The big questions
Each unit will feature a set of questions.We, as interactive and effective readers, will:
- locate examples to illustrate literary elements/concepts/themes, etc.
- draw conclusions
- infer
- provide textual support for responses
- What are the significant themes present in Beowulf?
- Does good always triumph over evil?
- What are the similarities and differences between Anglo-Saxon society and cultural beliefs compared to the 21st century's culture and beliefs?
- Do modern-day heroes exist? Modern-day monsters?
Anglo-Saxon Research & Presentation
Look for your group's topic. Start your research using these links. You will likely have to visit other websites to complete the project.
Venerable Bede: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/overview_anglo_saxons_01.shtml
Venerable Bede: http://www.britannia.com/bios/bede.html
Venerable Bede: http://goo.gl/Jbb8p0
Alfred the Great: http://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-king-of-Wessex
Alfred the Great: http://goo.gl/Dsw9qJ
Alfred the Great: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alfred_the_great.shtml
Anglo-Saxons: http://www.history.org.uk/resources/primary_resource_3865_132.html
Anglo-Saxons: http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/anglo-saxons/where-did-they-come-from
Anglo-Saxons: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/overview_anglo_saxons_01.shtml
449 A.D.: http://goo.gl/p0t3W4
449 A.D.: http://goo.gl/yf4Lla
449 A.D.: http://goo.gl/gQuZng (look at page 1 ONLY)
Religion: http://goo.gl/p0t3W4
Religion: http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/religion.htm
Religion: http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/anglo-saxons/anglo-saxon-religion
Religion: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/anglo-saxon_beliefs/
Everyday Life: http://goo.gl/p0t3W4
Everyday Life: http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/anglo-saxons/anglo-saxon-society
Everyday Life: http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/anglo-saxons/anglo-saxon-food-and-drink
Everyday Life: http://goo.gl/yf4Lla
- Poster Due: Tuesday, 1/11
- Group Presentations: Wednesday, 1/12
Venerable Bede: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/overview_anglo_saxons_01.shtml
Venerable Bede: http://www.britannia.com/bios/bede.html
Venerable Bede: http://goo.gl/Jbb8p0
Alfred the Great: http://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-king-of-Wessex
Alfred the Great: http://goo.gl/Dsw9qJ
Alfred the Great: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/alfred_the_great.shtml
Anglo-Saxons: http://www.history.org.uk/resources/primary_resource_3865_132.html
Anglo-Saxons: http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/anglo-saxons/where-did-they-come-from
Anglo-Saxons: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/anglo_saxons/overview_anglo_saxons_01.shtml
449 A.D.: http://goo.gl/p0t3W4
449 A.D.: http://goo.gl/yf4Lla
449 A.D.: http://goo.gl/gQuZng (look at page 1 ONLY)
Religion: http://goo.gl/p0t3W4
Religion: http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/saxons/religion.htm
Religion: http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/anglo-saxons/anglo-saxon-religion
Religion: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/anglo-saxon_beliefs/
Everyday Life: http://goo.gl/p0t3W4
Everyday Life: http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/anglo-saxons/anglo-saxon-society
Everyday Life: http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/anglo-saxons/anglo-saxon-food-and-drink
Everyday Life: http://goo.gl/yf4Lla
Anglo-Saxon BeLiefs & Values
To complete today's activity, you will need to visit all of the sites listed below.
Introduction to Beowulf Presentation
Plot Overview
Image courtesy of enotes.com
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Click on the image to be directed to a extremely shortened version of Beowulf that will give you an idea of the general plot.
