Use your imagination to present, through a combination of words and
images, your understanding of the characteristics of an epic and an epic hero (Use your Cornell Notes to help you
with this). Use at least 5 examples from Beowulf to show your understanding. (100 points)
ENGLISH IV
NAME: __________________________________
Part 2: Due December 10
__________ Create a storybook that depicts the events of the Epic of Beowulf for elementary aged children. Include illustrations.
Must be at least 10 pages. (100 points)
__________ Write a feature article (with a headline) that tells the story of Beowulf as it might be found on the front page of a
newspaper in the town where the story takes place. Include quotes from various characters and an
illustration/picture. Should be at least 2 hand-written pages. (100 points)
__________ Imagine that you are the author of Beowulf. Write a letter to a movie producer trying to get that person interested
in making your book into a movie. Give a brief overview of the story, and explain why the story, characters,
conflicts, etc., would make a good film. Suggest a filming location and the actors to play the various roles. Should be
at least 2 hand-written pages. (100 points)
__________ Create and perform a song/rap/poem that narrates the action of the play through the eyes of one particular
character. Your performance may be live or videotaped and uploaded to our Edmodo page. The song/rap/poem
must be at least 20 lines long. (100 points)
__________ Create a movie poster depicting three key scenes from Beowulf. The poster should include the title, a quote from the
story that goes along with each of the scenes you are depicting, the actors who will be starring in the movie, and a
quote from a movie critic. (100 points)
__________ With a group of people (no more than 4), create 10 tableaux (a group of motionless figures representing a scene
from a story) to reflect specific scenes in Beowulf or to highlight the main events of the story. Write a paragraph in
which you defend your reasoning for the choice of each scene. (Each person must turn in their own paragraph.)
(100 points)
__________ Create a comic strip that depicts the main events of the story of Beowulf. The strip should include at least 10 frames.
(100 points)
Layer B: Application or Analysis. You must complete one activity from this level to move on to Layer A. Layer B due Dec. 14.
__________ Create a plausible series of five diary entries for Beowulf detailing his actions, emotions and desires at particular
points in the story. Be sure to identify when in the story the character would be writing. Be sure to write in the voice
of the character. Each diary entry must be one page long. (100 points)
__________ Complete a character analysis chart and then write a one-page (typed, double-spaced) or two-page (hand-written)
character analysis of Beowulf. You must include at least five quotes from the text to support your analysis. (100
points)
__________ Create a poster in which you identify the top 10 characteristics of the heroic code exemplified in Beowulf. Define and
give an example from the story of each. (100 points)
__________ Compare the ways that Beowulf is celebrated and honored in the epic with the way our culture celebrates and honors
its heroes. This can be completed in written format (one page typed, double-spaced) or in a visual format. (100
points)
__________ Write a eulogy (a statement of praise for someone’s life after they’re dead—often read at funerals and memorials)
or an elegy (a poem mourning a death or loss) for Beowulf. Include details about his life that you learned in the
story. (Two pages hand-written or at least 30 lines) (100 points)
Layer A: Critical Thinking and Analysis. You must complete one activity in this layer. Layer A due December 16.
__________ Write an essay (350-400 words) in which you explain what the characteristics of a hero are according to the story of
Beowulf. Use at least 3 examples from the text. Then explain how well those characteristics fit your personal
definition of a hero. (100 points)
__________ Write an essay (350-400 words) in which you explain what courage is according to the story of Beowulf. Use at
least 3 examples from the text. Then explain how well that definition fits your personal definition of courage. (100
points)
__________ Write an essay (350-400 words) in which you explain what being loyal means according to the story of Beowulf.
Use at least 3 examples from the text. Then explain how well that definition fits your personal definition of loyalty.
(100 points)
__________ Write an essay (350-400 words) in which you discuss how the concepts of good and evil are presented in Beowulf?
Use at least 3 examples from the text. What does this reveal about Anglo-Saxon society? (100 points)
__________ Write an essay (350-400 words) describing the importance of reputation to the characters in Beowulf, using at least
3 examples from the text. How does this view compare to or differ from society’s views regarding reputation in our
own time and place? (100 points)
__________ Write an essay (350-400 words) in which you discuss and answer the question: why do we still read Beowulf? Use at
least 3 quotes from the text to support your answer. (100 points)