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Hrothgar is the King of the Danes in southern Denmark. Through success in battle he has become rich and mighty. As a symbol of his power and prosperity he builds a magnificent mead-hall, called Heorot, in which he and his loyal warriors can feast, drink, boast, and listen to the tales of the scops, the Anglo-Saxon bards. But soon after Heorot is finished, the mirth of the men and the music of the scop angerGrendel, a monster descended from Cain. Grendel raids the hall, snatching men and eating them, then returns to his home in the marsh. He repeats his nightly raids until no one dares sleep in the hall. Heorot, once the symbol of the Scyldings' greatness, is now a place of shame and terror. This continues for twelve years, until Beowulf, a young warrior of the Geats in southern Sweden, hears about Grendel and, determined to fight the monster, sails to Hrothgar's lands with fifteen companions.
Hrothgar, who knew Beowulf's father Ecgtheow, accepts Beowulf's offer to fight Grendel and gives him a feast, though Beowulf and Unferth, a warrior loyal to Hrothgar, exchange insults. That night, the warriors sleep in Heorot, with Beowulf keeping watch. Grendel arrives and consumes one of the warriors, then reaches for Beowulf. Beowulf, famous for his powerful grip, which is as strong as the grip of thirty men, struggles with Grendel, tearing off the monster's shoulder and arm. Grendel returns to the fens to die. His arm is hung as a trophy under the roof of Heorot.
Hrothgar gives a second feast to celebrate Beowulf's victory. At the feast, Hrothgar generously rewards Beowulf with treasure. The scop sings again, and Beowulf is praised until nightfall. That night, Grendel's mother comes to the hall from her home in the bottom of a lake, seeking revenge for the death of her son. She grabs Aeschere, a favorite warrior and adviser of Hrothgar's, and consumes him, then returns home. In the morning, the warriors follow her tracks to her lake, where they see Aeschere's head. Beowulf enters the lake, and swims for hours before reaching her cave at the bottom. He fights with Grendel's mother, but the sword Hrunting, which Unferth lent to Beowulf in a sign of fellowship, fails for the first time. From the treasure hoard in the cave Beowulf seizes a sword forged long ago by giants and kills Grendel's mother. He sees Grendel's body, and removes the head, and takes it and the hilt of the giant's sword (the blade melted on contact with the monster's blood) back to Hrothgar.
There is another celebration in Heorot with more gifts and promises of friendship. Hrothgar says he feels like Beowulf is his son, and weeps at Beowulf's departure. Beowulf and his men return to the land of the Geats, where his uncle the king, Hygelac, and Hygelac's queen Hygd, greet Beowulf, accepting the treasure Beowulf gives them, and in turn rewarding Beowulf with a sword, praise, and land. Hygelac is eventually killed by the Swedes; his son Heardred, though young, takes the throne with Beowulf's support. At Heardred's death, Beowulf takes the throne of the Geats, and rules in great prosperity and fame for fifty years.
In Beowulf's old age, a thief finds a passageway into an old barrow. Inside, a dragon guards a treasure trove left there long ago by the last survivor of an extinct people. The thief steals a cup, but the dragon discovers the theft and burns the land, including Beowulf's mead-hall. Beowulf, knowing his death is near, decides to fight the dragon. Accompanied by his kinsman Wiglaf, ten warriors, and the thief, Beowulf sets out to confront the dragon. But when Beowulf and the dragon fight, all of Beowulf's men flee except Wiglaf. With Wiglaf's help Beowulf kills the dragon, but inot before he himself is terribly wounded.
Before he dies, Beowulf tells Wiglaf to rule after him, and to build him a funeral barrow that overlooks the sea. Wiglaf chastises the men for abandoning their lord. A messenger sent to tell the Geats of Beowulf's death also warns of hard times for the Geats, now that Beowulf is dead. The Geats build a pyre and cremate Beowulf, then construct a barrow overlooking the sea, burying the dragon's cursed treasure with him.
-Courtesy of: http://www.litcharts.com/lit/beowulf/plot-summary
Hrothgar, who knew Beowulf's father Ecgtheow, accepts Beowulf's offer to fight Grendel and gives him a feast, though Beowulf and Unferth, a warrior loyal to Hrothgar, exchange insults. That night, the warriors sleep in Heorot, with Beowulf keeping watch. Grendel arrives and consumes one of the warriors, then reaches for Beowulf. Beowulf, famous for his powerful grip, which is as strong as the grip of thirty men, struggles with Grendel, tearing off the monster's shoulder and arm. Grendel returns to the fens to die. His arm is hung as a trophy under the roof of Heorot.
Hrothgar gives a second feast to celebrate Beowulf's victory. At the feast, Hrothgar generously rewards Beowulf with treasure. The scop sings again, and Beowulf is praised until nightfall. That night, Grendel's mother comes to the hall from her home in the bottom of a lake, seeking revenge for the death of her son. She grabs Aeschere, a favorite warrior and adviser of Hrothgar's, and consumes him, then returns home. In the morning, the warriors follow her tracks to her lake, where they see Aeschere's head. Beowulf enters the lake, and swims for hours before reaching her cave at the bottom. He fights with Grendel's mother, but the sword Hrunting, which Unferth lent to Beowulf in a sign of fellowship, fails for the first time. From the treasure hoard in the cave Beowulf seizes a sword forged long ago by giants and kills Grendel's mother. He sees Grendel's body, and removes the head, and takes it and the hilt of the giant's sword (the blade melted on contact with the monster's blood) back to Hrothgar.
There is another celebration in Heorot with more gifts and promises of friendship. Hrothgar says he feels like Beowulf is his son, and weeps at Beowulf's departure. Beowulf and his men return to the land of the Geats, where his uncle the king, Hygelac, and Hygelac's queen Hygd, greet Beowulf, accepting the treasure Beowulf gives them, and in turn rewarding Beowulf with a sword, praise, and land. Hygelac is eventually killed by the Swedes; his son Heardred, though young, takes the throne with Beowulf's support. At Heardred's death, Beowulf takes the throne of the Geats, and rules in great prosperity and fame for fifty years.
In Beowulf's old age, a thief finds a passageway into an old barrow. Inside, a dragon guards a treasure trove left there long ago by the last survivor of an extinct people. The thief steals a cup, but the dragon discovers the theft and burns the land, including Beowulf's mead-hall. Beowulf, knowing his death is near, decides to fight the dragon. Accompanied by his kinsman Wiglaf, ten warriors, and the thief, Beowulf sets out to confront the dragon. But when Beowulf and the dragon fight, all of Beowulf's men flee except Wiglaf. With Wiglaf's help Beowulf kills the dragon, but inot before he himself is terribly wounded.
Before he dies, Beowulf tells Wiglaf to rule after him, and to build him a funeral barrow that overlooks the sea. Wiglaf chastises the men for abandoning their lord. A messenger sent to tell the Geats of Beowulf's death also warns of hard times for the Geats, now that Beowulf is dead. The Geats build a pyre and cremate Beowulf, then construct a barrow overlooking the sea, burying the dragon's cursed treasure with him.
-Courtesy of: http://www.litcharts.com/lit/beowulf/plot-summary
Click on the image to be directed to a brief overview of Beowulf.
Beowulf – The hero of Beowulf, Beowulf is a Geatish warrior loyal to his king, Higlac. Beowulf's father was the warrior Ecgtheow, and his mother is a sister of Higlac. Despite his noble lineage, Beowulf was a bit of a juvenile delinquent, and little was expected of him. But he soon proved his doubters wrong and grew up to be a great warrior. He has the strength of thirty men in his grasp, and rather remarkable swimming ability. In addition to his great warrior skills, Beowulf eventually becomes a strong, powerful, and generous king.
Hrothgar – King of the Danes, the son of Healfdene. Hrothgar is an excellent and successful king. He builds Herot, a magnificent hall, and is very generous and wise.
Ecgtheow – Beowulf's father and the husband of King Hygilac's sister. Hrothgar gave him sanctuary after Ecgtheow, a Geatish warrior, killed a warrior of the Wylfings.
Higlac – The king of the Geats and Beowulf's uncle. He is a good and generous king.
Wiglaf – The son of Weohstan the Scylfing, and a relative of Beowulf, as well as his most loyal warrior. He rules the Geats after Beowulf dies.
Brecca – A Geat who competed with Beowulf in a swimming contest as a youth.
Wulfgar – Hrothgar's herald. He serves Hrothgar the Danish kin, and is considered the most skillful and best-loved by King Hrothgar.
Healfdane – Hrothgar's father, and the king of the Danes.
Unferth – A Dane, the son of Ecglaf, and a follower of Hrothgar. Unferth is a jealous and boastful man without much courage to back it up, though he does become more generous after Beowulf defeats Grendel.
Cain – The Old Testament of the Bible, in the Book of Genesis, tells the story of how Cain killed his brother Abel. Cain was marked by God, so others would know him and cast him out of society. The giants, Grendel and Grendel's Mother, are descended from Cain.
Grendel – A man-eating monster descended from the Biblical Cain. Grendel is a "walker in darkness," who is "wearing God's anger," and "lacking in joy."
Grendel's Mother – A female version of Grendel, she is also descended from Cain.
Dragon – A fire-breathing dragon who discovered a lost tribe's treasure and moved into the barrow. After the dragon terrorizes the Geats, Beowulf fights the dragon.
-Courtesy of: http://www.litcharts.com/lit/beowulf/characters
Hrothgar – King of the Danes, the son of Healfdene. Hrothgar is an excellent and successful king. He builds Herot, a magnificent hall, and is very generous and wise.
Ecgtheow – Beowulf's father and the husband of King Hygilac's sister. Hrothgar gave him sanctuary after Ecgtheow, a Geatish warrior, killed a warrior of the Wylfings.
Higlac – The king of the Geats and Beowulf's uncle. He is a good and generous king.
Wiglaf – The son of Weohstan the Scylfing, and a relative of Beowulf, as well as his most loyal warrior. He rules the Geats after Beowulf dies.
Brecca – A Geat who competed with Beowulf in a swimming contest as a youth.
Wulfgar – Hrothgar's herald. He serves Hrothgar the Danish kin, and is considered the most skillful and best-loved by King Hrothgar.
Healfdane – Hrothgar's father, and the king of the Danes.
Unferth – A Dane, the son of Ecglaf, and a follower of Hrothgar. Unferth is a jealous and boastful man without much courage to back it up, though he does become more generous after Beowulf defeats Grendel.
Cain – The Old Testament of the Bible, in the Book of Genesis, tells the story of how Cain killed his brother Abel. Cain was marked by God, so others would know him and cast him out of society. The giants, Grendel and Grendel's Mother, are descended from Cain.
Grendel – A man-eating monster descended from the Biblical Cain. Grendel is a "walker in darkness," who is "wearing God's anger," and "lacking in joy."
Grendel's Mother – A female version of Grendel, she is also descended from Cain.
Dragon – A fire-breathing dragon who discovered a lost tribe's treasure and moved into the barrow. After the dragon terrorizes the Geats, Beowulf fights the dragon.
-Courtesy of: http://www.litcharts.com/lit/beowulf/characters
The graphic novel - For Esl & Visual Learners
Beowulf - Animated Film
There are several versions of Beowulf available for you to view on Youtube and Netflix. However, the animated film below captures the re-telling of the story the best. If you are a visual learner, I encourage you to watch this video if there is a section in the story that you do not understand.
Poems that are written in the epic tradition & contain an epic hero
Hover and click on the title above to be directed to an article that truly breaks down how Beowulf has influenced literature; thereby influencing the culture and society we live in today. .
The epic hero's journey
Mythology can be simultaneously fascinating and complex. Intrigued by mythology, author Joseph Campbell studied the myth and made the famous claim that nearly all myths, and some other story types, have similar ideas and the heroes’ adventures are almost identical in their format. The different stages of adventure identified have come to be called the "hero's journey."
Stages of the Hero's Journey
There are twelve steps to the hero’s journey. According to the Oracle Education Foundation Library, those steps are as follows.
Hero's Journey in Literature
This concept of the hero’s journey is one that has gained much praise and consideration of worth in the literary community. Classics such as Beowulf and Odysseus as well as more recent, but epic, tales such as that of Batman all follow the same path of the hero’s journey.
Additionally, Campbell’s ideas regarding the hero’s journey have been applied by professionals such as Chris Vogler in the creation of Disney classics. In order to understand the hero’s journey, it is important to apply the concept to stories and other work.
Oracle’s Education Foundation Library provides a step-by-step outline of how the hero in the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch follows this journey.
For instance:
Stages of the Hero's Journey
There are twelve steps to the hero’s journey. According to the Oracle Education Foundation Library, those steps are as follows.
- Ordinary World: This step refers to the hero's normal life at the start of the story, before the adventure begins.
- Call to Adventure: The hero is faced with something that makes him begin his adventure. This might be a problem or a challenge he needs to overcome.
- Refusal of the Call: The hero attempts to refuse the adventure because he is afraid.
- Meeting with the Mentor: The hero encounters someone who can give him advice and ready him for the journey ahead.
- Crossing the First Threshold: The hero leaves his ordinary world for the first time and crosses the threshold into adventure.
- Tests, Allies, Enemies: The hero learns the rules of his new world. During this time, he endures tests of strength of will, meets friends, and comes face to face with foes.
- Approach: Setbacks occur, sometimes causing the hero to try a new approach or adopt new ideas.
- Ordeal: The hero experiences a major hurdle or obstacle, such as a life or death crisis.
- Reward: After surviving death, the hero earns his reward or accomplishes his goal.
- The Road Back: The hero begins his journey back to his ordinary life.
- Resurrection Hero: The hero faces a final test where everything is at stake and he must use everything he has learned.
- Return with Elixir: The hero brings his knowledge or the "elixir" back to the ordinary world, where he applies it to help all who remain there.
Hero's Journey in Literature
This concept of the hero’s journey is one that has gained much praise and consideration of worth in the literary community. Classics such as Beowulf and Odysseus as well as more recent, but epic, tales such as that of Batman all follow the same path of the hero’s journey.
Additionally, Campbell’s ideas regarding the hero’s journey have been applied by professionals such as Chris Vogler in the creation of Disney classics. In order to understand the hero’s journey, it is important to apply the concept to stories and other work.
Oracle’s Education Foundation Library provides a step-by-step outline of how the hero in the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch follows this journey.
For instance:
- Lilo's ordinary world is in Hawaii; Stitch is Experiment 626
- The call to adventure occurs when Lilo is sent away. The problem/challenge is a threat that Lilo will be taken from her sister Nani. Stitch then crashes onto earth.
- There is no refusal of the call in this story.
- The meeting with the mentor occurs when Lilo adopts Stitch. They are each other's mentors.
- The crossing of the first threshold occurs when Stitch crashes on Earth.
- The characters endure many tests as Stitch learns to become a model citizen.
- The approach occurs because Stitch causes problems and there are threats to take Lilo away from Cobra.
- The ordeal occurs when Stitch learns he has no family and is alone, and when Cobra takes Lilo who then runs away. Lilo also takes Stitch to go away after discovering he is an alien. Both characters are then captured and it appears that Stitch is dead.
- The reward for Stitch is that he wants to be a family and he must rescue Lilo.
- The road back occurs when Stitch rescues Lilo from the spaceship.
- The resurrection occurs when Stitch and Lilo get to become a family.
- The return with Elixir occurs when everyone comes together, the aliens assist with the construction of a new house and everyone becomes friends.